Dissertation PPE

Overview

The dissertation is a research project that the student develops, designs and implements. There is a Dissertation Synopsis worth 10% and the end product is a substantial piece of written work of on a topic that has been agreed between the student and the supervisor, worth 90%. In the case of

students on the PPE programme this should involve an area of study that entails engagement with literature from at least two of the disciplines of politics, philosophy or economics, or should be in an area of interdisciplinary overlap such as political philosophy, or political economy, subject to agreement with the prospective supervisor and the programme convenor.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the dissertation, students will be able to: (a) develop a sustained argument, test a hypothesis, and/or write an original narrative; (b) carry out research including finding appropriate sources of information for the topic in question; (c) review appropriate theories for the topic; (d) appreciate some of the ways in which at least two of the following disciplines, politics, philosophy, economics, inter-relate and or complement one another.

Skills

Students participate in a workshop at the start of the dissertation, which focuses on how to formulate a dissertation question, how to conduct research for the dissertation, and how to organise and write the dissertation. Students engage in further consultation and skills development with their individual dissertation supervisor. A further workshop is held at the start of the second semester. Students work closely with their supervisor throughout the research, drafting and writing of their dissertation. The skills required for ongoing research and writing of a dissertation are acquired and monitored through liaison with the supervisor.

Assessment

Dissertation