Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2018-2019 (archived)

Module CHEM3187: CHEMISTRY LITERATURE PERSPECTIVE

Department: Chemistry

CHEM3187: CHEMISTRY LITERATURE PERSPECTIVE

Type Tied Level 3 Credits 10 Availability Available in 2018/19 Module Cap Location Durham
Tied to F102, F105, F111, FGC0

Prerequisites

  • Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012).

Corequisites

  • Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012) OR Bioactive Chemistry 3 (CHEM3211) OR Chemical Physics 3 (CHEM3411)

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To provide a research-led module in Chemistry, where MChem and MSci students in their penultimate year can development and demonstrate their skills in the reading and critical analysis of a small area of the relevant scientific literature.
  • To provide students with an opportunity to collect, read and analyse data from primary sources
  • To enable students to develop the transferable skills of critical analysis, advanced literacy and presentation
  • To provide a foundation for the preparation of a level 4 project report.

Content

  • Perspective on a individual title chosen by, or allocated to, the student in week 26 of Year 2 from a list of titles offers by a member of the Board of Studies in Chemistry.
  • Progress is monitored by the Perspective Supervisor through a series of tutorials in Level 3
  • Oral Presentation

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • describe and critically analyse the topic of their literature perspective at an advanced level
Subject-specific Skills:
  • produce a scholarly and critical review of a narrow area of relevant literature
  • show relevance in their study of a topic
  • produce a critical summary
Key Skills:
  • enhanced skills in chemical information retrieval, scientific writing, editing and proof-reading, oral presentation and discussion of scientific results;
  • self-motivation, in self-guided learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • At the end of level 2 students will be given guidance in literature survey methods, writing long documents and drawing chemical structures. They will meet with their perspective supervisor to establish the bounds of the topic, and will provide an outline before the end of year 2.
  • During year 3 students will meet with their perspective supervisor, as needed, to discuss the student's progress.
  • A draft must be submitted during week 5 of the Michaelmas term
  • Training will be given at the end of level 2 in oral presentation skills.
  • Assessment is by the written perspective and a 15 minute oral presentation

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Tutorials 4 during Term 1 typically 30 minutes 2 ■
Preparation and Reading 98
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Perspective Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written report 3,000 words 80%
Oral presentation 15 minutes 20%

Formative Assessment:

Formative feedback on a two page outline of the perspective consisting of section headings in week 28 of Year 2 Further feedback on a draft in Michaelmas Term of Year 3. Formative feedback on the oral presentation and the perspective will be given, together with the provisional summative mark, early in Epiphany Term.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University