The aim is for the student to choose a topic of special interest at the interface of two or more of the constituent disciplines of PPE, and to conduct research into this area of interest via reading and private study under the supervision of a supervisor from one of the three constituent departments of PPE.

(LO1) The student will produce a systematic piece of written work, organised in chapters and sections in the manner of professional and published work in academia, so as to show that the research referred to in the Aims has been mastered in a way appropriate to a professional academic.

(S1) Students will enhance their abilities in reading and understanding texts and in comprehending abstract material.

(S2) Students will develop their skills in thinking critically, analysing problems and analysing and assessing arguments.

(S3) Students will enhance their ability to identify the issues that underlie debates.

(S4) Students will develop confidence in considering previously unfamiliar ideas and approaches, and their ability to identify presuppositions and to reflect critically upon them.

(S5) Students will enhance their ability to marshal arguments and present them orally and in writing.

(S6) Students will develop the ability to perform bibliographical searches, to include to professional standard citations and bibliographies in their work and to plan, organize and produce a dissertation.

(S7) Students will enhance their written communications skills and develop skill in explaining complex material in a precise manner.

(S8) Students will develop their ability to work independently.

(S9) Students will develop their ability to sift through information, assessing the relevance and importance of the information to what is at issue.

(S10) Students will develop their skills in making appropriate use of information technology, information on the World Wide Web, and reference works and databases relevant to the discipline.

(S11) Students will develop the ability to write to a professional standard, using word processing software.

(S12) Students will enhance their capacity to participate, in a dispassionate and respectful manner, in debates about profound and important matters.

(S13) Students will develop their willingness critically to evaluate and reflect upon arguments, beliefs, proposals and values, both their own and those of others.

(S14) Through developing their analytical and critical skills and observing good standards of academic practice, students will develop their intellectual honesty.

Students should meet with their supervisor eight times during the academic year to discuss progress (four 30-minute sessions in each semester), as well as keeping in touch with the supervisor informally by e-mail.

Teaching Method 1 – Supervisions
Description: Tutorial meetings with supervisor
Notes: 4 scheduled directed student hours

Teaching Method 2 – Conference
Description: All students are invited to participate in a Dissertation Showcase event in semester 2. Students can give a talk or prepare a poster presentation.
Attendance recorded: No
Notes: 5 scheduled directed student hours

Teaching Method 3 – Lecture
Description: Three one-hour lectures spaced through the module supplement the one-to-one tutorials with the supervisor. These sessions will cover (1) Introduction & Preparing a Proposal; (2) Literature & Time Management; (3) The Dissertation Showcase & Writing Up
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 4 - Writing Boot Camp
Description: These are twice-weekly one-hour bookings of a computer room during weeks 7-10 of semester 2. Students can go and focus on writing in the final phase of their disser tation.
Attendance recorded: No
Notes: 8 unscheduled directed student hours