LT981-7-FY-CO:
Dissertation

The details
2025/26
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 26 June 2026
80
26 March 2025

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MA W80012 Creative Writing,
MA W80024 Creative Writing,
MA Q20212 Film and Literature,
MA Q20224 Film and Literature,
MA Q20012 Literature,
MA Q20024 Literature,
MA W81112 Scriptwriting (Theatre and Digital Media),
MA W81124 Scriptwriting (Theatre and Digital Media),
MA QW3012 Literature and Creative Writing,
MA QW3024 Literature and Creative Writing,
MA Q20E12 Modern and Contemporary Literature,
MA Q20E24 Modern and Contemporary Literature

Module description

Your dissertation is the centrepiece of your MA work. It gives you the opportunity to develop and to demonstrate your skills as an academic researcher and scholarly author, as you investigate and interpret a topic of your choosing.


CRITICAL DISSERTATIONS:


Word limit - 15,000 words (not including abstract, notes, bibliographic materials and footnotes).


CREATIVE WRITING DISSERTATIONS:


Creative component up to 10,000 words plus critical commentary of normally 6,000 words excluding bibliography and footnotes.


MA Scriptwriting:


A complete play (including plays for radio) of 70-90 minutes running time (approximately 50 pages – but check timings before submission) accompanied by a critical commentary (c.6,000 words) excluding bibliography and footnotes.


 OR


A feature film screenplay of 70 to 90 pages, accompanied by a critical commentary (c. 6,000 words) excluding bibliography and footnotes.


 OR


The opening episodes of a TV series – 60 pages, plus a series bible for rest of season – accompanied by a critical commentary (c. 6,000 words) excluding bibliography and footnotes.


 OR


A written dissertation of 15,000 words excluding bibliography and footnotes, which will be assessed according to the marking criteria above.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a selected current research area

  • To demonstrate the planning and execution of a substantial research project with guidance from a supervisor

  • To demonstrate a sustained, coherent argument based on critical and/or creative writing skills as appropriate

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Conduct effective research

  2. Write within disciplinary perspectives and genres, using academic conventions, and creating a longer, well-argued piece of writing

  3. Explore, analyse and present a coherent argument, involving a range of information from different sources and/or disciplinary contexts as appropriate

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • Supervisory meetings with Supervisor from the Spring Term onwards.

Bibliography*

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Dissertation (please see the Postgraduate Taught Handbook 2024/25 for word counts for each MA degree)    100% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

100 per cent Coursework Mark

Reassessment

100 per cent Coursework Mark

Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Sean Seeger, email: saseeg@essex.ac.uk.
various
LiFTS General Office - email liftstt@essex.ac.uk. Telephone 01206 872626

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Dr Will Norman
University of Kent
Reader in American Literature and Culture
Dr Lorna Burns
University of St Andrews
Senior Lecturer in Postcolonial Literatures
Dr Tim Atkins
University of Roehampton
Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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