The Postgraduate Taught Student Handbook and the ‘Core Programme Information’ available on MOLE are designed to help you to understand the nature of your chosen programme, the formal procedures associated with it, and the support and guidance that is available to you. This booklet is intended to supplement that information.
Section One of the booklet is concerned with writing for assessment purposes. It centres on the preparation of essay-type assignments but also includes additional guidelines for undertaking small-scale investigations.
Section Two provides some guidance relating specifically to the preparation of a dissertation for Masters students. EdD students should refer to the Code of Practice for Research Degree Students for guidance on thesis preparation, submission and examination http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/pgr/code.
Section Three provides guidance about ethical concerns common to research in education, and outlines how to pursue ethics approval for your research.
Section Four covers the presentation and submission of both assignments and dissertations and also provides information about feedback.
This booklet is not intended to be the definitive study guide! Much of the information contained in it will be discussed at various stages of the programme – and you are welcome to contact any member of staff if you have specific queries at any time. Additionally, we recognise that many mature students will already have developed successful patterns of studying and writing and we have no wish to disrupt these.
What we have attempted to provide here are study tips, advice and guidelines which students have found helpful in the past, together with a note of other sources of information which may be of assistance to you during your studies. If you would like to supply any of your own advice or sources of information for possible incorporation into future editions of this booklet, the programme tutors would be delighted to receive them.