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Independent Reading Course - Sem 2

Module description

This module is designed to allow you the flexibility to explore some ideas or a focus of research interest that you have which lies outside of the compulsory and optional modules on offer. At the end of the module, you will have read deeply in a subject area and produced two research papers that may inform your later research in your masters’ dissertation.

This module is arranged through your initiative, and it is your responsibility to take preliminary steps to identify a possible specialist area and an appropriate faculty member, and to approach the latter, as soon as possible. If you have identified a specialisation and a suitable potential tutor, please email the course convener and indicate whether you have spoken to the faculty member concerned. Finally, please note that, in consultation with faculty involved in the delivery of your MA programme, the course convener may suggest that you consider an existing option instead of this module if this is felt to be more appropriate and of greater benefit to you.

Besides meeting with your tutor, you will meet with the course convener and other students taking this module for 3 workshops, one in Week 2, one in Week 7, and one in week 11.

Please note that you cannot take this module if you have already chosen ARAM112A.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The primary aim of this module is to help you develop research skills that allow you to investigate topics and readings that may be of use in constructing a viable dissertation and to develop key disciplinary skills that may contribute to the wider MA programme. This module may not be used for direct research on individual MA dissertation topics; however, it may be used to explore topics of wider interest for a dissertation. Subject to the availability of a qualified teacher (to be arranged through the course convenor), this module is intended to allow you (individually or in very small groups) to pursue guided readings in areas of individual faculty specialisation where a formal course is not currently offered.  These areas would normally include, among others, areas (e.g., readings in Persian, Arabic, or a specialised historical or regional field) where MA students are entering the programme with a level of competency equal to or beyond that covered in the introductory course offerings.   Both Islamic and Middle East Studies (and available Institute faculty interests and specialisations) cover many fields and regions beyond those listed in the formal curriculum, and this course is intended to allow interested MA students to pursue those studies with the appropriate staff.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the particular themes, theories, and approaches examined in the tutorial.
• 2. Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the readings, theories and approaches investigated in the tutorial using linguistic skills to read texts in Middle Eastern languages

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Demonstrate analytically how to contextualize the readings, theories and approaches within the wider field of Middle East and Islamic Studies
• 4. Undertake research effectively, construct a bibliography and ground one's research within the field of Middle East and Islamic Studies

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Demonstrate understanding and analysis of research undertaken in oral and written forms
• 6. Demonstrate the absorption, critical analysis of readings and approaches undertaken

Syllabus plan

The syllabus will be tailored for the student who is accepted.

The students will be required be to present a final paper on a research question.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Reading list to be arranged between student(s) and faculty tutor for each module.

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Index islamicus

Encyclopaedia of Islam and other similar electronic resources

Key words search

Tutorial, research, independent guided reading