Dissertation//Dissertation Briefing with Richard Miles.

Notes from today's dissertation briefing, as delivered by head of Contextual Studies, Richard Miles.

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NOTES

SUPERVISION TUTOR: JENNY HUTTON

- Level 6 dissertation information on Moodle, inc. handbook
- Guidance notes- blog (tell you how to structure your referencing)
- Harvard Referencing guide on Moodle
- Dissertation word count
- Submission of work
- Check out and blog all info

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- Critical Studies office, G06 (Richard Miles)
- ALWAYS get in touch with Jenny through emails.. jenny.hutton@leeds-art.ac.uk
- Entitled to 4 hours contact with supervision tutor.
- This group briefing is classed as our first hour.
- 6 30 minute tutorials- USE WISELY
- All tutorials need to be booked in advance via Moodle- you sign up for a time (see dissertation information).
- If you are 15 minutes late for a tutorial, it's classed as a non-attendance.

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- Drafts must be submitted at least 3 working days in advance to guarantee feedback in a tutorial session.
- 1st tutorial (8th Oct w/c), Bring records of research so far. Essay structure discussed.
- 2nd tutorial (w/c 15t Oct, 22nd Oct), Progress of research/sample of critical writing.
- 3rd tutorial (w/c 5th Nov, 12th Nov, 19th Nov), Suggested deadline for draft of two chapters.
- 4th tutorial (w/c 26th Nov, 3rd Dec, 10th Dec), Planning for research over Xmas. Advice on reworked draft.
- 5th tutorial (w/c 7th Jan, 14th Jan), Tutorial on reasonably finished draft.
- 6th tutorial (w/c 21st Jan, 28th Jan, 4th Feb), Check title, presentation, bibliography and other details.

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- E LEARNING TUTORIALS/GROUP TUTORIALS CAN OFTEN BE NEGOTIATED AS A REPLACEMENT TO STANDARD TUTORIALS WITH YOUR TUTOR.
- Jenny's tutorial times are now up on Moodle and are bookable.

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- THURSDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2013 DEADLINE (Signed into the administration Office, G23, see estudio).
- 2 bound copies and CD copy required... 19 WEEKS TOMORROW.

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

- Research (30)
- Critical Analysis (30)
- Understanding and link between theory and practice (25)
- Academic conventions (15) [REFERENCING, BOUND, FORMAT, GRAMMAR... "GIFT MARKS"]

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- TRIANGULATE sources.
- Apply theory to investigate visual culture.

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WHAT MAKES A GOOD DISSERTATION?

- A solid underlying methodology (topic and research methodology and rationale... evaluated, critiqued and supported... the take and way to investigate it).
- Critical depth and critical balance (You can have an opinion, as long as you can back it up... it should be clear and unambiguous).
- ACADEMIC writing, intellectual depth.
- A clear, logical progression/argument and development.
- TRIANGULATION... link sources, look at a topic from at least 3 sides, a third argument would side with one or the other, therefore, helping form a substantial and evidenced argument.

- Intro, 750 words
- Conclusion, 1000 words

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STRUCTURE

- Roughly 4 chapters.
- Plan a structure in your first tutorial.
- Don't be too ambitious.
- Move from the general to the specific.
- FOCUS.

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WRITING GUIDES

- "A short guide to writing about art" book.
- "Doing your research project" book (case studies, questionnaires, etc.)

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FAQ

- Word count excludes... Extended quotations (2 lines or more, separated from body of text and indented).
- Bibliography
- Title page
- List of illustrations
- Appendices (Emails, interview notes, reports based on primary research, etc.)
- Small quotes in text (fragmentary in prose) ARE included in the word count.

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BOOKS & SOURCES
Look in Blackwell's book store..

- Icon guides 
- A very short introduction series 

... Broad overviews of complex theories

- Google Books (scanned books and texts online)

SOURCES

- athens.ac.uk (e-Books, and e-Journals).
- Leeds Met & Brotherton (Leeds Uni) library for referencing.

- JSTOR Journals, specific, and to the point.