LT981-7-FY-CO:
Dissertation
2024/25
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 27 June 2025
80
08 November 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
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
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
Either a feature film screenplay of approx. 90 to 120 pages, accompanied by a critical commentary (c. 6,000 words) excluding bibliography and footnotes.
OR
The opening episodes of a TV series (three x 30 pages or two x 45 pages - plus a series bible for the rest of the season) again accompanied by a critical commentary (c. 6,000 words) excluding bibliography and footnotes.
The aims of the dissertation are to demonstrate:
1. comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a selected current research area
2. the planning and execution of a substantial research project with guidance from a supervisor
3. a sustained, coherent argument based on critical and/or creative writing skills as appropriate
In preparation of and as part of the dissertation, students should 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
No additional information available.
Supervisory meetings with Supervisor from the Spring Term onwards.
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) |
01/09/2025 |
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
No
No
No
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
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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