HST6560: Dissertation
60 credits (full year)
Dissertations Co-ordinator: Dr James Shaw
Meetings :: Deadlines :: Supervision :: Word Limits :: Preparation :: Submission :: Learning Outcomes
Module Summary
Students undertake an individual research project, based on an identifiable collection of primary sources and present their findings in a dissertation of 15,000 words. The dissertation represents an original piece of independent research and should be based on a substantial primary source base and demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the secondary literature. Through the dissertation students demonstrate their practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret historical knowledge. Students will work under the supervision of an expert member of staff who will provide guidance and regular tutorial support.
Module Aims
The dissertation aims to help students to identify an area of historical enquiry and an appropriate primary source collection to engage in independent historical research. It provides them with the opportunity to use the skills and methods learnt during the first part of the course and to apply their historical understanding to the investigation of questions of their own devising.
Meetings and Workshops
Introductory Meeting: 1-2pm, Wednesday 2nd November 2011, Jessop West SR G.03
Workshop: 3-4pm, Tuesday 22nd May 2012, Jessop West SR G.03
Deadlines
Title Registration Form: 12pm, Wednesday 16th November 2011
Synopsis Form: 12pm, Wednesday 22nd February 2012
Bibliography: 12pm, Wednesday 14th March 2012
Dissertation: 12pm, Wednesday 5th September 2012
All deadlines are compulsory and must be met promptly.
Guidance on preparation and submission is found below.
Supervision
In the first weeks of the academic year students should consider the area they wish to study for the dissertation and should arrange to speak with potential supervisors to discuss ideas. In Week 7 students are asked to confirm their research topic and supervisor. In their first meeting the student and supervisor should discuss the kind of support needed, and should arrange to meet regularly to discuss progress.
In Week 3 of the second semester, students are asked to submit a 2-page synopsis form that has been agreed with supervisors. This may include information on: sources, historiographical context, methodological and/or theoretical approach, outline of dissertation structure and research questions. By the end of the second semester students will normally have made good progress with the research and will continue writing the dissertation over the summer. Meetings may be less frequent, or virtual, during the summer vacation but students can expect their supervisor to read a draft of the dissertation and offer comments either via email or in person.
Word Limits
Title Form: no word limit
Synopsis Form: 1000 words
Bibliography: no word limit
Dissertation: 15,000 words
Please note that the Dissertation is subject to standard word limit penalties (see Word Limit Penalties).
Preparation and Binding
Bibliography
You should include the following information in a header/footer:
- your name
- module code
- page numbers
Bibliographies should be stapled.
You should use the MA Dissertation Bibliography Feedback Form (not the standard MA Feedback Form) as a cover sheet on one copy of the bibliography.
Dissertation
Dissertations will be marked anonymously; please do not put your name anywhere on your dissertation.
You should include the following information in a header/footer:
- your Registration Number
- module code
- page numbers
Your dissertation should also have a title page which includes the following information:
- your Registration Number
- the full title of the dissertation
- your Supervisor's name
- word count (including footnotes but not bibliography or appendices)
- the following statement:
'A dissertation submitted in part-fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA in [your degree], University of Sheffield, September 2012.'
An example of the title page is downloadable from the right-hand side of the page. Please note this is an example only, you can format your text different so long as all of the same information is included.
Your dissertation must be bound in a permanent and secure binding. We strongly recommend that you use one of the binding services provided by the University: Print and Design Solutions or the Copy Shop in the Students Union. Spiral binding is not recommended as it is not secure enough.
There is no Feedback Form for the dissertation but you should complete a Plagiarism Form, to certify that your dissertation is your own work and not the result of any collaboration, and submit this with your dissertation. This will be filed separately and not bound into your dissertation.
Submission
Title Registration Form
The title registration form should be submitted through MOLE as follows:
1. Log into MOLE and access the HST6560 Dissertation module
2. Click on the Forms folder and then the Title Form Submission link
3. Click on the Dissertation Title Form link for your supervisor
4. Enter the title in the box marked 'Submission', and click on 'Submit'
Please note that you will not receive a notification email once your dissertation title submission has been approved (or otherwise) by your supervisor, you should log back into MOLE and check your submission’s status.
Your form’s status (top right-hand side of the form) will show as follows:
- ‘Submitted’ – your form is waiting for approval from your supervisor.
- ‘Graded’ – your form has been approved by your supervisor. Comments from your tutor, if any, will be shown under ‘Most Recent Comments’ at the bottom of the form.
- ‘In Progress (Attempt #2)’ – your form has been returned to you for amendments to the submission.
- You should check for comments from your supervisor in the ‘Most Recent Comments’ section. Once you have amended your entry you should resubmit your form.
Synopsis Form
The synopsis form should be submitted digitally through MOLE as follows:
1. Complete and save the Dissertation Synopsis Form
2. Log into MOLE and access the HST6560 Dissertation module
3. Click on the Forms folder and then the Synopsis Form Upload link
4. Click on the Synopsis Form link for your supervisor
5. Enter the title in the box marked 'Submission'
6. Click ‘Add Attachments’, find your saved Synopsis Form and click ‘ok’
7. Click 'Submit'
Again, you will not receive a notification email once your synopsis form submission has been assessed, you should follow the above instructions to check its status.
Bibliography
The dissertation bibliography should be submitted in the usual manner for assessed work i.e. turnitin and two hardcopies. See Submission.
Bibliographies will be returned to you either directly from your supervisor or via the Postgraduate Secretary (you will be emailed once they are available).
Dissertation
The dissertation should be submitted in the usual manner for assessed work i.e. turnitin and two hardcopies. See Submission.
All forms are available for download from the Download box (right hand side of this page), under Forms on the MA student home page here and through History On-line in MOLE.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who have successfully completed a dissertation will have demonstrated:
- An ability to engage in independent and extended research within a defined area of historical enquiry.
- A capacity to formulate and sustain a logical and, where possible, original historical argument based on the information collected.
- An ability to work from primary sources, providing appropriate evidence to support historical argument, and referencing the sources of the evidence used.
- An ability to write about the past in good English, showing an awareness of History as a literary discipline and a developing sense of literary style.