Falmouth and Cornwall, independant music, creativity and culture
Order Description
Major Project
Aims
Provide a structured opportunity for students to undertake a large-scale self-directed creative or investigative project that displays the depth and breadth of their
abilities.
To establish methodologies, skills and attitudes essential to undertaking successful research in the field.
To explore and reflect on the professional as well as the relevant theoretical, creative and logistical considerations within a project of this scale.
Overview
The major project is self-generated and may take one of many different forms. There is, however, an expectation that the final deliverable will be of a calibre that
will help progress the student into employment or postgraduate work.
The project is intended to demonstrate a range of advanced skills in accordance with the requirements of a substantial level three project. Through successful
completion the students will also exhibit their capacity to conduct independent research and manage a large-scale venture.
Central to the module is an exploration of research methodologies and how they may be successfully employed. Students will develop a project proposal and submit this
for approval. They will project manage all aspects involved in preliminary and planning phases through to realisation.
Indicative Summary of Topics
• Potential avenues for research in the field;
• Research methodologies relevant to the major project;
• Development of project proposal and resources for the research project;
• Project development and management skills.
Learning Objectives
On successful completion of this module students will have acquired knowledge of:
• their chosen field of enquiry;
• appropriate methodologies needed to effect reliable and valid research;
• the complex processes involved in the planning and implementation of a major project.
© 2014 SAE Education Ltd. | Subject to change without notice 1
On successful completion of this module students will have acquired skills in:
• evaluating, selecting, applying and reviewing methodologies needed to effect reliable and valid research;
• academic and creative/practical fields appropriate to level three study;
• managing a major project independently, professionally and efficiently;
• communicating outcomes effectively.
© 2014 SAE Education Ltd. | Subject to change without notice 2
Assessment Strategy Part 1: Major Project Proposal
Submission Format: Turnitin Summative: No
Submission Code: MPP
In preparation for the major project students are required to prepare a detailed proposal. The proposal must be approved, in writing, by the Campus Academic Co-
ordinator prior to formal commencement of the project.
Guidelines
Make sure that it contains enough information to categorise the project accurately and effectively. Key words are important here. It may also help to express the title
as a question, and the research problem could be theoretical, technical or creative. The Major Project Proposal must be structured as follows:
1. Introduction: This section should focus on the research problem and/or research question(s) and tentative topic, leading the reader to understand the basic
objectives and limitations of the project. Here you should mention if you are aiming for a BA or a BSc and the weighting for any practical component. Your case for an
Arts or Science award should be clearly justified. The practical component could be up to 50% of the total weighting and must be explained and justified.
2. Rationale: This section should state the reasons for undertaking the research project, as proposed in the introduction. It should also indicate why the project is
relevant for the audio/film/multimedia industry and explain how it will contribute to your knowledge and understanding of the chosen field of study.
3. Literature Search: This section refers to the existing literature in the chosen field of study. The section must include an annotated bibliography of at least eight
primary and/or secondary sources (at least four of which must be offline sources such as books or journals) that have been used in the preparation of this section.
4. Proposed Table of Contents: Students should include a proposed Table of Contents for the final major project.
5. Methodology: This section should outline the research methodology and methods to be applied and their rationale; they should ideally stem from the nature of chosen
topic and, consequently, the theoretical foundations.
© 2014 SAE Education Ltd. | Subject to change without notice 3
6. Resources: An estimation of the resources required to complete the project. This must take into account any practical resources (hardware, software, studio
facilities, etc.) that will be used, any assets that will need to be prepared, the estimated hours for each section of the project and any further requirements
necessary for the completion of the project.
7. Project Timeline: A detailed timeline outlining when each phase of the project will be completed and what each phase involves. This should be presented in the form
of either a Gantt Chart or spreadsheet, with monthly milestones indicated.
8. Bibliography: As per all written assignments, the Major Project Proposal should contain references within the text and include a bibliography of sources cited in
accordance with “Cite Them Right: the essential guide to referencing and plagiarism”.
Approval Criteria
The criteria for assessing the suitability of each proposal will be adapted according to the nature of the proposal, however the following will be common to all:
• Adherence to brief;
• Thorough theoretical foundations of the research project by way preliminary research;
• Scope and appropriateness of the information gathered for the proposal;
• Selection and justification of appropriate research methodology and methods, including details of how data will be collected and analysed, and where appropriate how
tasks or problems will be approached;
• Feasibility of the project plan (the proposal should clearly demonstrate how the 600 hours of effort required for the research project is to be managed in way that
will ensure the timely delivery of the project);
• Application of course learning during the project;
• The project’s contribution to knowledge and relevance to contemporary industry issues;
• Command of literary skills appropriate to the requirements of the assignment.
Word count: 2,000 words (±10%, not including references, bibliography and appendices).
Submission Criteria
A soft copy must be submitted on Turnitin. The submission of a hard copy is not required, but may be requested by the project supervisor.
NB: This assignment is formative and has no weighting towards the final mark of the major project. You must pass the assignment (“gain approval”) for their Major
Project Proposal before embarking on your project. You have the opportunity to resubmit Major Project Proposals for re-approval within a specified deadline. Submitted
projects that are not based on an approved Major Project Proposal will not be accepted for assessment.
© 2014 SAE Education Ltd. | Subject to change without notice 4
Part 2: Major Project
Submission Format: Turnitin, Physical Submission (if applicable), CD/DVD (if applicable) Summative: Yes
Weighting: 100%
Submission Code: MP
The nature of the project and weighting between written and creative/practical elements may vary, however for creative/practical based projects it is expected that at
least 50% will be comprised of a written element in support of the end product (learning outcomes 5, 6, 7).
The word count of the written element will be based on 14,000 words for a 100% written project (not including references, bibliography and appendices).
The Major Project must be structured as follows:
Page/Section
Title Page
Abstract
Preface
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
Abbreviations
Text
Notes (footnotes)
Appendices
References List
Bibliography
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes (if tables used)
Yes (if figures used)
Required?
Yes (if abbreviations used)
Yes
Yes (if notes / footnotes used)
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Pagination
Yes (begin i)
Yes (begin 1)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Please refer to the SAE Institute UK Formatting Guidelines for further information.
© 2014 SAE Education Ltd. | Subject to change without notice 5
Students are required to attend regular (normally fortnightly) major project meetings with their allocated supervisor(s) through module 610/20. These meetings are an
integral part of the major project, and attendance will be recorded for all sessions.
Where students are unable to attend a scheduled meeting, they must notify their supervisor as early as possible so that an alternate time can be arranged and the
attendance record will be adjusted accordingly. Students can arrange additional meetings with their supervisor as necessary.
The Supervisors’ meeting schedule will be available to students at the commencement of module 610/20.
Assessment Criteria
Assessors will draw from the following criteria dependent on the nature of the project:
• Adherence to project proposal;
• Coverage of subject;
• Critical and conceptual analysis;
• Perceptive judgements and insights;
• Command of relevant literary skills;
• Application of creativity appropriate to the level of study;
• Quality of end product;
• Overall quality of presentation.
Creative/Practical element (where applicable) depending on the nature of the project, some or all of the following may be applicable:
• Quality of design concept and implementation;
• Quality of final product;
• Production values;
• Usability (if applicable);
• Creativity;
• Technical ability: advanced techniques must be demonstrated beyond what has already been taught and expected at diploma level;
• The final deliverables should sufficiently relate to and be justified by the research.
Submission Criteria
The project report will be printed, bound and submitted according to the submission guidelines of Middlesex University. All students are required to submit two (2)
hard copies of the final submission. Any digital component should be professionally presented on a CD with the report.
© 2014 SAE Education Ltd. | Subject to change without notice 6
As part of the assessment process, you may be invited by the examiners for a viva voce. This decision will be made by the examiner.
© 2014 SAE Education Ltd. | Subject to change without notice 7
Reading List Essential
Beyer. H., Holtzblatt, K., (1997), Contextual Design: A Customer-Centered Approach to Systems Designs, Morgan Kaufmann
Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.G. & Williams, J.M. (2008) The Craft of Research, Third Edition (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing). London: University Of
Chicago Press.
Creswell, J.W. (2008) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. London: Sage Publications, Inc.
Dawson, C. (2007) A Practical Guide to Research Methods. Oxford: How To Books Ltd.
Holtzblatt. K., Wendell. J.B., Wood. S.,(2004) Rapid Contextual Design – A how to guide to key techniques for User-centred design (Interactive Technologies), Morgan
Kaufmann
Kuniavsky, K., (2003), Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner’s Guide to User Research, Morgan Kaufmann
Pears, R. & Shields, G.J. (2008) Cite Them Right. Whickham: Pear Tree Books
Punch, K.F. (2006) Developing Effective Research Proposals. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Reardon, D. (2006) Doing Your Undergraduate Project (SAGE Essential Study Skills Series). London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Recommended
Nielsen, J., (1993), Usability Engineering, Morgan Kaufmann
Stone. D., Jarrett, C., Woodroffe. M., Minocha. S.,(2005),User Interface Design and Evaluation, Morgan Kaufmann
Snyder,C., (2003), Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces, Morgan Kaufmann
Bolton, G.E.J. (2005) Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
© 2014 SAE Education Ltd. | Subject to change without notice 8
Chater, K. (2001) Research for Media Production, Second Edition (Media Manuals) (Media Manuals). Oxford: Focal Press.
Creswell, J.W. & Clark, V.L.P. (2006) Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research. Sage Publications, Inc.
Hart, C. (1999) Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination (Published in association with The Open University). London: Sage
Publications Ltd.
Jensen, K. (2002) A Handbook of Media and Communication Research. London: Routledge.
May, T. (2001) Social Research: Issues, Methods and Process. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Metcalfe, M. (2006) Reading Critically at University (Sage Study Skills Series). London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Moon, J. (2006) Learning Journals: A Handbook for Academics, Students and Professional Development. London: Routledge.
Saunders, M., Thornhill, A. & Lewis, P. (2006) Research Methods for Business Students (4th Edition). London: Prentice Hall.
Schon, D.A. (1995) The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action (Arena). Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing.
Shaughnessy, J.J. (2008) Research Methods In Psychology. Texas: McGraw Hill Higher Education.
Thompson, S. & Thompson, N. (2008) The Critically Reflective Practitioner. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
© 2014 SAE Education Ltd. | Subject to change without notice 9
Vaus, D.D. (2002) Surveys in Social Research 5th Edition (Social Research Today). London: Routledge.
Zechmeister, E.B. & Shaughnessy, J.J. (2000) Practical Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology. Texas: Mcgraw-Hill.
Submission Format: Hard Copy (x2), CD/DVD (if applicable)
Summative: Yes
Submission Code MP
The nature of the project and weighting between written and creative/practical elements may vary, however for creative/practical based projects it is expected that at
least 50% will be comprised of a written element in support of the end product (learning outcomes 5, 6, 7).
The word count of the written element will be based on 14,000 words for a 100% written project (not including references, bibliography and appendices).
The Major Project must be structured as follows:
Page/Section
Required?
Pagination
Title Page
Yes
No
Abstract
Yes
Yes (begin i)
Preface
No
Yes
Acknowledgements
No
Yes
Table of Contents
Yes
Yes
List of Tables1)
Yes (if tables used)
Yes
List of Figures2)
Yes (if figures used)
Yes
Abbreviations
Yes (if abbreviations used)
Yes
Text
Yes
Yes (begin 1)
Notes (footnotes)
Yes (if notes / footnotes used)
Yes
Appendices
No
Yes
References List
Yes
Yes
Bibliography
Yes
Yes
Please refer to the SAE Institute UK Formatting Guidelines for further information.
Assessment Criteria
Assessors will draw from the following criteria dependent on the nature of the project:
Adherence to project proposal;
Coverage of subject;
Critical and conceptual analysis;
Perceptive judgements and insights;
Command of relevant literary skills;
Application of creativity appropriate to the level of study;
Quality of end product;
Overall quality of presentation.
Creative/Practical element (where applicable) depending on the nature of the project, some or all of the following may be applicable:
Quality of design concept and implementation;
Quality of final product;
Production values;
Usability (if applicable);
Creativity;
Technical ability: advanced techniques must be demonstrated beyond what has already been taught and expected at diploma level;
The final deliverables should sufficiently relate to and be justified by the research.
Submission Criteria
The project report will be printed, bound and submitted according to the submission guidelines of Middlesex University. All students are required to submit two (2)
hard copies of the final submission. Any digital component should be professionally presented on a CD with the report.

Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? We have qualified writers to help you. We assure you an A+ quality paper that is free from plagiarism. Order now for an Amazing Discount!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

NB: We do not resell papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.