Title: Final Guidance Lecture Units: All PAE Dissertation and PaR Course: All Performing Arts and English Institution: University of Bedfordshire Tutors: Dr Louise Douse

1. Final Research
Project
Congratulations 3rd Years

2. Overview of the session
• Deadline reminder
• The Dissertation
– Format
– Binding
– Hard copy
submission
• The Presentation
– Format
– Technical
Requirements
– The day

3. Deadline Reminder
Monday 18th May
Dissertation Students: 5pm for hard copy
11.30pm for online submission
PaR Students: Available all day for
presentation
11.30pm for online submission

4. The Dissertation

5. Format
• Written submissions – the basics – dissertations will not all fit this model
– so use guidance from your supervisor for more specific formatting for
your particular dissertation – these are general guidelines.
• 9,000 words (full dissertation), the word length includes quotations, but
not bibliography or appendices. (you have 10% either side, so 1,000 words
either way)
• Typed or word-processed, using black font (size 11/12)
• Presented on A4 paper
• Double-spaced (except for long quotations, over 40 words)
• Given a reasonable left-hand margin for binding (add 1 cm)
• All pages to be numbered at the bottom centre as from:
– Page 1: Title Page
– Page 2: Abstract
– Page 3: Table of contents
• With any accompanying photographic, video material, etc, securely
attached to each copy of the dissertation (photocopies of illustrations are
acceptable, especially in the second copy)

6. Structure
• Title page
• Abstract
• Contents page
• Introduction
• Chapters
– Quotations
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Appendix/Appendices

7. Title Page
• Title of dissertation in capital letters
• Student name and student number
• An extended essay submitted in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for a BA Hons
in ………., University of Bedfordshire, May 2015

8. Abstract
• An abstract of not more than 300 words
should appear at the beginning of the
dissertation. An abstract is a précis of the
conclusions of the dissertation, not an
account of the structure of the dissertation. It
is not an introduction. It should tell us in
synopsis form what you conclude from your
research, what the gist of your argument is.
You are basically giving away the ending.

9. Contents page
• The table of contents will normally indicate
introduction, chapter titles, conclusion, any
illustrative material, and bibliography, with
page numbers for each. Subheadings within
chapters are often helpful and should also be
listed on the contents page.

10. Introduction
• Similar to the essay introduction, the dissertation
introduction will introduce the dissertation topic
to the readers. It will inform the readers what the
dissertation is about and its purpose. A good
introduction will provide the reader with
background information on the subject; will point
out the aim of the research and its value and
state the dissertation questions and hypothesis
clearly. As this is the first section in the body of
the paper, student should ensure that it is written
interestingly and accurately.

11. Chapters
• The structure of your chapters is particular to
your dissertation – do not worry if somebody
else has been advised differently, they have a
different dissertation!

12. Quotations
Quotations will be of two kinds:
• Short (i.e. less than 40 words). These will appear
in single quotation marks within the main body of
the double spaced text, and correctly referenced
using the Harvard referencing system, used by
the Department of Performing Arts and English.
• Long (quotation exceeding 40 words) These will
be indented, typed in single spacing, not in
quotation marks, and correctly referenced.

13. Conclusion
• Your conclusion should be a substantial part of
the dissertation where you tie up all of the
ends and ideas established in the previous
chapters. You may also make
recommendations for the extension of the
research, and predictions relating to findings
this far.

14. Bibliography
• The bibliography should be placed at the end of your
dissertation and should list in alphabetical order all
those works and other resources that you have
consulted in the preparation of your dissertation. List
separately websites, videos and films, audio
recordings, performances, unpublished material, etc.
Please refer to the Performing Arts & English
Referencing Guidelines for Students, which can be
downloaded from the unit’s BREO shell and the
Performing Arts Subject Guide on the Learning
Resources Website:
http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/performing-
arts/plagref

15. Appendix/Appendices
• Singular – Appendix
• Plural – Appendices
• May be used for interviews or questionnaire
templates
• Images

16. Binding
• Book an appointment with Jenny Hadfield in
Reprographics
– S0.03
– Ext. 4064
– Jenny.hadfield@beds.ac.uk
• Book this now and allow plenty of time!
• No more than £3 for one copy (dependent on
size)

17. Hard copy submission
• You will need to download a top sheet from
Sits E-vision
• An instruction powerpoint will be added to
BREO for your information
• Submit via the library assignment dropbox
• Monday 18th at 5pm!

18. The Presentation

19. Format
• Part 1: Presentation of a 5000 word academic paper.
•
• 5,000 words, the word length includes quotations, but not bibliography
• Presented as an academic paper, to an audience of your peers
• You will also need to submit the written paper via turnitin for our records
• submitted by the deadline, presented in person and submitted via Turnitin
•
• Part 2: Materialised/ Physicalised/ Performative output
•
• 8 minute performative/ materialised/ physicalized output to accompany your
presentation paper.
• This is to be negotiated with your tutor, it may be a film, live performance, excerpt
of workshops, documentary, interactive activity etc.
• You should provide an explanation and introduction for this part of the assessment
within your presentation.
• The two components should clearly link as ways of disseminating findings from
your research project.

20. The paper
• Written as a script
• Do include an introduction and conclusion
• Do include references and a bibliography
• Assessed on the presentation not the
document

21. Technical Requirements
• Please ensure that you book an appointment
with Alex Perry regarding any technical
requirements
– Tech Office
– Ext. 4414
– Alexander.perry@beds.ac.uk
• Please also email myself or Sadie with a brief
outline of your performative component.

22. The Day
• We will contact you in the coming week with a
schedule for the day but you need to be
available for the whole day
• We would encourage you support one
another and watch each others presentations
• Do not forget to upload the 5,000 document
to BREO
• Monday 18th at 11.30pm

23. Questions?