GV994-8-FY-CO:
Professional Development Seminar
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 8
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
0
15 January 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MPHDL20136 Government,
MPHDL20148 Government,
MPHDL20172 Government,
MPHDL201FA Government,
MPHDL201FJ Government,
MPHDL201PA Government,
MPHDL201PJ Government,
MPHDL20K48 Government,
MPHDL20KJS Government,
PHD L20136 Government,
PHD L20148 Government,
PHD L20172 Government,
PHD L201FA Government,
PHD L201FJ Government,
PHD L201PA Government,
PHD L201PJ Government,
PHD L20K48 Government,
PHD L20KJS Government,
MPHDL20D48 Government (Ideology and Discourse Analysis),
PHD L20D48 Government (Ideology and Discourse Analysis)
The module focuses on writing and presenting a research proposal for the thesis, as well as other significant aspects of socialization into the discipline of political science. We aim to help PhD candidates develop a wide range of professional skills, giving them the capacity to complete their PhD and compete for academic jobs.
Doctoral candidates in the Department carry out their research in a wide variety of areas on a diverse set of topics, using a wide range of different approaches from nomothetic-deductive formal modelling, to quantitative and qualitative comparative studies, to normative political philosophy. Healthy exposure to these different perspectives in the scholarly study of politics provides an opportunity to improve general knowledge and background, and even provide new ideas for specialised areas of research. This seminar is not aimed at any sub-field or methodological tradition in particular.
Inevitably, the primary focus here is the academic profession. We will therefore practise a number of specific skills such as drafting research proposals, presenting results, and publication strategies. However, many of the sessions are also highly relevant for the other kinds of professions in which PhD graduates often find employment. Whatever your target, we aim in this seminar to provide a constructively critical atmosphere in which to hone various skills.
This module aims to provide training and support for the research capacity and professional development of all doctoral candidates in the Department of Government.
By the end of this module, then, participants should have:
1. summarised a research proposal for the thesis work and had it critically appraised;
2. developed presentational skills both in regard to research, professional meetings and job-seeking;
3. accumulated general 'know-how' about the political science profession.
The research proposal will be developed, presented and defended in various formats throughout the module:
1. In Weeks 16-17, each student must deliver a 10-minute presentation of their proposed doctoral research. The presentation should (1) identify the research question, (2) outline the type and sources of evidence to be used, and (3) begin to consider the implications of different possible findings.
2. In Weeks 20-21, there will be peer review sessions during which the module supervisors and your fellow students will comment on your draft proposals. Guidance on the content of these drafts will be provided in Week 4.
3. In Week 23, there will be no standard seminar session but instead a poster session – to which all PhD students and faculty will be invited – at which you will present a poster outlining your planned research.
Supervisors and Boards have the first and the final say about how PhD work is conducted. This seminar merely supplements the Supervisory Boards and does not supplant them. There will inevitably be a certain amount of overlap between the two, since it is more interesting and economical to discuss papers based on on-going research. Generally, supervisors welcome all critical and informal discussion of research, but in the event of a significant contradiction the supervisor's opinion prevails.
Beyond attendance and active participation, we have an overriding aim which is to prepare first-year doctoral candidates for having their research proposals accepted by the Research Students Progress Committee in the summer term. The research proposal will be developed, presented and defended in various formats throughout the seminar:
1. In Weeks 16-17, each student must deliver a 10-minute presentation of their proposed doctoral research. The presentation should (1) identify the research question, (2) outline the type and sources of evidence to be used, and (3) begin to consider the implications of different possible findings.
2. In Weeks 20-21, there will be peer review sessions during which the module supervisors and your fellow students will comment on your draft proposals. Guidance on the content of these drafts will be provided in Week 4.
3. In Week 23, there will be no standard seminar session but instead a poster session – to which all PhD students and faculty will be invited – at which you will present a poster outlining your planned research.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Module is either passed or marked as not completed.
Reassessment
Module is either passed or marked as not completed.
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Brian Phillips, email: brian.phillips@essex.ac.uk.
Shane Martin and Lasse Aaskoven
Module Supervisor Professor Shane Martin shane.martin@essex.ac.uk or Module Administrator Jamie Seakens (govpgquery@essex.ac.uk)
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Damien Bol
King's College London
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 40 hours, 40 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Government
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