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PORT30240

Academic Year 2026/2027

Research Themes - Dissertation (PORT30240)

Subject:
Portuguese
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ana Vera
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Are you interested in developing a research project of your own in Portuguese, Lusophone, and/or Iberian Studies? Would you like to develop the skills that will help you to pursue research projects in these areas? Do you enjoy thinking and writing about language(s) and cultural issues and discussing your ideas with your peers?

PORT30240 Research Themes guides students through the development and completion of a 5,000-word dissertation (including footnotes and excluding bibliography) in the field of Portuguese, Lusophone and/or Iberian Studies. It builds on the skills introduced in PORT30230 Research Methodologies (part 1- Autumn), but students may take it independently if they already have a suitable project idea or prior experience with research methods.
You are free to pursue a topic of your choice (in agreement with the coordinator and supervisor), work with primary and secondary sources, and finally develop and articulate an argument in a piece of polished writing. During the term, you will receive guidance from your supervisor and support from your peers, but to successfully complete your dissertation it is important that you are motivated and willing to pursue independent research and study.
You are encouraged to start thinking about a possible research topic as soon as possible. Students will submit a proposal at the beginning of the trimester that illustrates both the suitability and feasibility of the project.
In addition to meetings with your supervisor (4h minimum), you will be expected to attend seminar meetings and to present part of your research. This will be an opportunity for you to receive feedback on a draft chapter or section of your project, and you will also be able to learn from your peers, to give and receive peer feedback, and to develop and strengthen your research and writing skills.

Note: This intensive module is designed for a small group of enthusiastic students. Students enrolling in this module (PORT30240: Research Themes: Dissertation – Spring part 2) are recommended to also enrol in and successfully complete PORT30230 (Research Methodologies – Autumn part 1). If you do so, you are expected to prepare a short research proposal during the autumn trimester.

English is the main working language. No Portuguese language skills are required to register for this module.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Students who successfully complete this module should be able to:
1) Identify a significant research problem/topic in the field and pursue independent research;
2) Plan, organise and execute a sustained and in-depth piece of academic research under the supervision of the module coordinator;
3) Define clear and articulate research questions;
4) Analyse arguments in the literature and construct their own arguments with improved clarity and precision;
5) Research and select relevant literature and other sources on the chosen topic and compile a bibliography;
6) Present results of their research/creative work in a coherent, polished, and professional manner;
7) Give constructive feedback and interact effectively and respectfully with other students, listen to and learn from others.

Indicative Module Content:

Individual meetings with your supervisor/module coordinator (4h minimum) and 2-3 Seminar meetings, where students present part of their research.
This will be an opportunity to receive feedback on a draft chapter or section of your project, and be able to learn from peers, to give and receive peer feedback, and to develop and strengthen research and writing skills.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Competent

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Competent

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Competent

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Competent

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Competent

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Project Supervision

5
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

145

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The dissertation naturally demands a substantial amount of independent work to conceive, research, execute, and edit the final product. Students will work closely with their supervisor (module coordinator), who will provide them with structured support through each stage of the process. In this sense, students will learn to strike a balance between task-based and reflective modes of learning. Students will meet with their supervisor early on in the trimester to establish expectations in terms of meetings and draft-reading.

Note on IA: AI may be used to help with the refinement of expression and style, but AI must be used critically, with an awareness of its limitations. You must add a note documenting and explaining your use of AI, mentioning the AI tool you used and the prompts you put in. The content and argument of the dissertation must be authored by you, and you must not allow the AI tool to alter the sense of any text, offer a critique of or modify any arguments.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Students enrolling in this module (PORT30240: Research Themes – Spring part 2) are recommended to also enrol in and complete PORT30230 (Research Methodologies – Autumn part 1).


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Project outline (1000 words / 2 pages) Week 5 Graded No
15
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Participation in Learning Activities: Project management, Presentation of a draft chapter or section of the thesis Week 2, Week 5, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
15
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment (Including essay): Final 5000-word dissertation Week 15 Graded No
70
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 16:00 - 16:50
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