Independent Project in Geology with Physical Geography

EART38000 Independent Project in Geology with Physical Geography 30 Full year Undergraduate Level 6 Neil Mitchell Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 15.0 <div> You will have the opportunity to frame a scientific question within Geology and Physical Geography, informed by your classes.  With guidance from a member of academic staff to ensure your question can be addressed in practice, you will design fieldwork or other measurements, observations or modelling appropriate for answering the question you pose.Within Manchester, you will then analyse the data or information you acquire, using appropriate analytical methods or statistics.  You will then write up the project as a dissertation, demonstrating critical understanding of the literature on your chosen subject, accurate analysis of your data, logical reasoning and how your results fit within the broader research on the subject.</div>  <div> You will have the opportunity to frame a scientific question within Geology and Physical Geography, informed by your classes.  With guidance from a member of academic staff to ensure your question can be addressed in practice, you will design fieldwork or other measurements, observations or modelling appropriate for answering the question you pose.Within Manchester, you will then analyse the data or information you acquire, using appropriate analytical methods or statistics.  You will then write up the project as a dissertation, demonstrating critical understanding of the literature on your chosen subject, accurate analysis of your data, logical reasoning and how your results fit within the broader research on the subject.</div>  <div> Carrying out an independent piece of research and writing it up in the form of a dissertation are key outcomes of your degree in Manchester.  The skills obtained demonstrate to an employer your potential as a future employee to work independently and reliably.</div><div> This module aims to help you extend your abilities to carry out research independently by helping you carry out a research project on your own, with support from an academic advisor.  After appropriate analysis of your data, you will have the opportunity to write a high-level report of your findings in the form of a dissertation, a logically structured document supported by references to the academic literature.</div>  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="width:481px;"> On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: </td> <td style="width:72px;"> Developed</td> <td style="width:66px;"> Assessed</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:59px;"> ILO 1</td> <td style="width:418px;height:59px;"> Formulate a scientific question within the fields of geology and/or physical geography.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:59px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:59px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:66px;"> ILO 2</td> <td style="width:418px;height:66px;"> Make appropriate measurements and analyses in the field or laboratory to address such a question (ILO 1).</td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:76px;"> ILO 3</td> <td style="width:418px;height:76px;"> Accurately interpret geological or geographical features and sediments, rocks and soils in the field as required to complete successfully the project.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:76px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:76px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:76px;"> ILO 4</td> <td style="width:418px;height:76px;"> Write a high-level technical report on the research findings with a logical structure.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:76px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:76px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:63px;height:76px;"> ILO 5</td> <td style="width:418px;height:76px;"> Demonstrate knowledge of the research literature and develop scientific arguments based on it.</td> <td style="width:72px;height:76px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:76px;"> x</td> </tr> </tbody></table>   <ul> <li> Early in 1st semester, a one-to-one session with project supervisor to discuss project planning, and to outline any preparations for data collection that are needed</li> <li> Data collection and analysis across both semesters [data collection should be completed well before Easter]</li> <li> Across both semesters, one-on-one sessions with project supervisor to discuss data analysis, interpretation and presentation</li> <li> End of April submission of project report</li></ul>  <div> Each student will build on research skills acquired through GEOG 20072 and other modules mainly by self-directed research (collection of data and observations, and their analyses), with guidance from a project supervisor.It is essential that students meet their project supervisor early in the 1st semester of Year 3 to plan the data collection, discuss what needs to be done before gaining access to the facilities/data, and to consider when that access is best arranged. If lab facilities are required actual booking of data collection sessions should be done through the supervisor, and in most projects the supervisor will be present at these sessions and supervise risk assessment/training, if required. It is important to allow for delays of access (caused by, e.g., the needs of other users, equipment failures, the requirement for induction etc). The main project guidance during Year 3 should come in one-on-one meetings with the project supervisor. They will advise on data analysis, interpretation, and presentation matters. In recognition of the fact that this is an independent project, the number of supervisory meetings is restricted to not more than 20 hours in addition to any required data collection sessions. Supervisors will provide verbal formative feedback (limited to providing comments on only ~10% of the text, nominally 600-800 words; ~2 pages),as general guidance on the writing of the assessed report, to be consistent with the rationale that the report reflects the students’ own work. Note that the onus is on the student to arrange timely discussion meetings with their supervisor, and to self-manage their progress throughout the project.</div>  3 Report 100% <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:0px"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="height:53px; width:93px">Assessment type</td> <td style="height:53px; width:75px">Weighting within unit %</td> <td style="height:53px; width:85px">Hand out and hand in dates</td> <td style="height:53px; width:114px">Length </td> <td style="height:53px; width:227px">How, when and what feedback is provided</td> <td style="height:53px; width:47px">ILO tested</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height:101px; width:93px">Report (invidual)</td> <td style="height:101px; width:75px">100</td> <td style="height:101px; width:85px">Hand out: start of semester 1, hand in: 9 May 2023</td> <td style="height:101px; width:114px"> Up to 10,000 words plus figures, appendices</td> <td style="height:101px; width:227px">Discussions with supervisor.Written and verbal feedback on a draft of the dissertation.General support from the module leader, typically via Blackboard.</td> <td style="height:101px; width:47px">1-5</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  GEOG20072 Research Design and Fieldwork Pre-Requisite Compulsory <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> Pre-requisite units</td> <td style="width:437px;"> GEOG20072  Research Design & Overseas Field Courses</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> Co-requisite units</td> <td style="width:437px;"> None</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Eart and Plan (GPG) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci(Hons)Ea&Pl Sci(G&PG) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarth Sci (Hons) EPS IE (GPG) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEaSci (Hons) EPSwYA (GPG) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS w Res (GPG) Third Year Mandatory <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:641px;"> Gomez, B. and Jones, J.P. III (2010) Research Methods in Geography, Chichester, Wiley-Blackwell.Greetham B (2009) How to write your undergraduate dissertation, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.Parsons, T. and Knight, P.G. (2005) How to do your dissertation in geography and related disciplines, London: Routledge.Strunk, W., White, E.B., 1972. The elements of style, 2nd Ed. MacMillan Publishing, New York.Walliman N (2004) Your undergraduate dissertation: the essential guide for success, London: Sage. </td> </tr> </tbody></table>  0 0 300 STUDY HOURS<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="2" style="width:64px;"> Contact time</td> <td style="width:510px;"> Supervisor meetings (one-on-one)</td> <td style="width:60px;"> 20 hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:510px;"> Data collection and explanation of data analysis procedures</td> <td style="width:60px;"> 20-50 hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" style="width:64px;"> Independent study</td> <td style="width:510px;"> Background reading</td> <td style="width:60px;"> 50 hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:510px;height:66px;"> Analysis of data and collection/analysis of other data required to address the research question</td> <td style="width:60px;height:66px;"> 120-150 hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2" style="width:64px;"> Assessment</td> <td style="width:510px;"> Dissertation write-up</td> <td style="width:60px;"> 60 hr</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:510px;height:66px;">  </td> <td style="width:60px;height:66px;">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;"> Total</td> <td style="width:510px;">  </td> <td style="width:60px;"> 300 hr</td> </tr> </tbody></table>