Unit information: Comparative Literature Independent Research Project in 2023/24

Unit name	Comparative Literature Independent Research Project
Unit code	MODL30033
Credit points	40
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Hogarth
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	For Single Honours: MODL20024 and MODL20026 For Joint Honours: MODL20024 and MODL20026 and Year Abroad TB-1, Year Abroad TB-2 (MODL20014, MODL20015)
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Modern Languages
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

In TB1 students will receive training in the establishment of a project topic or field of inquiry and in the identification of appropriate materials for research (print and/or electronic, verbal and/or visual, literary and/or extra-literary). Once preliminary subject matter is identified, students can work alone or in small groups (2-3) where a particular range of expertise and experience (e.g. languages) are thought necessary to achieve the best results. This will be discussed with a supervisor and written up as an outline of the subject matter, approach, methodology, and existing literature.

The extended essay on the topic agreed with the supervisor will be researched and written with the support of weekly ‘clinics’ or ‘drop-in’ sessions staffed by tutors with a range of experience and expertise and of one-to-one or small-group supervisions with the allocated supervisor. These sessions will be modelled on the four different areas of study from the core units in the first and second years of the programme, ensuring that the knowledge and skills of cross-cultural analysis already attained are maximised for the capstone project.

Alongside this work, a potentially public-facing element (e.g. prospectus, interview, museum / library catalogue entries, newspaper article, teaching materials for school or adult education, etc.) will be prepared and then circulated and presented orally to the whole cohort and tutors at a ‘CompLit Final Fair’.

Your learning on this unit

The students will be able to:

1. identify a viable area of independent study with a clear rationale and focus
2. develop methods and materials by which to broaden the student’s knowledge of the field and deepen understanding of research methods and of relevant disciplines
3. engage creatively with and evaluate a body of material, including primary or secondary literature, theoretical and critical scholarship, texts, including in non-print media, other sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development (for JH students many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of linguistic skills)
4. develop skills of analysis and synthesis beyond the level achieved at levels 4 and 5 and in more conventionally taught final-year seminar-based options
5. respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an advanced level of complexity
6. produce a coherent piece of researched scholarship to demonstrate a deep understanding of a specific aesthetic, social, or political topic approached from a comparative or transnational perspective
7. synthesize and present core or original elements of research done in ways appropriate to a defined non-academic or public audience.

How you will learn

• TB1: Fortnightly study skills lectures + initial meetings with individual supervisor
• TB2: weekly clinics, run on a drop-in basis, for one-on-one support + designated individual or group meetings with supervisor

At least two ‘writing retreats’: These are full-day sessions, facilitated by relevant P1 staff, at which students have dedicated time to consolidate the writing of their projects and to share with others the challenges and successes of the process. They will take place in quiet spaces, ideally not the usual teaching venues, combining room for ‘plenary’ discussion of individuals’ plans and progress as well as smaller spaces for quiet concentration, and opportunities to relax in between sessions and/or eat. Halls of Residence have ideal facilities for this, which are bookable by Schools with sufficient notice.

How you will be assessed

1. a preparatory outline of the subject matter, approach, methodology, and existing literature (1000 words, 10%), testing ILOs 1 and 2.
2. an extended essay on the topic agreed with the supervisor (6000 words, 65%), testing ILOs 3-6.
3. a potentially public-facing element (e.g. prospectus, interview, museum / library catalogue entries, newspaper article, teaching materials for school or adult education, etc.) prepared, circulated and presented orally to the whole cohort and tutors at a ‘CompLit Final Fair’ (15% for materials and 10% for presentation = 25%), testing ILO 7.

Where students opt to work in small groups, each one will prepare the 3 assessment items separately and will be graded on their own work only.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MODL30033).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.