for this dissertation
Please ensure that direct quotations are in inverted commas (aka quotation marks) and clearly referenced in-text using Harvard (surname, year: page number). Either double (“) or single (‘) quotation marks are acceptable, but please be consistent in your usage. Longer quotes of three line or more can be separated from the body text, indented with a wider margin to the left and referenced as mentioned above. E.g.:
The convention for longer quotations is to indent them by leaving a gap at the top and bottom and a wider margin to the left. This distinguishes the quotation from the body text. When indenting quotations in this manner, inverted commas may be omitted, but the in-text reference is, of course, still required. (Pedant and Quibbler, 2023, p. 6)
Try to follow one of the two suggested structures: dissertations should include an introduction, discussion of methods, theoretical background, analysis of examples/primary research, and a conclusion. There are more details regarding this in the unit briefing materials
Your quotes (& all intext references) are included in the 7000-word count. There isn’t a set range for how long quotes should be, however, do consider the focus & legibility of your quoted material.
details of a number of relevant forms of primary research such as visual analysis, interviews, object analysis, discourse analysis and performance analysis amongst others: any of these approaches to gathering primary research can be used. You must include a minimum of one research method, and we do not recommend using more than three different methods. You should justify your choice of method with reference to a methods literature and explain why you choose this specific approach to primary research instead of another. Primary research must be analysed and discussed.
o a well-defined, focused area of study;
o a clear research question that can be answered within the scope of the
assessment task.
o a clearly phrased title that explains the purpose of the study;
o a detailed, reflective introduction and discussion of your research
process and your chosen primary research method(s), an explanation of why they have been selected, and a thorough engagement with relevant academic literature;
o an in-depth analysis and interpretation of primary research2;
o clear links between the academic literature you explore and your
primary research;
o an interpretation of your topic that is clearly and convincingly argued; o a link between your dissertation research and your broader field of
practice;
o if you are using visual material, clear evidence of where these have been
credibly sourced in your captions or a list of illustrations;
o the correct use of Harvard referencing for all images, direct quotations
and paraphrased text from other authors, including accurate use of quotation marks and in-text citations in the main body of the dissertation and the inclusion of a full bibliography at the end of the dissertation.
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You should include a cover page that indicates the title of the dissertation; your name, surname, and course degree; and the name of your dissertation tutor. You should also include the final word count and, for the Dissertation with Enhanced Visual Research, image count.
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The dissertation should have an introduction and conclusion and should be divided into a number of chapters or sections using headings and sub- headings. Your work must also contain clear page numbers.
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You can design your work as you deem appropriate, but how you communicate and present your research must adhere to academic standards.
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Your tutor will offer you guidance on writing in an academic style: you will need to use technical terms and to refer to key concepts, but you
do not need to adopt an elaborate writing style or vocabulary. It is better to use clear, precise, grammatically correct sentences and paragraphs than to use a style of communication that is difficult to understand. -
It is better to avoid slang terms unless they convey an important idea that cannot be otherwise expressed (in this case use italics or quote marks and, where relevant, include a definition of the term).
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It is perfectly acceptable to use the first person “I” or “me” in your dissertation and in some cases, it is advisable to do so. If you are discussing your own experiences (for example if you are using auto- ethnography as a research method) then you should use the first person. Remember, while we ask students to include their own analysis or interpretation of their topics, this is different from simply offering an opinion unsupported by argument or evidence.
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For the written dissertation, double-space or 1.5 space the text for readability; use a neutral, professional, unobtrusive typeface/font such as Arial, Calibri, Helvetica or Times New Roman.