Studying at York
English and History Bridge Dissertation - ENG00128H
- Department: English and Related Literature
- Credit value: 40 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24
Module summary
The bridge dissertation is one of the most exciting and most ambitious modules of your degree. Building on your Personal Research Plan (‘Texts & Histories’, Level Two), you will produce a sustained piece of work on a topic of your choosing that bridges English and History (subject to approval). You will be allocated a bridge dissertation supervisor who will offer tailored support throughout the process, and you will attend lectures that guide you through the challenges of refining your topic, structuring your research, and writing an extended piece of critical prose. You will learn how to engage critically with existing scholarship, identify your own original contribution to your chosen field, and develop and sustain an argument across 7-8,000 words.
The module will help you to undertake extensive independent research, communicate your textual / primary source analysis and scholarly insights to a range of readers and audiences, and present your research and close readings clearly and persuasively. You may extend and develop ideas that have fascinated you in previous modules or undertake historical and literary research in an area that you have not previously studied.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 to Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
The aims of this module are to enable students to develop key skills in independent research and writing, with appropriate academic guidance and writing support. The module will offer students the opportunity to explore one element of their historical and literary interests in considerable depth. It will further enhance students’ core skills in research and writing, library and IT use, and transferable skills in communication, time management, and organisation.
Module learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module, you should be able to:
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Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with an appropriate range of primary texts and historical / literary sources, as identified by you, and the ability to undertake independent research on a focused topic.
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Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with relevant contextual, critical, and theoretical materials and approaches in English and History.
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Evaluate key debates within the relevant academic fields or historiographical / theoretical frameworks dealing with your chosen research topic.
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Produce independent arguments, ideas, and textual analyses which demonstrate an advanced proficiency in critical thinking, research, and writing skills.
Module content
The structure and rhythm of your bridge dissertation supervision will depend on the home department of your allocated supervisor.
For students with an English-based supervisor:
English and History combined course students will have four one-on-one supervision meetings with their bridge dissertation supervisor in English (two in each semester). Your first meeting will discuss your research proposal from the Texts and Histories core module. Your second supervision will focus on either a draft piece of writing or a plan of the bridge dissertation. Depending on what you submitted for the previous meeting, your third meeting will focus then focus on the other option– i.e. if you discussed a plan at the last meeting, you will discuss a draft at this meeting, or vice versa. Your fourth supervision will discuss the final shape and structure of your bridge dissertation.
For students with a History-based supervisor:
English and History combined course students with History-based supervisors will have four supervision meetings, with two structured as one-to-one meetings, and two structured as group workshops. There will be a one-to-one meeting in each semester. The first will include a discussion of your research proposal and the second will include feedback on a draft piece of writing and detailed dissertation plan. There will also be two group workshops with your supervisor for which you will submit a bibliography in the first, and key research questions and an outline plan in the second.
For all English and History combined course students, regardless of supervisor’s home department:
You will attend lectures that will help you to develop your bridge dissertation project and structure your interdisciplinary research. You are welcome – and indeed encouraged - at all stages to use staff open office hours (English) and student hours (History) to seek advice and ask questions.
English and History students will submit their bridge dissertation of 7,000-8,000 words through the English department during the Revision and Assessment period at the end of Semester Two. Students will use the English-based VLE submission point, the English conventions for word count and citation styles, and the English deadline for submission.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
- You will receive feedback on all assessed work within the University deadline, and will often receive it more quickly. The purpose of feedback is to inform your future work; it is designed to help you to improve your work, and the Department also offers you help in learning from your feedback. If you do not understand your feedback or want to talk about your ideas further you can discuss it with your tutor or your supervisor, during their Open Office Hours
- For more information about the feedback you will receive for your work, see the department's Guide to Assessment
Indicative reading
Key texts will depend on the subject of the bridge dissertation research.