1500 Law Proposal Due in 6 Hours

Part B

Write a research proposal for your own dissertation covering the following:

· Title

· Abstract: a brief summary with reasons why you have chosen this topic

· Research Objectives: define the boundaries of the proposed dissertation, such as the questions you intend to cover and what you seek to achieve

· Research Strategy and Methodology: identify the methods that you will employ to achieve these objectives and the reason why you are using these. Explain how you will ensure the validity of the research data (including document research).

· Ethics: any ethical issues as detailed in the methodology must be addressed at this point. The application forms for ethical approval are not part of this assignment but must also be submitted within 4 weeks of the submission date.

· Indicative Content and time plan.

Note to students: Your awareness of valid research methods will be evidenced by your choice of title and sources, thus, although you may ask your tutors for guidance, the choice of topic and sources for your own dissertation must be your own.

The assessment criteria for both Parts match the learning outcomes for this module, for example your work should demonstrate “a critical awareness of factors”(p2) including:

· the common principles of valid research (p12) i.e. validity, reliability, triangulation, ethical practice.

· the benefits and risks of the strategy and methods you have selected.

· An application of your understanding above to the specific question.

Ensure that you have read the Dissertation Handbook regarding your choice of a topic for your dissertation before attempting this assignment. You are also advised to have discussed this with your potential dissertation supervisor. It cannot be the same as any coursework and you are advised to have received approval from the dissertation module leader before you submit this assignment.

Note that if you plan to do a reflective piece from a work placement instead of a traditional dissertation but you do not have your placement and its objectives agreed, you should complete this research proposal as if you were completing a traditional dissertation. If you do have a work placement arranged you should speak to Caroline Coles, the research methods tutor at the earliest opportunity.

Word Limits

You must indicate at the end of each part of your coursework the total number of words used. You are not allowed to exceed the word limit and, if you do so, the coursework mark will be reduced.

For the purpose of the word limit, the following are not included:

· the coursework question

· the bibliography

· references (case, book, journal, website, lecture materials and other references). If you use footnotes, any information in them (other than references) will be counted.

Reductions for exceeding a word limit

Your coursework mark will be reduced as follows:

· Up to and including a 5% overshoot – one mark reduction. There is no de minimis rule and even an overshoot of one or two words will be penalised.

· Thereafter, an additional one mark reduction for every additional 5% overshoot.

· The original mark will not be reduced below 50% and the maximum possible reduction is 10 marks.

e.g., if the coursework has a word limit of 2000 words and you exceed this by 400 words then the penalty will be a reduction of 4 marks – i.e. a mark of 61% will be reduced to 57%.

Any attempt at misrepresenting the number of words submitted amounts to cheating and could incur the relevant penalty for an academic offence. Please remember that the Turnitin report for your coursework will indicate the word count for it and tutors will check this to ensure that you have correctly stated the number of words used.