Associate Lecturer, Nicole Graham, gives an insight into tools and resources that can help you with your dissertation.
The Religious Studies Dissertation module provides a really exciting opportunity for you to delve deeply into a topic that is of particular interest to you, to explore new ways of thinking about that topic, and to advance your experience and knowledge of different research methods – be that critical reading or original empirical research. As well as being intellectually rewarding, the dissertation module will help you to develop knowledge and skills which are valuable in many different career paths.
As your dissertation is an independent research project, the Templeman Library is a necessary starting point for all dissertations. In fact, you’ll need to write a literature review, which means conducting a thorough and effective search for relevant literature on your topic to establish what has been written before and what your project will contribute to the discussion. Additionally, if your dissertation is offering a critical reading then you’ll want access to lots of books and journals!
The Templeman Library has a range of help available to assist you with your dissertation:
- The TH515 Reading List provides a number of useful books that will help you understand how to write a dissertation.
- There are reference management tools that help you to keep track of the books, book chapters, journal articles or any other material you use in your research.
- Sometimes you’ll discover, that because your research area is more focussed that the modules you’ve engaged in for your earlier studies, that some of the sources you want aren’t currently available. But don’t worry – when possible, we will try to get a hold of them for you! For example, this year we bought Kim Knott’s Media Portrayals of Religion and the Secular Sacred: Representation and Change (2013), an e-book version of Philip A. Mellor and Chris Shilling’s Sociology of the Sacred: Religion, Embodiment and Social Change (2014), and Ilona Zsolnay’s edited collection Being a Man: Negotiating Ancient Constructs of Masculinity (2019).
- Look out for the opportunity to attend a session in the autumn term, with your dedicated Liaison Librarian for Religious Studies, Emma Mires-Richards, who will teach you how to make advanced use of library resources.
- As you get to grips with your project if you need any guidance about the library do speak with Emma who is happy to answer questions by email (e.l.mires-richards@kent.ac.uk) or to arrange a 1:1.
- And lastly, don’t forget to check out the Religious Studies Library resource guide!