ENGL08004 2022 Research Methods for English and Drama/Applied Theatre Studies
Research Methods for English and Drama/Applied Theatre Studies allows students to hone their critical and written skills applied to theoretical and primary sources to prepare for writing their dissertation in the following semester in English or Drama/Applied Theatre Studies. The module is delivered through a course of lectures and seminars/workshops on research techniques, textual criticism, and academic writing and argumentation in English and Drama/Applied Drama and Theatre scholarship.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;
Develop practical training in writing research proposals
Show critical engagement with research writing processes
Articulate key issues in literary and drama/applied theatre research methods and practice
Demonstrate critical and creative analytical thinking, knowledge of research methodologies and interpretive skills
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Lectures, in tandem with seminars, discussion forums, small group work, blogs, readings and other active learning strategies, will be provided. The students will utilise technology to demonstrate literary/applied work to lecturers and to the class.
Module Assessment Strategies
There is a three-part assessment:
Part one: a bibliographical essay
Part two: a research project
Part three: a research proposal for an English dissertation
Students must complete and submit the formative English Studies research proposal assessment by the date and time specified to enrol on the RSCH08013 Research Dissertation (English Strand) module, and to be allocated a supervisor. Any student who fails to complete and submit the formative English Studies research proposal assessment may be delayed in gaining allocation to a supervisor, and any supervision time missed will not be provided at another stage – students will not be provided with any additional supervision. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they meet the pre-requisite requirements of the Research Dissertation (English Strand) module as stipulated above.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used for documentation and referencing in all formal academic submissions.
Repeat Assessments
Repeat assessment will depend on failed component(s)
Indicative Syllabus
Articulate key issues in literary and drama/applied theatre research methods and practices
The student will develop their understanding of the issues and procedures of literary/applied research, including engaging critically with primary and secondary material in preparation for the work of their research project.
Demonstrate critical and creative analytical and interpretive thinking/skills
The student will analyse and evaluate specific examples of research writings and practice in English/Applied research, including presenting on and participating in literature 'reviews' and close readings of self-selected critical texts.
Demonstrate critical engagement with research writing processes
The student will evidence clear understanding of the use of electronic resources, the purpose and development of a bibliography, practical, ethical, and theoretical issues associated with data collection, and the role of a literature review in locating one’s own research within a particular field of inquiry.
Develop practical training in writing research proposals
The student will learn the practice and structures entailed in constructing and writing research proposals, and be able to identify their own requirements in terms of the pursuit of their research project in the field of English/Drama and Applied Theatre Studies.
Coursework & Assessment Breakdown
Coursework Assessment
Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Research proposal | Formative | Individual Project | 0 % | End of Semester | 1,2,3,4 |
2 | Bibliographic essay | Coursework Assessment | Essay | 40 % | Week 8 | 1,3 |
3 | Research project | Project | Project | 60 % | End of Semester | 1,2,3,4 |
Full Time Mode Workload
Type | Location | Description | Hours | Frequency | Avg Workload |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent Learning | Not Specified | Independent Learning | 3 | Weekly | 3.00 |
Lecture | Flat Classroom | Lecture and seminar | 2 | Weekly | 2.00 |
Required & Recommended Book List
2005 The John Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism John Hopkins University Press
2013 Practice as Research in the Arts Palgrave
2008 Literary Theory: An Introduction University of Minnesota Press
1997 Understanding Theatre: Performance Analysis in Theory and Practice Almqvist & Wiksell International
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance Oxford University Press
1991 The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, Third Edition Penguin
Module Resources
The student will have access to a selection of websites and databases to enrich learning to widen breadth and depth of knowledge.
As a 5 credit module, the total student independent effort hours for this module are 3 hours per week. As a 10 credit module, the total student independent effort hours for this module are 5 hours per week.