Philosophy

Dissertations
 Why a Dissertation?
•  Undertaking a dissertation project allows you to
pursue in depth an issue that you find fascinating
•  It helps you to develop and test your ability to
work independently
•  It means you can work 1–1 with a supervisor to
develop your ideas
•  Students often do their best work on their
dissertation, and receive correspondingly high
marks
 Philosophy Dissertation Options
There are two kinds of Philosophy Dissertation:

•  The Short Dissertation (20 Credits)
Runs in a single term (either Autumn or Spring)

•  The Long Dissertation (40 Credits)

Runs for the whole year
 Applying to Board of Studies
•  In order to register for a Dissertation (Short or
Long) you need to make a successful application
to the Board of Studies
•  Applications must be submitted for consideration
by Board of Studies by Friday of Week 5 in the
term before the dissertation starts
•  Submit proposals as email attachments to
<philosophy@york.ac.uk>; please use subject
heading ‘Short Dissertation Proposal’ or ‘Long
Dissertation Proposal’, as appropriate
 Dissertation Supervisors
•  In order to undertake a dissertation project, you will need
to find a member of staff who is prepared to supervise your
project (this applies to both Short and Long Dissertations)
•  Your dissertation supervisor will meet with you during your
project, advise you, and comment on your work
•  Find a supervisor as soon as possible
•  Potential supervisors can help you work up your proposal
for approval by BoS, and it’s advisable to get this help
•  Check research interests on department webpages (see
individual’s pages under ‘Our Staff’) and/or get advice on
who might supervise your dissertation from Barry and/or
your personal supervisor
 The Short Dissertation
•  20 Credits
•  Worked on over 1 term (either Autumn or
Spring)
•  Assessed by 4,000 essay (submitted at the
start of Week 2 in the term following)
•  Consult with potential dissertation supervisors
before applying
 Work on the Short Dissertation
•  You will receive at least four hours of personal
tuition from your dissertation supervisor

•  You will receive feedback on a plan of your

dissertation if you submit this by the deadline
you agree with your dissertation supervisor
 The Long Dissertation
•  40 Credits
•  Worked on over full academic year
•  Assessed by:
–  Dissertation Outline (1,000 words) + Annotated Bibliography
(2,000 words), due start of Week 2 in Spring Term (weighted at
10%)
–  Dissertation (8,000 words), due Week 6 in Summer Term
(weighted at 90%)
•  Consult with potential dissertation supervisors before
applying
•  Students must be on the single subject Philosophy
programme and have an average mark of 60 or above to
register for the module
 Work on the Long Dissertation
•  The pattern of work on the Long Dissertation
is designed to support you in developing this
longer project
•  In Autumn, you will have meetings with your
dissertation supervisor and group meetings
with the LD Convener (Barry) and other LD
students to help you develop your Plan and
Annotated Bibliography
 The Annotated Bibliography
•  The Annotated Bibliography is a systematic
way of getting to grips with the literature
relevant to your project
•  You read key texts, prepare summaries of
their theses and arguments, and note your
views on how they bear on your question
 Long Dissertation Programme
Autumn Term — roughly 10c of work = 100 hours, including …
•  Five group meetings with a Dissertation Co-Ordinator
–  Initial meeting to discuss proposal and review draft bibliography
–  Further meetings for which annotated bibliography entries and draft
proposals are submitted in advance

Spring Term
•  Three meetings with dissertation supervisor to discuss work
submitted in advance of 1,000–2,000 words

Summer Term
•  Two meetings with dissertation supervisor, the first to discuss work
on a substantive draft (4,000 words) and one to give feedback and
guidance on the writing of the assessed essay
Long Dissertation Additional Points
•  If you take the LD, you don’t have to take
Advanced Modules in your final term
•  You can transfer off the LD up to Week 3 of
Autumn; after that, you might be able to
transfer onto a short dissertation by applying
to Chair of BoS, but you will not be able to
avoid a dissertation entirely
 Picking a Topic, 1
•  Pick something you are interested in
•  Identify a specific topic by devising a question
(i.e. a sentence ending in ‘?’, not a noun-phrase)
•  Balance ambition against do-ability …
•  You want a substantial project, but something
that can be given reasonably deep treatment in
4,000 or 8,000 words (for Short and Long,
respectively)
•  Your prospective dissertation supervisor can help
with this
 Picking a Topic, 2
•  Your topic ‘should not be a mere duplication
of topics covered in already available
modules, though it may comprise a
substantial and detailed development of such
a topic’
•  It’s your responsibility to avoid duplication of
and excessive overlap with taught modules —
consult with module tutors and your
prospective dissertation supervisor
 Your Proposal
•  Must be clear and precisely worded
•  Must include a well-defined question or topic of sufficiently
restricted scope to be addressed within the relevant word
limit
•  Must include an indication of the philosophical background
(around 300 to 500 words)
•  Must include a preliminary bibliography (minimum of 6
works)
•  Must state the name of the staff member who has agreed
to supervise the Dissertation
•  Must avoid duplication of work on taught modules
(Overambitious or poorly researched proposals will not
receive approval)
 Additional Help, 1
•  I’m distributing copies of two documents used in
Long Dissertation activities in Autumn — these
should be helpful in thinking about framing your
project:
–  ‘Researching and Planning Your Long Dissertation’
–  ‘Long Dissertation Research Proposal Outline’ (pro
forma)
•  These can be used in thinking about the Short
Dissertation, but bear in mind the differences in
arrangements when using them this way
 Additional Help, 2
Further details on the dissertation options can be
found:
•  In the guide to final year modules:
<https://www.york.ac.uk/media/philosophy/documents/ug/
Guide%20to%20Philosophy%20Modules%20for%203rd%20and%204th
%20Year%20Modules%20in%202019-20.pdf>
•  In the module catalogue:
–  Short Dissertation
<https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/manage/
programmes/module-catalogue/module/PHI00041H/2019-20>
–  Long Dissertation
<https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/manage/
programmes/module-catalogue/module/PHI00101H/2019-20>
 Thanks for listening

•  Please say if you have any questions or

concerns
•  I (Barry) am happy to take queries via email