UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL
SUBJECT SPECIFICATION
Code: UJXU5B-15-3 Title: Independent Research Project Version: 2
Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 15 credits ECTS credit rating: 7.5 credits
Subject type: Non MAR subject (but Project module equivalent)
Owning Faculty: Social Sciences and Humanities
Valid from: September 2008
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: all 7 Foundation subjects and English Legal System
Excluded combinations: None
Learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding
On successful completion of the subject, the student will be able to
• Demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of a specific area of law within an identified topic which falls outside the syllabus content of the Foundation subjects
Intellectual skills
On successful completion of the subject, the student will demonstrate their ability to
• Plan and implement an appropriate legal research strategy in the context of a legal topic
Subject/Practical skills
On successful completion of the subject, the student will be able to
• Select relevant authorities and apply them in their response to the task
• Critically evaluate the subject matter of the project
• Produce a coherent response to the research task, as identified
Transferable/Key skills
On successful completion of the subject, the student will be able to
• communicate their understanding of the subject matter of the project in a manner
and style appropriate to the task
• Show time and information management skills by responding to a specific task requiring research in an area of law on which there has been no tuition
• Work independently, over an extended period of time, in planning and executing an appropriate research strategy
Syllabus outline:
The subject matter of any given student's project will be determined by the anonymous allocation of a research task to each student. The list of tasks will be prepared by members of the teaching team, and will reflect their teaching and research interests. In line with the JASB requirements for the "eighth area of legal study", the research topics will fall outside the taught syllabi of the 7 Foundation subjects.
Teaching and learning methods:
The aim of the subject is to provide an opportunity for a sustained piece of independent research in an area of law additional to those areas studied within the 7 Foundation subjects.
Students will be provided with a minimum of two dedicated sessions to prepare them to embark on the research. These sessions will expand upon the basic introduction to legal method and research contained in the induction period. As the year progresses, all students are provided with multiple opportunities to develop their legal research skills (through preparation for seminars and workshops and the coursework tasks in each of the Foundation subjects).
Students will be provided with a list of tasks and asked to express their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices. This process will take place in mid September for Full-time students and immediately after the summer examination period for Year 1 Part-time students. An allocation of topics will be made by the Director, the Deputy Director and the Assessments Officer, using candidate numbers only. A cap may have to be imposed on the number of students able to submit a project response to a given topic. If the demand is higher than can be accommodated, a ballot using candidate numbers will be used and the unsuccessful candidates will be allocated to their 2nd choice wherever possible.
The submission date for the project will normally be the Friday afternoon of the second week of the summer examination period.
Reading Strategy:
In view of the nature of the project (being an independent research project), there is no prescribed reading for the module.
Students will be encouraged to make full use of the printed and electronic resources available to them through membership of the University (for the purposes of both class contact preparation and research in preparation for coursework and examination assessments). These include (amongst other things) a range of printed case reports, legislation, texts and journals, as well as a range of electronic journals and a wide variety of resources available through web sites and information gateways (including online study and legal research sites provided by the Law Library). The University Library’s web pages provide access to subject relevant resources and services, and to the library catalogue. Many resources can be accessed remotely. Students will be presented with opportunities within the CPE curriculum to develop their information retrieval and evaluation skills in order to identify relevant resources effectively. Many project topics may require some research in non-legal materials.
Assessment
Weighting between components A and B : N/A
First attempt within CPE Regulations
Component A
A 4000 to 5000 word response to a specific task
Second attempt within CPE Regulations
Component A
Resubmission of a 4000 to 5000 word response to the allocated task
Third attempt within CPE Regulations
Component A
Resubmission of a 4000 to 5000 word response to the allocated task
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………
Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)