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The dissertation will be on a topic chosen by the student. The tutor must approve the choice before study commences. The topic must be in an area of study which is appropriate to the study of primary education. There must be a body of available literature to support the study and although empirical work may be carried out, it is not essential.

The dissertation will be completed over the full academic session, planned around the final year school experience placement. There will be 2-hour weekly workshops throughout semester 1, and in addition individual supervision sessions will be arranged by the student with his/her supervisor(s), and the dissertation convenor.

Entry to Year 4 of the MA Honours Primary Education with Teaching Qualification.

None

Co-requisite Year 4 courses on the MA Honours Primary Education with Teaching Qualification.

Students will submit a 2,000-2,500-word dissertation proposal (worth 20%).

Students will prepare, in conjunction with the advice received from their supervisor(s), a dissertation of 10,000 words length (worth 80%).

The dissertation will:
- Build upon understandings gained in curricular and education elements of the course in Years 1 - 3 and cognate modules, by affording students the opportunity to investigate a topic of their own choice within the requirements of the programme and the regulations for progression
- Develop student study skills, in particular accessing and using educational and other research and appropriate documentation
- Develop understanding and skills in ICT and interactive work
- Develop students' analytic, synthetic and interpretative skills through the process of investigation and the construction of the dissertation

On completion of the dissertation, students will be able to:
- Make an informed choice of topic for in-depth research
- Demonstrate an ability to select and use primary and secondary source material as appropriate
- Demonstrate that they have read and assimilated a range of critical and other literature relevant to their chosen area of study
- Demonstrate an ability to reflect on and construct a critique of, the literature which they have selected
- Demonstrate an ability to weigh up and evaluate the relevance and importance of different sources of evidence
- Demonstrate an ability to carry through a research based dissertation
- Demonstrate an ability to use appropriate skills to construct a coherent argument leading to a supportable conclusion
- Demonstrate appropriate presentational skills, including the use of ICT

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.