Dissertation
PROJECT / ASSIGNMENT BRIEF (Semester 2)
Project / Assignment Title: Dissertation 6,000 – 8,000 words (excluding bibliography
and sources)
Type of Assessment: Summative 80%
Instructions:
You will be required to undertake in-depth critical research and present a
coherent argument based on investigation and analysis. The chosen topic will be relevant to your
main course of study and will be used to support and inform your specialist practice. It will
demonstrate your deep appreciation of your field and competency of key approaches and
methodologies to contextualise it.
You will demonstrate an ability to identify a research topic that is close to your practice or field of
study through a clear literature review, present relevant arguments and hypotheses in the written
form of between 6,000 – 8,000 words.
General Guidelines for MLA Formatting and Style
• Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
• Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (e.g Times New Roman). Whatever font
you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are
recognizable one from another. The font size should be 12 pt.
• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise instructed by your
instructor).
• Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
• Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use
the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.
• Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch
from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that you omit the number
on your first page. Always follow your instructor’s guidelines.)
• Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary,
providing emphasis.
• If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle
the section Notes (centered, unformatted).
• Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation
marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.
• Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in
your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in “After Apple Picking”
• Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
• Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with
a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch
July 2020
BA(Hons) Music
AY21/22 Module Guide
Dissertation
from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you
omit last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.)
Source: The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2010. Web. Accessed, 31 March 2015.
Requirements:
Your Dissertation must include:
Title Page
Declaration Page
Contents Page
Chapters
Conclusion
Works Cited
Appendices
This assessment will assess the following Module Learning Outcome(s):
● Produce independent research relevant to your practice through the formulation of relevant argu
and hypotheses.
● Gather, synthesise and critically evaluate and challenge information, arguments and assumption
different sources, including the ability to quote from and acknowledge written sources.
● Analyse information critically and demonstrate the ability to express, interpret and discuss such
analyses, arguments and hypotheses in written form.
● Demonstrate self-reflexivity in putting forth a cogent evaluation of your research topic
Submission deadline:
Week 15
You are to submit 1 soft copy by:
• Uploading it via the Lasalle Learning Portal (http://learn.lasalle.edu.sg).
(LASALLE Learning Portal Submission format: PDF)
*No Hard Copies are required for this submission.
July 2020
BA(Hons) Music
AY21/22 Module Guide
Dissertation
Assessment Feedback Form: Dissertation
Dissertation (Academic
Research)
Dissertation (Practice
Research)
Marking Bands
6000 – 8000 words
10000 words
4000-6000 words exegesis
combined with practical
work / creative output
please
circle / tick
Content and
Argument
(Weighting: 40%)
Construction of research
question and supporting
arguments
Organisation of ideas, analysis
and synthesis of information
demonstrated through
literature review
Body of works or practical
demonstration articulates
construction of research
question and supporting
arguments
Organisation of ideas, analysis
and synthesis of information
demonstrated through practice
Critical evaluation and
contextualisation of practical
work demonstrated through
reflexive exegesis
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
50-59%
40-49%
25-39%
10-24%
1-9%
Structure and
Clarity
(Weighting: 30%)
Express, interpret and evaluate
ideas effectively, using an
appropriate written structure
Coherent communication of
findings in written form
Express, interpret and evaluate
ideas effectively, using an
appropriate practice/performance
structure
Coherent communication of
findings through practical
demonstration
Coherent mapping of findings in
a structured exegetical form
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
50-59%
40-49%
25-39%
10-24%
1-9%
July 2020
BA(Hons) Music
AY21/22 Module Guide
Dissertation
Research
Methodology
(Weighting: 20%)
Breadth and depth of research.
Appropriate application of
research methodology and
theoretical frameworks
Coherent evidence of
documentation, e.g.,
video/audio recording of
interviews, surveys, etc.
Breadth and depth of research
Reference to existing creative
practice methodologies,
aesthetic principles and/or
lineages
Demonstrate appropriateness of
research methodology to practice
Coherent evidence of
documentation, e.g., video/audio
recording, photographs of
artworks
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
50-59%
40-49%
25-39%
10-24%
1-9%
Academic
Referencing and
Citation
(Weighting: 10%)
Appropriate and consistent
use of citations and references
Appropriate and consistent use
of citations and references.
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
50-59%
40-49%
25-39%
10-24%
1-9%
Feedback
July 2020