Independent Study Project in Languages and Cultures of Africa, the Middle East, South and South East Asia

'Independent Study Project in Languages and Cultures of Africa, the Middle East, South and South East Asia' is a 30 credit module consisting of a final year undergraduate dissertation of 10,000 words, on an approved topic, focused on the study of either the languages, literatures, or screen cultures of one of the chosen regions of the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, or the area studies of a particular ANMESSEA region, covered at the SLCL at SOAS. This ISP gives students the opportunity to develop specialised knowledge, undertake independent research and write-up on a topic of their choosing under the guidance of an academic supervisor.

Students will learn how to organise their independent learning and demonstrate originality, structure, and implement their research, produce literature review, and, where applicable, draw together issues of theory, and methodology, before writing up their findings in an academically argued and properly referenced form.

As well as their time with their supervisor, students may be required to attend a number of seminars that can provide basic training in research skills, as well as provide a forum where students can discuss their work and receive feedback from their peers.

In the case of joint degrees, such as BA Languages and Cultures AND A Discipline, this ISP could allow the students to bridge the two sides of their programmes of study in a written submission. Although there is an overall convenor for this module, students will be assigned to supervisors with expertise in the language or area studies that the students has chosen as the basis of their ISP.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

• Develop research skills through gathering information and distilling primary and secondary sources
• Argue clearly and convincingly to arrive at an academically sound conclusion
• Demonstrate effcient time management skills
• Engage in analysis, comparison and interpretation of data or investigated literature
• Present their findings in coherently written, well presented and properly referrenced academic discourse.

Workload

2 seminars (optional), plus 6 hours of supervision

Scope and syllabus

As an independent method of learning and supervised research there is no fixed syllabus for the ISP in Languages and Cultures of Africa, the Middle East, South and South East Asia, and the parameters of the project can be set by the student following after the remit of topic offered at the department and approved by the supervisor.

Method of assessment

• 1 x (10,000 words) essay, to be submitted on day 5, week 2, term 3 (90%)
• 1 x (30 mins) presentation on aspects of the ISP research methodology and findings (10%)

Convenor

Dr Keya Anjaria

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules