Course Catalogue

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This course allows students to engage in a structured essay (alongside a short spoken presentation and a written reflective log), in Portuguese, on a topic concerning the history and culture of the Portuguese-speaking world, while using a range of appropriate research resources. 

5 x hours of supervision

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into one of the SMLC Honours programmes, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay in Target Language - 2,600 words (60%)

■ Viva in Target Language - 12mins (30%)

■ Reflective Log in Target Language - 400 words (10%)

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essay or reflective log, but an extension to the deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ An invigilated online viva in target language as an alternative to viva in target language.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor. 

This course aims to:  

■ build on the linguistic and cultural experience of the Year Abroad or Term 3 Residency by
researching a topic related to the culture of a Portuguese-speaking country; 

■ complete an independent study in Portuguese on this topic; 

■ carry out individual research using library resources and other research tools independently; 

■ construct and present written arguments in Portuguese on their chosen topic; 

■ develop good academic practice regarding use of sources and references to sources. 

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ formulate a coherent research topic relating to the culture or society of a specific Portuguese-speaking country; 

■ select and evaluate relevant bibliographic and other resources; 

■ articulate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the chosen topic, arguing and synthesizing clearly and coherently in formal written and spoken Portuguese; 

■ use a range of advanced syntactic, idiomatic and lexical aspects of Portuguese in presenting the argument; 

■ support arguments with appropriate references to relevant sources.