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how important is a dissertation?
hey everyone, im studying english and french at a russel group uni, im currently deciding whether to do a dissertation in my final year but im struggling to think of ideas? so just how important is a dissertation for employers etc because im really leaning towards not doing one?
What is your alternative to doing a dissertation? Is it another module?
Original post by SilverstarDJ
What is your alternative to doing a dissertation? Is it another module?
yeah, its not compulsory, you can do just modules if you prefer
A dissertation is important to a certain extent with employers. It depends on your course and the employer. If your course is scientifically-based, which I know yours is not, and your employer is a science-based company then your dissertation will be very important. Your dissertation is also important as well when pursuing higher qualifications, for example a Masters and/or a PhD as your dissertation will be your evidence of your ability to do research at a higher level (in the sciences). If you want to do a Masters and/or PhD in English and French, then it may be the same as the sciences although I'm not entirely sure of this.
It also depends on what YOU want to do after university. Do you want to do a Masters and continue education and maybe develop a career within academia? Or do you want to just graduate and get a job and start earning some dosh? If you don't want to do one then don't, especially as it's not compulsory.
NOTE: I'm a sport science graduate who had to do a compulsory dissertation and got a 2:1 final mark
It also depends on what YOU want to do after university. Do you want to do a Masters and continue education and maybe develop a career within academia? Or do you want to just graduate and get a job and start earning some dosh? If you don't want to do one then don't, especially as it's not compulsory.
NOTE: I'm a sport science graduate who had to do a compulsory dissertation and got a 2:1 final mark
(edited 10 years ago)
Unless you have your sights on a research career in academia, then having done a dissertation does not count for a great deal. There is a certain pleasure in doing a good research project and acquiring specialist in-depth knowledge but in terms of general mainstream employment, it won't matter one bit if you've done a dissy or not - what they are FAR more interested in ia '2.1 or First' or in many cases just 'degree?'. Where are you doing this degree?
Original post by returnmigrant
Unless you have your sights on a research career in academia, then having done a dissertation does not count for a great deal. There is a certain pleasure in doing a good research project and acquiring specialist in-depth knowledge but in terms of general mainstream employment, it won't matter one bit if you've done a dissy or not - what they are FAR more interested in ia '2.1 or First' or in many cases just 'degree?'. Where are you doing this degree?
Nottingham
I'm very surprised that an RG Uni gives you the option of not doing a dissertation, especially for a traditionally academic subject like English. However, having looked at the course website, this is only 7,500 words long - an extended essay frankly, as most other RG Unis dissertations run to 10,000 or 12,000 words and you need this length to do a research topic any justice. So all this unit is giving you is the chance to work on a topic outside of formal classwork (ie. a personal interest) and produce one long essay rather than a directed topic with formal classes and several essays.
Unless you have a burning desire to do a 'pet' topic in slightly more depth, then it sounds like a total waste of time, and frankly its very cheeky of a University like Nottingham which makes great toot of its 'academic standards' to think that one short extended essay can be called 'a dissertation'. An example of a credible dissertation = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/modules/module/ARA3023/
Unless you have a burning desire to do a 'pet' topic in slightly more depth, then it sounds like a total waste of time, and frankly its very cheeky of a University like Nottingham which makes great toot of its 'academic standards' to think that one short extended essay can be called 'a dissertation'. An example of a credible dissertation = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/modules/module/ARA3023/
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by returnmigrant
I'm very surprised that an RG Uni gives you the option of not doing a dissertation, especially for a traditionally academic subject like English. However, having looked at the course website, this is only 7,500 words long - an extended essay frankly, as most other RG Unis dissertations run to 10,000 or 12,000 words and you need this length to do a research topic any justice. So all this unit is giving you is the chance to work on a topic outside of formal classwork (ie. a personal interest) and produce one long essay rather than a directed topic with formal classes and several essays.
Unless you have a burning desire to do a 'pet' topic in slightly more depth, then it sounds like a total waste of time, and frankly its very cheeky of a University like Nottingham which makes great toot of its 'academic standards' to think that one short extended essay can be called 'a dissertation'. An example of a credible dissertation = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/modules/module/ARA3023/
Unless you have a burning desire to do a 'pet' topic in slightly more depth, then it sounds like a total waste of time, and frankly its very cheeky of a University like Nottingham which makes great toot of its 'academic standards' to think that one short extended essay can be called 'a dissertation'. An example of a credible dissertation = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/modules/module/ARA3023/
I go to Nottingham and have had to do two 5000 word essays this year (2nd year), and the dissertation for my course next year is 10,000 words. Just so you know.
Original post by returnmigrant
I'm very surprised that an RG Uni gives you the option of not doing a dissertation, especially for a traditionally academic subject like English. However, having looked at the course website, this is only 7,500 words long - an extended essay frankly, as most other RG Unis dissertations run to 10,000 or 12,000 words and you need this length to do a research topic any justice. So all this unit is giving you is the chance to work on a topic outside of formal classwork (ie. a personal interest) and produce one long essay rather than a directed topic with formal classes and several essays.
Unless you have a burning desire to do a 'pet' topic in slightly more depth, then it sounds like a total waste of time, and frankly its very cheeky of a University like Nottingham which makes great toot of its 'academic standards' to think that one short extended essay can be called 'a dissertation'. An example of a credible dissertation = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/modules/module/ARA3023/
Unless you have a burning desire to do a 'pet' topic in slightly more depth, then it sounds like a total waste of time, and frankly its very cheeky of a University like Nottingham which makes great toot of its 'academic standards' to think that one short extended essay can be called 'a dissertation'. An example of a credible dissertation = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/modules/module/ARA3023/
It's not that uncommon - I'm at an RG uni and had the choice of doing a 7-8000 or a 12-15000 word dissertation for 20/40 credits.
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Original post by returnmigrant
I'm very surprised that an RG Uni gives you the option of not doing a dissertation, especially for a traditionally academic subject like English. However, having looked at the course website, this is only 7,500 words long - an extended essay frankly, as most other RG Unis dissertations run to 10,000 or 12,000 words and you need this length to do a research topic any justice. So all this unit is giving you is the chance to work on a topic outside of formal classwork (ie. a personal interest) and produce one long essay rather than a directed topic with formal classes and several essays.
Unless you have a burning desire to do a 'pet' topic in slightly more depth, then it sounds like a total waste of time, and frankly its very cheeky of a University like Nottingham which makes great toot of its 'academic standards' to think that one short extended essay can be called 'a dissertation'. An example of a credible dissertation = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/modules/module/ARA3023/
Unless you have a burning desire to do a 'pet' topic in slightly more depth, then it sounds like a total waste of time, and frankly its very cheeky of a University like Nottingham which makes great toot of its 'academic standards' to think that one short extended essay can be called 'a dissertation'. An example of a credible dissertation = http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/modules/module/ARA3023/
Having explored that matter further, Bristol's French department does 8000 word dissertations http://www.bris.ac.uk/esu/unitprogcat/UnitDetails.jsa?ayrCode=13%2F14&unitCode=MODL30005
Bristol's English department makes a dissertation optional http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/2015/english/ba-english/
So I presume that you also think your own institution is cheeky and has questionable academic standards?
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Have English Depts always been this slack? Or is this just another example of the watering-down of degree requirements to make it 'easier' for students to get a 2.1?
(edited 10 years ago)
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