Component three: Discipline-specific Research, Argumentation and Criticality

This component builds on the first two components by further developing your research, argumentative and critical skills in a chosen discipline or one closely related to it.

We look at what knowledge is and how it is constructed and communicated in the context of your chosen (or closely related) academic discipline.

Options are:

• Architecture and Urban Design
• Business, Management and Finance
• Education and Psychology
• Humanities, Social and Political sciences
• Law
• Life and Medical Sciences
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Aims and objectives

To introduce and familiarise you with the key features and the approaches to building knowledge of your chosen academic discipline or a closely related discipline.

Outcomes

By the end of the component you should be able to:

Discipline-specific approaches to research/advanced scholarship

• Understand and describe what is meant by “knowledge” in your discipline (or a closely related discipline)
• Identify areas of current research interest and/or areas of current academic controversy
• Identify and understand underlying philosophies of enquiry in your discipline (or a closely related discipline)

Criticality in the disciplines

• Understand and describe what it means to be ‘critical’ in your chosen field of study
• Recognise, describe and comment upon aspects of current research in your chosen field
• Examine and discuss the uncertainty and limits of knowledge in your discipline
• Construct arguments and/or solve problems using appropriate ideas and techniques from your chosen field

Discourse in the disciplines

• Identify, understand and produce a number of academic text types which are common in your discipline
• Communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions by effectively following appropriate discourse norms in your discipline

Study skills

• Work autonomously to prioritise work and meet deadlines effectively
• Take responsibility for your own learning by responding to feedback and using self-study time to improve your discipline-specific language and skills
• Understand the differences between the role of students in a UK higher education institution and home institutions when pursuing a course of study in your discipline

Assessment

You are assessed through an Extended essay (1,800-2,200 words) on a topic related to your intended degree programme.