LG592-7-AP: ASSIGNMENT WRITING AND DISSERTATION PREPARATION
Year: 2013/14
Department: Language and Linguistics
Essex credit: 0
ECTS credit: 0.00
Available to Study Abroad / Exchange Students: No Comments: None
| Module is taught during the following terms |
| Autumn |  | Spring | | Summer |  |
Module Description
Aims
To familiarize students with the standard practices of writing assignments and dissertations in the discipline of applied linguistics/TESOL. To provide practice for students of conforming to these conventions.. To raise students' awareness of unacceptable practices in assignment and dissertation writing (e.g. plagiarism, irrelevance, incorrect referencing, unsubstantiated argumentation).
Topics covered in the module
Assignment writing
* Using online databases to conduct literature searches
* Plagiarism
Dissertation Preparation
* Hot to write abstracts
* How to write literature reviews
* How to write methods chapters
* Designing questionnaires
* Conducting qualitative reviews
* Conducting observations
* Coding/ analyzing (qualitative) data
* Writing up your dissertation
Outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate:
* An understanding of acceptable and unacceptable practices in assignment
and dissertation writing in applied linguistics/TESOL.
* A basic familiarity with some common research methodologies and
paradigms commonly employed in applied linguistics/TESOL (e.g.
qualitative interviewing, questionnaire design, classroom observation).
Learning & Teaching Methods
1x1hr lecture, 1x1hr seminar, 8 weeks.
2 computer lab sessions x 2hrs each, 2 weeks.
Assessment
Impose
Other details:
No coursework or assessment.
Exam Duration and Period
Other information
This module runs over 2 terms. Sessions 1-3 (assignment writing) are held in term 1; sessions 4-10 (dissertation preparation) are held in term 2.
This module is compulsory for MAAL, MAALRes, MAALIC, MACALL, MAESP, MAELTYL, MALTPE, MASLA, MATEFL, MAELT, and MAVE students.
Bibliography
- Students who wish to prepare for the module are advised to look at the following:
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Cohen L et al (2000) Research Methods in Education (5th ed.). London: Routledge Falmer.
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Dörnyei, Z. (2007) Research Methods in Applied Linguistics: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methodologies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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Mackey, A. & Gass, S.M. (2005) Second Language Research: Methodology and Design. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.