module specification

The dissertation module comprises support and interactive ‘one to one’ supervision between students and supervisors. The minimal expectation for contact between student and supervisor is around 5 hours, but this can be greater depending on the individual dissertation and specific needs of the supervisor.

In the course of preparation and delivery of the module the following issues will be covered: research orientation and appropriate research questions, information gathering for purposes of critical research, research strategy and specific research techniques relevant to the subject area, bibliography and academic referencing.

The specific syllabus (content) for an individual dissertation will obviously vary in accordance with the subject matter of the dissertation and its title. However preparation and writing of a dissertation will divide into three stages that will broadly receive equal treatment during the learning and teaching sessions between supervisor and supervisee

1. Consideration of subject area, title and orientation of the dissertation – this will include considering appropriate contemporary (or otherwise) academic or professional areas of intellectual contention or dispute, for example recent controversial case law or issues of interpretation, scope or enforcement arising from national or international law, EU Directive or regulation and/or international agreement

2. Consideration, example and practice relating to appropriate research method or technique and/or selection of material including primary or secondary material for purpose of support for academic or professional argument

3. Consideration of the structure, narrative and cohesion of intellectual and professional argument including ordering and selection of material under chapter headings and sections. This would include issues around dissertation abstract, introduction, conclusion and evaluation

4. Consideration of future use and value of dissertation in professional and academic contexts and for purpose of vocational opportunity.

The module will be taught entirely by one to one sessions between individual supervisors and supervisees. However, a dedicated VLE will support this teaching.

On successful completion of the course, students will have:

• An expertise in an area of International Oil, Gas and Energy Law, achieved by preparing for and writing the dissertation.

By researching and presenting the Research Proposal, students will:

• Identify an area/topic for the dissertation

• Identify and analyse the available literature in the field

• Identify and analyse the relevant primary and secondary sources

• Justify the title in terms of its relevance, topicality and originality

• Compose appropriate research questions and supporting evidenced material and examples suitable to address critical academic and professional issues in the area of Transnational Oil, Gas and Energy Law.

In writing the dissertation, students will:

• Develop a capacity for independent evaluated research at postgraduate level

• Become able to develop a methodologically sound critical discussion which is presented as a critically discursive analysis of the dissertation topic achieved by supervised dissertation writing.

• Have adopted an appropriate research strategy and techniques to support a sustained academic and professional argument on critical issues within the area of Transnational Oil, Gas and Energy Law.

• Appropriately constructed academic and professional argument, including supported contextual and critical material suitable for inclusion and completion of a piece of sustained academic research of between 10,000 to 15,000 words on a subject related to the area of Transnational Oil, Gas and Energy Law.

This will be by 100% dissertation

OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities)

www.law.ac.uk/oscola

The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Legal Research edited by Peter Cane & Herbert M Kritzer, Oxford University Press 2010

Lexis Library