| CODE | MCT1000 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods and Legal Writing | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Media, Communications & Technology Law | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provides students with the tools necessary to equip them to carry out legal research and therefore assist them to trace the sources which they can use in carrying out their research, in identifying these sources and in learning how to write a an assignment. Other topics to be covered during this unit include identifying the research question and sub-questions for writing an assignment, use of library, archives (including court) and legal internet sources, structuring a research paper, using primary and secondary resources, quoting internet and other media sources, and preparation for written exams. Students will be taught the laws and case law relevant to the subject of this study-unit. Study-unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to equip the student with the necessary skills to write an assignment, sit for a written exam and know where to find the law. Hence this unit will not only focus on lectures but will be more practice orientated where students will discuss amongst themselves their research question, how they are tackling it, what problems have they encountered in attempting to answer the research question, how have they solved these problems, which sources they are using (libraries, archives, electronic, etc.). It will also help them to understand which are the sources of the law such as statutes, customs, case law, etc. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: The student will understand the methodology which is required for writing an assignment and replying to written exam questions. S/he will learn about the relevance of formulating research questions, carrying out a literature review, formulating theories and hypotheses, constructing a research design, implementing research and comprehending how to go about doing so from an ethical viewpoint and, generally, understanding why certain processes have to be followed in order to be able to write an assignment. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) write an assignment for the study-units which are assessed by means of an assignment; (b) reply to written exam questions correctly. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski, Legal Skills, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. George Watson, Writing a Thesis: a guide to long essays and dissertations, London, Longmann, 1987,LB 2369.W34. Estelle M. Phillips and Derek S. Pugh, How to get a PhD: A Handbook for Students and Their Supervisors, Fourth Edition, Berkshire, Open University Press, 2005, LB 2386.P47.2005. Rowena Murray, How to Write a Thesis, Bershire, Open University Press, 2002, LB 2369.M87. G.E. Gorman and Peter Clayton, Qualitative Research for the Information Professional: A Practical Handbook, Second Edition, London, Facet Publishing, 2005, Z 669.7.G67. 2005. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Students taking this study-unit need to have a background in law. | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Kevin Aquilina |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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