Briefing on Information and Requirements for Dissertations

Briefing on Briefing on Information and Information and

Requirements for Requirements for DissertationsDissertationsDepartment of English Department of English

Language Language

and Literatureand LiteratureDr. Szerencsi Katalin

Dr. Granville Pillar

Topics for DiscussionTopics for Discussion

General InformationGeneral Information Roles and Obligations of the StudentRoles and Obligations of the Student Roles and Obligations of the SupervisorRoles and Obligations of the Supervisor Dissertation Format and RegulationsDissertation Format and Regulations The Components of a DissertationThe Components of a Dissertation Research MethodologyResearch Methodology Dissertation Dissertation DisciplinesDisciplines Assessment CriteriaAssessment Criteria GradingGrading Question TimeQuestion Time

General InformationGeneral Information The submission of a dissertation is a The submission of a dissertation is a

requirement for every final-year student.requirement for every final-year student. SStudenttudentss should have finalised should have finalised their their

dissertation topicdissertation topicss with with theirtheir supervisor supervisors s after having successfully completed half after having successfully completed half of their studiesof their studies..

Faculty information on dissertations is Faculty information on dissertations is now now available on the college web site.available on the college web site. The The current departmental guidelines can be current departmental guidelines can be obtained from the home page of the obtained from the home page of the English Department.English Department.

General InformationGeneral Information

Previously written dissertations are Previously written dissertations are available for viewing in the English available for viewing in the English Department’s libraryDepartment’s library..

Roles and Obligations of the Roles and Obligations of the StudentStudent

Each student is entitled to 6-8 hours Each student is entitled to 6-8 hours supervision spread throughout the supervision spread throughout the dissertation writing process.dissertation writing process.

Failure to attend a consultation without Failure to attend a consultation without explanation will result in loss of that explanation will result in loss of that hour.hour.

Students are required to come with Students are required to come with written work or prepared questions - written work or prepared questions - mere presence at the consultation is not mere presence at the consultation is not sufficient. sufficient.

Roles and Obligations of the Roles and Obligations of the StudentStudent

Each student should,Each student should, produce basic ideas; produce basic ideas; write a detailed study plan and follow write a detailed study plan and follow

it; it; make changes as are necessary; make changes as are necessary; access materials for the research;access materials for the research; accept constructive criticism from the accept constructive criticism from the

supervisor;supervisor; hand in the dissertation on time.hand in the dissertation on time.

Deadline for the Submission Deadline for the Submission

of Dissertationsof Dissertations

END OF APRILEND OF APRIL

Dissertations received after this date will not be accepted, and will thus result in failure of the dissertation.

Roles and Obligations of the Roles and Obligations of the SupervisorSupervisor

The supervisor,The supervisor, helps students to clarify a chosen topic; helps students to clarify a chosen topic; shares his or her knowledge on the topic;shares his or her knowledge on the topic; advises students on the choice of advises students on the choice of

research instruments;research instruments; agrees on deadlines at the stages of the agrees on deadlines at the stages of the

writing process;writing process; reads the student’s drafts and suggests reads the student’s drafts and suggests

any changes;any changes;

Roles and Obligations of the Roles and Obligations of the SupervisorSupervisor

The supervisor,The supervisor, provides the evaluation of the provides the evaluation of the

dissertation;dissertation; compiles the necessary compiles the necessary

information for the defence of the information for the defence of the dissertation;dissertation;

is present at the defence. is present at the defence.

Dissertation Format and Dissertation Format and RegulationsRegulations

Length:Length: Type A dissertations approx. 30 pagesType A dissertations approx. 30 pages Type AC dissertations approx. 30 pagesType AC dissertations approx. 30 pages double spaced, A4double spaced, A4, Times New Roman , Times New Roman

(12)(12) Margins:Margins:

left - 3 cmsleft - 3 cms right - 3 cmsright - 3 cms bottom - 2 cmsbottom - 2 cms top - 2 cmstop - 2 cms


The The 30-page limit30-page limit does notdoes not include:include: title pagetitle page abstractabstract table of contentstable of contents references or bibliographyreferences or bibliography appendicesappendices diagrams, graphs, illustrationsdiagrams, graphs, illustrations statistical tablesstatistical tables


Page Numbering:Page Numbering: consecutively in Arabic numeralsconsecutively in Arabic numerals

e.g. 1, 2, 3,… not i, ii, iii,…e.g. 1, 2, 3,… not i, ii, iii,… Chapters:Chapters:

new page for every new chapter;new page for every new chapter; chapter heading is to be in distinctive chapter heading is to be in distinctive

typeface separated from main text; typeface separated from main text; the first line of new paragraphs should be the first line of new paragraphs should be

indented 5indented 5 s spaces.paces. no indentation after main titles or subtitlesno indentation after main titles or subtitles


Binding:Binding: one copy to be submitted to the one copy to be submitted to the

English Department; English Department; one copy for the student to keep;one copy for the student to keep; dissertation must be bound in dissertation must be bound in

accordance with the faculty accordance with the faculty requirements;requirements;

spiral binding or plastic sleeve spiral binding or plastic sleeve covers are not acceptable.covers are not acceptable.


Plagiarism:Plagiarism: is the deliberate copying of the work of is the deliberate copying of the work of

another author, word for word, without another author, word for word, without due acknowledgement;due acknowledgement;

is the borrowing of ideas and arguments is the borrowing of ideas and arguments of another author without due of another author without due acknowledgement, even if the wording acknowledgement, even if the wording differs from the original source;differs from the original source;

copying the work of a fellow student or copying the work of a fellow student or from someone who is unknown to you. from someone who is unknown to you.


Culpable Plagiarism:Culpable Plagiarism: is stealingis stealing and and is cheating;is cheating; in any part or of any length,in any part or of any length, will result will result

in in automatic failureautomatic failure of the dissertation. of the dissertation. Suspected Plagiarism:Suspected Plagiarism:

prior to the final submission of the prior to the final submission of the dissertation, this dissertation, this will be indicated to the will be indicated to the student who will be invited to re-submit student who will be invited to re-submit his or her dissertation with revised his or her dissertation with revised referencing and acknowledgements.referencing and acknowledgements.


Avoid Plagiarism by:Avoid Plagiarism by: noting bibliographical details (title, noting bibliographical details (title,

author, year of publication, publisher author, year of publication, publisher etc.) and page number of the text.etc.) and page number of the text.

enclosing direct quotations taken from enclosing direct quotations taken from a source with quotation marks (i.e. a source with quotation marks (i.e. “…..”) and noting page number.“…..”) and noting page number.

noting bibliographical details after a noting bibliographical details after a paraphrased or summarised text taken paraphrased or summarised text taken from an original source. from an original source.


Avoid Plagiarism by:Avoid Plagiarism by: reading faculty handbooks (available reading faculty handbooks (available

from the faculty library) which include from the faculty library) which include instructions for correct quotation citation instructions for correct quotation citation and referencing.and referencing.

If If Culpable Culpable and/or Suspected and/or Suspected Plagiarism is identified prior to the Plagiarism is identified prior to the submission deadline and in unbound submission deadline and in unbound form, the supervisior will advise the form, the supervisior will advise the student to amend the dissertation in student to amend the dissertation in accordance with the regulations. No accordance with the regulations. No such amendment is possible after the such amendment is possible after the dissertation has been submitted in dissertation has been submitted in bound form.bound form.


We as a department would rather We as a department would rather receive original work from students receive original work from students which contains some language errors, which contains some language errors, than perfect work which is not their than perfect work which is not their own, but simply copied from own, but simply copied from secondary sources. A plagiarised secondary sources. A plagiarised dissertation tells us nothing about a dissertation tells us nothing about a student’s knowledge or intellectual student’s knowledge or intellectual competence. As such, it is not competence. As such, it is not assessable.assessable.

The Components of a The Components of a DissertationDissertation

Title PageTitle Page Abstract (Summary or Synopsis)Abstract (Summary or Synopsis) AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements Table of ContentsTable of Contents IntroductionIntroduction Literature Review (Survey)Literature Review (Survey) Chapters Containing Body of ResearchChapters Containing Body of Research Conclusion Conclusion References/References/BibliographyBibliography AppendicesAppendices


Title Page:Title Page: Gives title, author, college and year of Gives title, author, college and year of

submission.submission. Title should summarise the main idea Title should summarise the main idea

of the dissertation, and be no more of the dissertation, and be no more that 20 words.that 20 words.

Abstract:Abstract: Gives a summary of the dissertation Gives a summary of the dissertation

and should be between 100-and should be between 100-15150 words.0 words.


Abstract may include:Abstract may include: backgroundbackground aim of the researchaim of the research methods usedmethods used main findingsmain findings recommendationsrecommendations conclusionconclusion


Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements: reference to anyone who has reference to anyone who has

given substantial assistance with given substantial assistance with the researchthe research your supervisoryour supervisor someone who has given commentssomeone who has given comments person who typed itperson who typed it anyone who has given you personal anyone who has given you personal

supportsupport


Table of Contents:Table of Contents: should correspond to your list of should correspond to your list of

chapter headings and chapter headings and subheadings;subheadings;

system of numbering should not system of numbering should not go beyond two subdivisiongo beyond two subdivisionss.. i.e. 1.2.6 or 3.4.4., not 1.2.6.1 or i.e. 1.2.6 or 3.4.4., not 1.2.6.1 or

3.4.4.13.4.4.1


IntroductionIntroduction establishestablisheses the topic of the research the topic of the research establishestablisheses the research question the research question establishestablisheses the rationale - summarise the rationale - summarisess

previous research on the topicprevious research on the topic establishestablisheses the significance and the significance and

indicateindicatess what is missing in previous what is missing in previous researchresearch

establishestablisheses the aim of the research the aim of the research


Literature ReviewLiterature Review in an empirical study it is always in an empirical study it is always

between the between the Introduction Introduction and and Methodology Methodology chapterchapterss;;

in a non-empirical study it is in a non-empirical study it is normally incorporated into the normally incorporated into the body of the dissertation.body of the dissertation.


Literature Review - Citation Literature Review - Citation Conventions:Conventions: Harvard System (in-text or Harvard System (in-text or

author/date)author/date) Note System (either footnotes or Note System (either footnotes or

endnotes)endnotes) Full bibliographical details are given Full bibliographical details are given

in alphabetical in alphabetical order in the order in the RReferenceeferences/s/Bibliography at the end of Bibliography at the end of the dissertation.the dissertation.


Literature Review - Citation Literature Review - Citation Conventions:Conventions: Direct quotations shorter than 30 words Direct quotations shorter than 30 words

should be enclosed with quotation should be enclosed with quotation marks, followed by the number of marks, followed by the number of citation (in superscript) if using the note citation (in superscript) if using the note citation system, or by the author’s citation system, or by the author’s name/authors’ names, date of source name/authors’ names, date of source and page number (in parenthesis, i.e. and page number (in parenthesis, i.e. round brackets), if using the in-text round brackets), if using the in-text system. system.


Literature Review - Citation Literature Review - Citation Conventions:Conventions: Direct quotations longer than 30 Direct quotations longer than 30

words should be single-spaced, words should be single-spaced, indented 5 spaces and in a font one indented 5 spaces and in a font one size smaller than the body text. size smaller than the body text. Quotation marks are not needed and Quotation marks are not needed and the source should be given at the the source should be given at the end of the quotation in parenthesis.end of the quotation in parenthesis.


Literature Review - Citation Literature Review - Citation Conventions:Conventions: Direct quotations placed within Direct quotations placed within

quotation marks must be the exact quotation marks must be the exact words found in the source. The words found in the source. The spelling, punctuation verb tense, spelling, punctuation verb tense, verb-subject agreement etc, must verb-subject agreement etc, must not be altered to suit your text. not be altered to suit your text. Rather, your text should be changed Rather, your text should be changed to conform to the quotation.to conform to the quotation.


Literature Review - Citation Literature Review - Citation Conventions:Conventions: Paraphrases or ideas gleaned from a Paraphrases or ideas gleaned from a

source should also be acknowledged, but source should also be acknowledged, but it is not necessary to enclose them in it is not necessary to enclose them in quotation marks or give the page quotation marks or give the page number. number.

Citations of paraphrases should include Citations of paraphrases should include the author’s name/authors’ names and the author’s name/authors’ names and date of publication directly after the date of publication directly after the paraphrase.paraphrase.


Literature Review - Citation Literature Review - Citation Conventions:Conventions: Author is mentioned in the body of Author is mentioned in the body of

the textthe text. Example:. Example: Cognition is defined by Jacobs and Cognition is defined by Jacobs and

Schuman (1992:24) as “… the perception Schuman (1992:24) as “… the perception of a stimulus, attention to that stimulus, of a stimulus, attention to that stimulus, the movement of that stimulus into the movement of that stimulus into memory, and finally, the expression or memory, and finally, the expression or the use of that information.” the use of that information.”


Literature Review - Citation Literature Review - Citation Conventions:Conventions: Author is not mentioned in the body Author is not mentioned in the body

of the textof the text. Example:. Example: Cognition is defined as “… the perception Cognition is defined as “… the perception

of a stimulus, attention to that stimulus, of a stimulus, attention to that stimulus, the movement of that stimulus into the movement of that stimulus into memory, and finally, the expression or memory, and finally, the expression or the use of that information” (Jacobs and the use of that information” (Jacobs and Schuman, 1992:24)Schuman, 1992:24)


Literature Review - Citation Literature Review - Citation Conventions:Conventions: Quoting from a source taken from the Quoting from a source taken from the

internetinternet, cited in the text, cited in the text If author’s name and date are available:If author’s name and date are available:

e.g. (Smith, 2003) – then quote full citation e.g. (Smith, 2003) – then quote full citation details in References/Bibliographydetails in References/Bibliography

If author’s name or date is not available, the If author’s name or date is not available, the minimum information should include the date minimum information should include the date retrieved and the retrieved and the full web page referencefull web page reference..

e.g.e.g. (r(retrieved etrieved AugustAugust 19, 200 19, 20055 from the World from the World Wide Web: Wide Web: wwww.englishclub.net/teachers/workshop/video.htm.englishclub.net/teachers/workshop/video.htm))


Literature Review - Citation Conventions:Literature Review - Citation Conventions: Quoting from a source taken from the Quoting from a source taken from the

internetinternet cited in References/Bibliography cited in References/Bibliography Details of text, including name of author/authors, Details of text, including name of author/authors,

date of publicationdate of publication (if available) (if available), title of article, , title of article, place published and publisher (if applicable) full place published and publisher (if applicable) full web page reference (web page reference (ii.e. http://www ……….and .e. http://www ……….and the date on which you downloaded it from the date on which you downloaded it from the internet the internet (e.g.(e.g. Smith, K. (2003), Smith, K. (2003), Metaphysical Poetry. RMetaphysical Poetry. Retrieved etrieved AugustAugust 19, 200 19, 20055 from the World Wide Web: from the World Wide Web: wwwwww.englishclub.net/teachers/workshop/video.htm.englishclub.net/teachers/workshop/video.htm))


Chapters Containing Body of the Chapters Containing Body of the Research: Research: Empirical Research (i.e.gathering Empirical Research (i.e.gathering

of data [quantitative or qualitative] of data [quantitative or qualitative] based on experiment and/or based on experiment and/or observation)observation) a presentation of the research methoda presentation of the research method a presentation of the findingsa presentation of the findings a discussion of the findingsa discussion of the findings


Chapters Containing Body of the Chapters Containing Body of the Research:Research: Non-Empirical or Analytical Non-Empirical or Analytical

Research (i.e.where throughout the Research (i.e.where throughout the study there is a line of argument study there is a line of argument usually based on research questions usually based on research questions you have developed about concepts you have developed about concepts or theories in your discipline area)or theories in your discipline area) structure and content are much less structure and content are much less

predictablepredictable


ConclusionConclusion ReportReportss the procedure and aims. the procedure and aims. ReportReportss findings and claims based on the findings and claims based on the

findings.findings. SupportSupportss how other research supports how other research supports

present findings (or vice versa).present findings (or vice versa). SuggestSuggestss limitations of procedure or limitations of procedure or

findings.findings. ProposeProposess implications of the findings or implications of the findings or

claims based on findings.claims based on findings. MakeMakess recommendations. recommendations.

Dissertation Dissertation DisciplinesDisciplines

British and American StudiesBritish and American Studies Literary Topics Literary Topics StylisticsStylistics Literary TheoryLiterary Theory TranslationTranslation Cultural StudiesCultural Studies


Language and LinguisticsLanguage and Linguistics Practical, Descriptive and Practical, Descriptive and

Contrastive GrammarContrastive Grammar Applied LinguisticsApplied Linguistics Language Language TestingTesting Discourse AnalysisDiscourse Analysis Translation Translation


MethodologyMethodology Comparative Studies on Teaching Comparative Studies on Teaching

ApproachesApproaches Language in the ClassroomLanguage in the Classroom Error AnalysisError Analysis Classroom ManagementClassroom Management Course Book EvaluationCourse Book Evaluation Skills TeachingSkills Teaching TeacherTeacher Training Training

Dissertation TopicsDissertation Topics

MethodologyMethodology ContentContent

The dissertation must be The dissertation must be classroom related and contain classroom related and contain evidence of empirical, original evidence of empirical, original research conducted through a research conducted through a number of different methods: number of different methods: e.g. questionnaires, case e.g. questionnaires, case studies, interviews, observation studies, interviews, observation instruments and/or textual instruments and/or textual analysis.analysis.

Assessment CriteriaAssessment Criteria

Familiarity with scientific literature Familiarity with scientific literature and its application 0-10and its application 0-10

Content and critical approach to the Content and critical approach to the topic 0-15topic 0-15

Structure and balance 0-5Structure and balance 0-5 Language and style 0-15Language and style 0-15 Spelling and format 0-5Spelling and format 0-5

GradingGrading

44-50 = 544-50 = 5 38-45 = 438-45 = 4 32-38 = 332-38 = 3 26-31 = 226-31 = 2 0-25 = 10-25 = 1

Briefing on Information and Requirements for Dissertations

Documents

new page

dissertation topics

subtitlesdissertation

cmsdissertation format

supervisordissertation

topicadvises students

dissertation writing

studenteach student