Example –Dissertation: literature reviewModule code *****Module title Specialist Knowledge Children and Families Social WorkWord count 7500 – 8000 words excluding reference list and appendicesAssignment type:Preparation of a 7500–8000 word dissertation on a subject relevant to the module, including consideration of implications for practice. The dissertation is a literature review about an areas of practice chosen by the student that links to the module. Given that this dissertation is the means by which the practice-specific pathway is assessed, chosen topics must offer the opportunity to evidence the learning outcomes for the module.The structure is impotance as it enhances the overall dissertation and supports the critical analysis of a wide range of material. Students should have a rationale for undertaking research on their chosen topic and have clear aims when undertaking their research about what they want to fous upon and what they want to find out about. How the dissertion will be structuredand its content set out, its relevance to practice and theories drawn upon with be set out in the introduction. The introduction should explain reasrch aims and what understandning is being sought ifrom the literature. The background to social work practice should be set out and include law and social polcy. It is helpful to provide an outline of practice context, models and theories used. Dissertations should set out methodology and evaluate the quality and functionality of available literature whilst undertaking a thematic analsysis bringing the reader upto date with finding from research and current social work discourses. The review should be written to focus on previously identified research aims and questions. Dissertations should have a strong theoretical component, and include graduate level knowledge of at least one social work theory/method/model covered on the programme. Discussion of theoretical knowledge and its relevance to social work practice should be considered together with critical analysis of specialist knowledge gained from the literature search. A conclusion should summarise what has been done, and findings from the literature before ariiving at a conlusions related to your aims.The dissertation should be referenced throughout and provice a reference list at the end. The final product of 7500–8000 words should comply with (a) standard University guidance on academic work, including referencing, and (b) social work programmes’ common requirement that implications for professional practice be explicitly considered. Dissertations should include the following: introduction, background andlegal and social policy, methodology, literature review, social work theory, discussion and conclusion with recommendations for practice, andreferences. Guidance is given at the end of this handbook. A contents page should set out the structure of the dissertation and page numbers. Formatting: Dissertations should be formatted in Calibri Body font size 12 with 1.5 line spacing.