Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MCS2070

 
TITLE Long Essay

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 8

 
DEPARTMENT Media and Communications

 
DESCRIPTION A supervised project involving secondary research and an element of fieldwork. This involves the application of theory and concepts to a real life situation linked to one or more of the different aspects of journalism, culminating in the writing up of a long essay (Maximum 6,000 words)

The final report may take any one of the following formats or a mixture of one or more of them:

- A brief research project that investigates a news-related theme that can then be written up as an in-depth, journalistic analysis;
- An essay based primarily on secondary research and informed commentary that delves in-depth into a theme related to journalism;
- An evaluative study of the workings of journalism within a context or contexts.

Study-Unit Aims:

The Long Essay aims to engage the student in the application of a concept or theory through readings and an element of research that will be followed up through the writing up of a structured and substantiated piece of academic writing.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- identify an area of research;
- formulate a research question;
- review the relevant literature;
- investigate the identified issues;
- design and write up a report/long essay.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- carry out independent study;
- engage in a critical analysis;
- develop effective writing skills;
- demonstrate the ability to communicate research results in a recognised academic style.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Greetham, B., 2014. How to write your undergraduate dissertation (2nd ed). Palgrave. ISBN: 978-1137389763.
- Walliman, N., 2013. Your undergraduate dissertation : the essential guide for success (2nd ed). Sage. ISBN: 978-1446253199.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Long Essay

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Essay SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Nicole Talmacs
Gorg Mallia
Louiselle Vassallo

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit