Researching the Humanities HUR7001M | MA Humanities Assignment 2026

Summative Assessment Brief

HUR7001M Researching the Humanities

1. Annotated Bibliography: 2000 words

Find eight academic sources. Complete a 250-word summary for each source, in which you summarise the source’s main arguments and evaluate its relevance and quality.

Four of these sources should pertain to your research question for your thesis in Semester 2, and four should pertain to the aspect of the module’s teaching on which you are focusing.

2. Research log: 2000 words

In this section you should focus on an aspect of the module’s teaching (e.g. criticality, ethics, digital communities, physical and/or digital archives, project management, etc.) and relate its interest and relevance for your work in Semester 2.

You should use the four sources pertaining to your research question from your Annotated Bibliography as a basis of research for writing about this section, as well as additional academic sources. Use this research to enquire further into this topic and to construct an argument about its strengths and weaknesses.

You are encouraged to draw on notes made in seminars as a basis for this section.

Consider:

• Why is this methodology/approach/theme relevant to your proposed research?
• What did you find interesting and useful about it?
• How does your research into this methodology/approach develop your thinking beyond the module teaching?
• What are its strengths and weaknesses?

3. Self-reflection: 1000 words

Using a model of self-reflection discussed on the module (Week 12), write a self-reflection on how the module has shaped your impressions of research within the humanities, and how it has influenced the development of your research project for Semester 2.

Submission and Feedback

Learning Outcomes

• 7.1 Critically explore and evaluate published and emergent literature in relation to your own research area and the value of this to your chosen field and specific research.
• 7.2 Identify, explore, and interpret research methodologies as they apply generally to the Humanities and specifically to your project.

Assessment Regulations

Please see the Code of Practice for Assessment for the following aspects:

• Your attention is drawn to the University policy on cheating and plagiarism. Penalties will be applied where a student is found guilty of academic misconduct, including termination of programme.
• You are required to keep to the word limit set for an assessment and to note that you may be subject to penalty if you exceed that limit.
• For late or non-submission of work by the published deadline or an approved extended deadline, see the policy. Where a re-assessment opportunity exists, a student will normally be permitted only one attempt to be re-assessed for a capped mark.
• An extension to the published deadline may be granted to an individual student if they meet the eligibility criteria of the Exceptional Circumstances policy.