Course Handbook - Faculty of History - University of Cambridge
Course Handbook - Faculty of History - University of Cambridge
Course Handbook - Faculty of History - University of Cambridge
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methods. The student should also deal with how their proposed research will attempt to<br />
answer the questions arising from the historiographical review, but it is not intended that the<br />
course <strong>of</strong> research should be described in detail here (this should be done with the<br />
dissertation supervisor).<br />
There will be a session where students will have a 20 minute presentation on this essay to<br />
the whole group <strong>of</strong> MPhil students for feedback and discussion before it is handed in for<br />
marking. This session will take place on 28 April 2011 (in the afternoon) and the paper will<br />
be submitted approximately one week later. In these presentations, students are expected to<br />
explain to the audience what their research question is, how it contributes to existing<br />
literature on the topic, and what sources and methodology will be used.<br />
All work (essays and dissertations) apart from the Social Science Research Methods <strong>Course</strong>,<br />
is double marked. Examiners for all work award marks independently. See Appendix B for<br />
details <strong>of</strong> the marking scheme.<br />
Advanced Papers (10% each)<br />
These papers are taught using a mixture <strong>of</strong> lectures and seminars amounting to at least 16<br />
contact hours each, and are based on more specialized topics than the central concepts essay,<br />
and should be more specific. All Advanced Papers are examined in the last week <strong>of</strong> Lent<br />
Term (NOTE: The week after 'Full Term' finishes) by term papers based on the specific<br />
topics discussed in the course. Both <strong>of</strong> these essays, however, will be written during a<br />
limited time period <strong>of</strong> one week. The question papers will be picked up on Monday 21<br />
March at 9:00 and have to be handed in by 5:00 on Monday 28 March. Each essay topic will<br />
be chosen from 4 questions. These essays will be 3-4000 words in length each and will be<br />
based on a topic or topics discussed in the course, and students will be expected to cite a<br />
reasonable selection <strong>of</strong> secondary or/and primary sources discussed. Two copies <strong>of</strong> each<br />
essay are required. The essays should normally be word-processed, double-spaced, and<br />
written with footnotes and a bibliography, although examiners should take into<br />
consideration the limited amount <strong>of</strong> time available for each essay.<br />
2.3.2 Part II<br />
Any candidate who fails Part I <strong>of</strong> an MPhil course may apply to the Board <strong>of</strong> Graduate<br />
Studies for transfer to the Certificate <strong>of</strong> Postgraduate Study.<br />
Dissertation (60%)<br />
Each student is assigned to a Supervisor appointed by the <strong>Faculty</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>History</strong>. The Supervisor<br />
will be an expert in the student’s general field <strong>of</strong> dissertation work, whose role is to guide<br />
the student’s programme <strong>of</strong> study as a regular advisor for the entire year as well as advising<br />
on all aspects <strong>of</strong> the MPhil dissertation. The Supervisor should be concerned with helping<br />
students to clarify their own ideas, not to impose his or her own interests on the subject; thus<br />
it is important that students should be able to make their own interests known early on in the<br />
course. Students should not expect to be ‘spoon fed’ by their supervisors since graduate<br />
students in <strong>Cambridge</strong> are expected to have the capacity and enthusiasm for organising their<br />
own research and to work largely on their own initiative. Frequency <strong>of</strong> meetings between<br />
students and their supervisors is a matter for mutual agreement and varies according to the<br />
stage <strong>of</strong> the dissertation work and an individual’s particular needs. The level <strong>of</strong> expected<br />
supervision is one meeting every two weeks during term.<br />
Dissertations are researched and written over a five month period from April to August and<br />
should reflect research which could reasonably be expected to be done in this period.<br />
Dissertation titles must be submitted to the MPhil Office by 12 noon on Friday 14<br />
January 2011, for approval by the MPhil Sub-Committee. Titles may not be changed<br />
(even minimally) except with the written approval <strong>of</strong> the Academic Secretary, which<br />
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