Key facts

UNE unit code: LING599

*You are viewing the 2024 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Year Long Honours - Period 1 - Online
  • Year Long Honours - Period 2 - Online
  • Year Long Honours - Period 3 - Online
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • No
Credit points
  • 24

Unit information

UNE student studies on a laptop on her lounge at home

This unit allows qualified students to take their studies to a higher level in a specific area of linguistics.

You will complete a dissertation of 18,000 words (±10%) written under the close supervision of a member of staff, on a topic negotiated with the supervisor.

If you obtain a good grade in the dissertation unit you will be well equipped to pursue a higher research degree in linguistics.

Offerings

For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.

Teaching period
Mode/location
Year Long Honours - Period 1Online
Year Long Honours - Period 2Online
Year Long Honours - Period 3Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
Candidature in the MAppLing and minimum average mark of 80% in Linguistics coursework and subject to discretion and availability of an appropriate supervisor and permission of the LING599 Unit Coordinator (or nominee) and (if proposed research topic is in Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Second Language Acquisition or a related area) completion of LING561
Restrictions
LING600

Notes

Students may contact the Unit Coordinator to start preparing and discussing a LING599 proposal:

  • once they are roughly halfway through their coursework, and
  • have a promising record that indicates they are likely to end up with a Distinction average in their coursework (see unit Prerequisites).

However, permission to formally enrol in & commence LING599 will only be granted if and when:

  • the student has completed all or almost all of their coursework units,
  • depending on their proposed area of research, they have completed LING561 (see Prerequisites above), and

a Linguistics staff member is happy with the student’s proposal and agrees to supervise their thesis.

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

Sally Dixon

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. formulate and investigate research questions pertaining to linguistics and/or applied linguistics;
  2. exercise higher order, independent research skills;
  3. apply advanced analytical abilities, in using a broad range of research materials, often from several media, in order to answer research questions;
  4. demonstrate high level written communication skills through the production of a research dissertation, based upon the student's own hypothesis and independent research; and
  5. use methodology appropriate to the topic, and express arguments and hypotheses in the discourse of the discipline.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
DissertationYes100%All offerings

The dissertation will be written in stages with feedback from the supervisor given at every stage

No. Words: 18,000

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library — purchase is optional.

Projects in Linguistics and Language Studies

ISBN: 9781444145366

Wray, A. and Bloomer, A., Routledge 3rd ed. 2012

Note: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

The Research Process

ISBN: 9780190304621

Bouma, G. and Carland, S., Oxford University Press 6th ed. 2016

Note: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

Doing a Successful Research Project: Using Qualitative or Quantitative Methods

ISBN: 9781137306425

Davies, M. B., Palgrave MacMillan 2014

Note: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

Second Language Research: Methodology and Design

ISBN: 9781032036632

Mackey, A. and Gass, S., Routledge 3rd ed. 2021

Note: Recommended: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

Research Methods in Language Learning

ISBN: 9780521429689

Nunan, D., Cambridge University Press 1992

Note: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research

ISBN: 9781483349800

Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S., Sage Publications 5th ed. 2017

Note: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

Writing an Applied Linguistics Thesis or Dissertation: A Guide to Presenting Empirical Research

ISBN: 9780230224544

Bitchener, J., Macmillan 2010

Note: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

The Blackwell Guide to Research Methods in Bilingualism and Multilingualism

ISBN: 9781405126076

Wei, L. and Moyer, M. (eds), Blackwell 2008

Note: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

Research Methods in Applied Linguistics

ISBN: 9781472525017

Paltridge, B. and Phakiti, A. (eds), Bloomsbury 2nd ed. 2015

Note: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language : A Handbook for Students and their Supervisors

ISBN: 9781138048706

Partridge, B. and Starfield, S., Routledge 2nd ed. 2019

Note: Students should consult their LING599 Supervisor about which is the most appropriate text for their individual project.

Text refers to: All offerings

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