Extended Essay 

Academic Responsibility: Dr Mandy Cooper

Course Aims

The module aims to facilitate the development of the cognitive, subject-specific and graduate skills associated with American Studies at Level Two (see Appendix 3). These practical skills in research methodology in an area, or interdisciplinary areas, of American Studies are developed in a progressive way, and will result in an Extended Essay of 4,000 words plus 1,000 words in related assignments. The module aims to build upon the student's communication skills exercised in supervision sessions and in small-group workshops. The varying scope and focus of the research is determined by the individual student in negotiation with a supervisor.

In the autumn term, there is a series of whole-group sessions. Through such meetings, the module aims to foster a supportive climate of research, wherein each student shares initial ideas, plans and mind-maps. Such discussion aims to develop critical thinking and peer- and self-assessment, and to maximise the opportunities for extending a student's approach and range of sources into an interdisciplinary field, when two or more dissertations have aspects in common. Students' presentations of their work in progress engenders the need to defend an argument, clarify the implications of terms and definitions and produce clear thesis statements. The monitored whole-group sessions of the module also aim progressively to consolidate research methods, including note-taking, planning outlines, drafting and referencing.

Course Content

Students select their own topic in consultation with tutors in October, and in early November submit a proposal, outlining the likely focus, structure and development of the dissertation, and working bibliography. The exact title is confirmed throughout the first few months of the autumn term, in consultation with the supervisor and should be arrived at by December at the latest.

The topic chosen by the student, in discussion with the supervisor, will normally be a two-part question or consist of different aspects that can be tackled in two parts. The first part would form the subject of the Extended Essay at Level Two and the second part would form the basis for the Individual Study at Level Three. For example, a student might choose to focus on the topic of prohibition in the USA in the 1920s. The development of the prohibition movement and the origins of the eighteenth amendment (1920) could be the subject of the Extended Essay at Level Two while the effects of prohibition in the 1920s (social, political and economic) and the reasons for repeal in 1933 could be dealt with in the Individual Study at Level Three.

Alternatively, with the agreement of the course director and supervisor, a student may choose a topic that can be dealt with at Level Two before moving on to a different topic at Level Three. As far as possible students – especially those taking Single Honours - will be encouraged to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to their chosen topic and credit will be given for drawing upon a variety of primary and secondary sources – historical, political, literary, visual, etc.

Five taught sessions enable students to focus on research methods, such as note-taking, outlining, logical development of an argument, storage of information, use of the library electronic technology, referencing, and presentation of a final paper. Interactive sessions assist students in developing mind-maps and overall plans in pair and group work.

There will be a hands-on session organised by the subject librarian to enable students to get maximum benefit from the on-line data-bases. Students will also have guidance on the use of Power Point for presentations and on the use of "Turn-it-in", an electronic tool to facilitate correct referencing.

Each student gives an individual presentation of his/her work-in-progress to the group or a sub-group who share a specialist interest. The assessment for this exercise is formative; students benefit from the opportunity to formulate plans, adopt a position, test out their thesis statement, pose questions, steer their work to a target readership and receive feedback from their peers.

Students receive guidance from their supervisor on subject-specific aspects of the ongoing work, for example, in the use and presentation of statistical data, historiography, literary or film criticism. Similarly, beyond the rudimentary aspects given in the taught sessions concerning format and typographical guidelines for bibliographies, advice on the final presentation (such as inclusion of pictures or statistics) will be given by supervisors.

Assessment

Assessment consists of three course work assignments.  There is no examination.  The main coursework assignment (the Extended Essay) is worth 80%.  The other two are worth 10% each.