This document provides guidance for students completing their dissertations or practice as research presentations. It outlines important deadlines, formatting requirements, and structure for the written dissertation component. For dissertations, it describes the required sections including the title page, abstract, contents, introduction, chapters, quotations, conclusion, bibliography and appendix. For presentations, it indicates they should include a 20 minute academic paper and 8 minute practical performance disseminating research findings. Students are reminded to follow academic conventions and upload required components by the deadline.

1. Disseminating your
research
DISSERTATION AND PRACTICE AS RESEARCH
Week
10
Dissertation
and
Practice
as
Research

2. Overview of the session
 Deadline reminder
 The Dissertation
 Format
 Online submission
 The Practice as Research Presentation
 Examples
 Online
submission
Week 10
Dissertation and Practice as Research

3. The basics
Please ensure you are enrolled on the correct unit.
 PER028-3 for Dissertation
 PER029-3 for Practice as Research
If you are not enrolled (and it is your responsibility to
ensure you are) you need to complete a unit change
form asap.
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

4. Deadline Reminder
Thursday 27th May
Dissertation Students: 10.00am for online
submission
PaR Students: 10.00am for upload of
presentation
Week 10
Dissertation and Practice as Research

5. The Dissertation
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Dissertation
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6. Format
 Written submissions – the basics – dissertations will not
all fit this model – so use guidance from your supervisor
for more specific formatting for your particular
dissertation – these are general guidelines.
 8,000 words (full dissertation), the word length includes
quotations, but not abstract, bibliography or
appendices. (you have 10% either side, so 800 words
either way)
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

7. Format
 Typed or word-processed, using black font (size 11/12)
 Presented on A4 paper
 Double-spaced (except for long quotations, over 40 words)
 Given a reasonable left-hand margin for binding (add 1 cm)
 All pages to be numbered at the bottom centre as from:
 Page 1: Title Page
 Page 2: Abstract
 Page 3: Table of contents
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

8. Structure
 Title page
 Abstract
 Contents page
 Introduction
 Chapters
 Quotations
 Conclusion
 Bibliography
 Appendix/Appendices
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

9. Title Page
 Title of dissertation in capital letters
 Student name and student number
 An extended essay submitted in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for a BA Hons in ………., University of
Bedfordshire, May 2021
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

10. Abstract
An abstract of not more than 300 words should appear at
the beginning of the dissertation. An abstract is a précis of
the conclusions of the dissertation, not an account of the
structure of the dissertation. It is not an introduction. It
should tell us in synopsis form what you conclude from
your research, what the gist of your argument is. You are
basically giving away the ending.
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

11. Contents page
The table of contents will normally indicate introduction,
chapter titles, conclusion, any illustrative material, and
bibliography, with page numbers for each. Subheadings
within chapters are often helpful and should also be listed
on the contents page.
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

12. Introduction
Similar to the essay introduction, the dissertation
introduction will introduce the dissertation topic to the
readers. It will inform the readers what the dissertation is
about and its purpose. A good introduction will provide
the reader with background information on the subject;
will point out the aim of the research and its value and
state the dissertation questions and hypothesis clearly. As
this is the first section in the body of the paper, student
should ensure that it is written interestingly and
accurately.
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

13. Chapters
The structure of your chapters is particular to your
dissertation – do not worry if somebody else has been
advised differently, they have a different dissertation!
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

14. Quotations
Quotations will be of two kinds:
 Short (i.e. less than 40 words). These will appear in
single quotation marks within the main body of the
double spaced text, and correctly referenced using
the Harvard referencing system, used by the
Department of Performing Arts and English.
 Long (quotation exceeding 40 words) These will be
indented, typed in single spacing, not in quotation
marks, and correctly referenced.
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

15. Conclusion
Your conclusion should be a substantial part of the
dissertation where you tie up all of the ends and ideas
established in the previous chapters. You may also make
recommendations for the extension of the research, and
predictions relating to findings this far.
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

16. Bibliography
The bibliography should be placed at the end of your
dissertation and should list in alphabetical order all those works
and other resources that you have consulted in the
preparation of your dissertation. List separately websites, videos
and films, audio recordings, performances, unpublished
material, etc. Please refer to the Performing Arts & English
Referencing Guidelines for Students, which can be
downloaded from the unit’s BREO shell and the Performing Arts
Subject Guide on the Learning Resources Website:
http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/performing-arts/plagref
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

17. Appendix/Appendices
 Singular – Appendix
 Plural – Appendices
 May be used for interviews or questionnaire templates
 Ethics
 Images
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

18. Binding (not necessary for submission)
 www.printshop.beds.ac.uk
 £3.80 for a 60 page black and white dissertation
 Use your print credit (if you ensure you have the funds in this, they
will take it from there – no need to exchange money!)
 Comb binding
 If you want some colour pages it is cheaper to select the individual
pages you want in colour than print all in colour – there is an
option to do this
 Allow 2 days – will deliver to reception
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Dissertation and Practice as Research

19. The Presentation
Practice
as
Research
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Week
15

20. The assessment
OPTION 1
You will need to record yourself giving your presentation plus
performance output to submit via BREO
OPTION 2
You will need to deliver your presentation and performance
output live via Zoom/Blackboard Collaborate.
 You will need to upload the presentation paper/slides to
BREO in both instances
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Practice as Research

21. Format
 20 minute academic paper (up to 5000 word paper)
 8 minute physicalised performance, materialised
practical component that also disseminates your
research project.
 Your presentation should provide context, literature
review, key questions, methodology, findings, discussion
that should link to what you also show us in the
practical component.
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Practice as Research

22. Some examples
 You can follow a traditional or conventional approach
 You can follow a more imaginative approach
 You can combine the elements or they can be in very
clear sections
 All must follow academic conventions – bibliography.
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Practice as Research

23. And remember …
 You must upload your presentation in written form by
10.00am on Thursday 27th May 2021.
 This will sit alongside the video of your presentation for
the external examiner
 If you do not upload the ‘paper’ component you will
be in the system as non submission.
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Practice as Research

24. Questions?
Week
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Dissertation
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Research