What is expected at each stage?

First Reflection

Write about 150 - 170 words, in the RPPF in the language of your EE. This should relate to why you have chosen this topic, what sources you will be looking at / for, what kind of approach you will be taking to your research.

Initial Research Question and Research Plan

This may well not be the research question you end up with, but by now you should be able to formulate a worthy question which will help you to ensure you are focusing your research in the right way. At this stage you should also have a research plan which sets out clearly what needs to be done to ensure that by the end of the bimester you are in a position to write-up the essay, having collected, organised and analysed your data / material. There is a document below which can be used for the research plan.

Literature Review

By now you should know what others have written about this topic. You should identify key texts / sources, give full bibliographic details to ensure that you have them to hand for your write-up, and summarise the key points / findings from each. Write out any quotations and facts and figures you find interesting and might like to use. There is a document below which can be used to help you organise this. This stage is key in terms of organising your ideas and starting to develop your essay plan. If your EE is in a subject which relies heavily on primary data (Experimental Sciences, Mathematics, maybe Geography) then you will not need such a long literature review, however for all subjects this is an important part of your research; putting your own work into the context of the field you are working in. Please email the document to your supervisor and remember that the discussions you have with your supervisor are just as important as the written document.

Data / Material

If you are collecting primary data you should have completed this by now and should have processed the data so that you have it in a state in which it can be used in your essay. Secondary data should also be collected, collated and organised.

Essay Plan

From the data you have gathered and the key ideas which arose in your literature review, you should be in a strong position to create your essay plan.

Essay so Far

On the first day of your return in 6B, you will be asked to submit your essay so far. We ask that you highlight the sentences which you feel demonstrate critical thinking and analysis, since this is the criteria which carries most marks.

Second Reflection

During the first week of 6B you should have your second formal reflection meeting and by the end of that week, you must submit your RPPF, which by now should have two reflections. The second one should also be about 150 - 170 words long. Mention any challenges which arose and how you dealt with them, sources which were particularly useful (or disappointing), any change of direction and what lead to this.

Full Draft

This is the last time that your supervisor can offer written feedback, and the last time they are allowed to see the essay before final submission. If you have not completed the essay to the very best of your ability, including all referencing then you put yourself at a major disadvantage.

Turn-it-in

You will be asked to join a class and submit your essay to turn-it-in. This will be available from the beginning of 6B and you can submit more than once issues need dealing with after your first submission. You should look at the turn-it-in report with your supervisor to ensure that referencing is in line with expectations.

Upload version

This is the version which will be used for your Viva Voce and also the one that will be uploaded to IBIS. After this day, you can no longer make any changes.

Viva Voce

You will meet your supervisor for your final reflection session. You can expect this to take approximately 20 minutes. Your supervisor will ask you questions relating to the process, what you have learnt and how you have developed as and individual and an academic. You can also expect to be asked to explain certain ideas from your essay in detail, to consider how the ideas you have written about could be applied in other areas or similar content focused questions.

Final Reflection

Following your viva voce, you should write your final reflection. Again, focus on key moments in the writing process which influenced the direction of the essay, or when connections were made and how ideas developed. The word limit for the three reflections is 500.