Unit information: Black Humanities: Research Skills in 2021/22

Unit name	Black Humanities: Research Skills
Unit code	MODLM0037
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Stone
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Modern Languages
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit aims to introduce students to the skills and techniques needed to carry out interdisciplinary research and apply their findings in their dissertation. Students will learn how to identify a suitable topic for academic research in Black Humanities, formulate a clear research questions and develop research aims and objectives; where to locate relevant materials and secondary readings, how to organise their research materials, and how to structure and write an academic dissertation. It will introduce students to different research methods and issues. It will equip students with the necessary skills to embark on doctoral research, if they so desire.

Unit Aims

The aims of this unit are to:

1. Explore a wide variety of research skills through the lens of black Humanities Studies;
2. Familiarise students with the interdisciplinary methods and approaches of Black Humanities Studies, history, history of arts, Anthropology, philosophy, music, literature, film, visual art;
3. Critically assess and evaluate data and evidence in the context of research methodologies in Black Humanities;
4. Interpret, analyse, evaluate data relevant to the chosen topic;
5. Research and examine, theories, concepts, and apply them to the dissertation;
6. Plan, design, and carry out research that demonstrate independent intellectual work, which provides evidence of critical engagement with, and interpretation of, appropriate data;
7. Present research and judgements in written forms and styles appropriate to the discipline and to M Level;

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. To show an understanding of methodological approaches to research, and an ability to reflect on these;
2. Identify a suitable topic for academic research in Black Humanities, formulate a clear research questions and develop research aims and objectives;
3. Demonstrate awareness of the evolving nature of historical, anthropological, philosophical, literary, musical, critical black thought, global black cultures analysis and interpretation;
4. Demonstrate awareness of research ethical issues relevant to the investigation of a topic

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered online through a combination of synchronous sessions and asynchronous activities, including seminars, lectures, and collaborative as well as self-directed learning opportunities supported by tutor consultation.

Assessment Information

Dissertation proposal (pass/fail) - 50%

Oral presentation (pass/fail) - 50%

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. MODLM0037).

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 Faculty 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. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.