This learning unit is not open to incoming exchange students!
Teacher(s)
Simon Anne-Catherine (coordinator);
Language
French
Main themes
Focusing on a topic related to French and Romance languages and literature, with a general orientation, the master's thesis allows students to:
- carry out a critical analysis and synthesis of a given scientific question,
- contextualise an issue in relation to current knowledge,
- present the results of their work by justifying their methodological choices, arguing their hypotheses and scientifically presenting the results obtained.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
demonstrate the ability to present correctly the results of personal, objective and methodical work, the quality of which is not necessarily linked to its scope. The dissertation is, like the other forms of teaching, an integral part of the programmes in which it is included. It is a piece of research required of students which, at this stage of their training, should be considered as an introduction to research in the discipline concerned. The dissertation consists of research work :
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Content
The Master's thesis is a personal contribution to scientific knowledge.
Students will show that they are capable of carrying out the essential stages of scientific research, i.e. defining a problem, collecting bibliographical data and heuristics on sources, criticising and interpreting documentary databases, drawing up a synthesis and communicating the results.
A dissertation must be at least eighty pages long (i.e. 200,000 characters including spaces) of original, personal writing (including bibliography and notes, but excluding appendices). Where a substantial part of the dissertation is devoted to a critical edition and/or an original translation of a text, this standard is increased to a minimum of 60 pages (i.e. 150,000 characters including spaces) of argued personal writing (to which must be added the pages of the edition and/or translation).
All dissertations must include an introduction, in particular a methodological one, a development showing the analysis and synthesis of the subject, a conclusion and a bibliography.
Students will show that they are capable of carrying out the essential stages of scientific research, i.e. defining a problem, collecting bibliographical data and heuristics on sources, criticising and interpreting documentary databases, drawing up a synthesis and communicating the results.
A dissertation must be at least eighty pages long (i.e. 200,000 characters including spaces) of original, personal writing (including bibliography and notes, but excluding appendices). Where a substantial part of the dissertation is devoted to a critical edition and/or an original translation of a text, this standard is increased to a minimum of 60 pages (i.e. 150,000 characters including spaces) of argued personal writing (to which must be added the pages of the edition and/or translation).
All dissertations must include an introduction, in particular a methodological one, a development showing the analysis and synthesis of the subject, a conclusion and a bibliography.
Teaching methods
Students are required to meet with their promoter at least twice during the first annual block. No later than the first day of the final session of their first year block, they must send their promoter a dossier summarising the work carried out during the year.
This dossier must include at least: a title, a description of the problem (one page), an outline and a structured bibliography.
The jury may object to a student's registration for the dissertation if the student has not participated in the various stages of the teaching process as detailed above and, a fortiori, if the student has not been in sufficient contact with his/her promoter (except for validation of the dissertation subject when first registered for block 1 of the master's degree) cf. RGEE articles 73 and 74.
A student who is deemed eligible at the end of the academic year may register for the thesis in the June or September session. Only students who had the thesis course registered in their PAE (personal academic plan) in the academic year n-1 may register for the assessment of the course corresponding to their thesis during the January session, provided that the subject and discipline of the thesis remain the same.
This dossier must include at least: a title, a description of the problem (one page), an outline and a structured bibliography.
The jury may object to a student's registration for the dissertation if the student has not participated in the various stages of the teaching process as detailed above and, a fortiori, if the student has not been in sufficient contact with his/her promoter (except for validation of the dissertation subject when first registered for block 1 of the master's degree) cf. RGEE articles 73 and 74.
A student who is deemed eligible at the end of the academic year may register for the thesis in the June or September session. Only students who had the thesis course registered in their PAE (personal academic plan) in the academic year n-1 may register for the assessment of the course corresponding to their thesis during the January session, provided that the subject and discipline of the thesis remain the same.
Evaluation methods
Admissibility of the dissertation
Any dissertation that does not meet the formal academic standards (thesis structure, language quality, bibliographic and footnote referencing in accordance with academic writing practices) or that fails to comply with the content requirements specified above (number of pages/characters of the thesis) may be deemed inadmissible by the jury, leading to a recorded failure.
In the event of failure due to non-compliance with the content requirements, and without prejudice to Article 153 of the RGEE, the chair of the jury shall notify the student that they are not permitted to present the oral defense of the dissertation, given that such a failure cannot be remedied through the defense.
Supervision and composition of the dissertation jury
The dissertation is supervised by a "promoter" (supervisor).
The student must submit his/her subject for approval to the supervisor by the date specified in the faculty calendar.
The dissertation is written in one of the languages of the student's program (French, Italian, Spanish), with the supervisor’s approval.
The dissertation jury is made up of two readers: the supervisor and another reader appointed by the Master's jury (represented by the jury chair).
Oral defence
The thesis is subject to an oral defense, in the language in which it was written. The thesis jury is made up of the supervisor and the reader. The oral examination is an opportunity for the student and the members of the jury to exchange views. The oral examination is taken into account in the final assessment of the dissertation. The practical arrangements for the oral examination are communicated to the student no later than the first day of the session in which the dissertation is registered.
Dissertation assessment criteria
The final mark takes into account :
Language assessment
The language assessment ("rapport de langue") may lead the jury to reduce the mark awarded to the dissertation, in accordance with the procedures set out in the document Evaluation of language proficiency in written work, TFCs, dissertations and TFEs on bachelor's and master's degree programmes in French and Romance languages and literature (general studies and French as a foreign language)’, or even to declare the dissertation a failure.
In the event of failure of the dissertation due to the language assessment, without prejudice to article 153 of the RGEE, the president of the jury will notify the student that he/she cannot present the oral defense of the dissertation, given that this failure cannot be remedied by the defense.
For dissertations written in Spanish or Italian, the 2nd reader includes the language evaluation in his/her grade.
Rules on the Use of AI
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), if used, must be employed responsibly and in accordance with the principles of academic and scientific integrity. Since scientific integrity requires proper source citation, the use of AI must always be explicitly and precisely acknowledged.
Whether acknowledged or not, the presumed use of AI tools will be considered non-compliant with academic standards when it results in:
Likewise, throughout the thesis, the student must demonstrate full mastery of bibliographic referencing rules. To avoid suspicion of plagiarism, they must ensure that they:
This definition complements that set out in Article 107 §2 of the RGEE and constitutes a specific provision within the meaning of §3 of the same article.
Any student who fails to comply with the above rules is liable, in the event of irregularity or plagiarism established by the jury, to academic sanctions as detailed in the RGEE (Section 7).
Any dissertation that does not meet the formal academic standards (thesis structure, language quality, bibliographic and footnote referencing in accordance with academic writing practices) or that fails to comply with the content requirements specified above (number of pages/characters of the thesis) may be deemed inadmissible by the jury, leading to a recorded failure.
In the event of failure due to non-compliance with the content requirements, and without prejudice to Article 153 of the RGEE, the chair of the jury shall notify the student that they are not permitted to present the oral defense of the dissertation, given that such a failure cannot be remedied through the defense.
Supervision and composition of the dissertation jury
The dissertation is supervised by a "promoter" (supervisor).
The student must submit his/her subject for approval to the supervisor by the date specified in the faculty calendar.
The dissertation is written in one of the languages of the student's program (French, Italian, Spanish), with the supervisor’s approval.
The dissertation jury is made up of two readers: the supervisor and another reader appointed by the Master's jury (represented by the jury chair).
Oral defence
The thesis is subject to an oral defense, in the language in which it was written. The thesis jury is made up of the supervisor and the reader. The oral examination is an opportunity for the student and the members of the jury to exchange views. The oral examination is taken into account in the final assessment of the dissertation. The practical arrangements for the oral examination are communicated to the student no later than the first day of the session in which the dissertation is registered.
Dissertation assessment criteria
The final mark takes into account :
- achievement of the set objectives ;
- the coherence and general quality of the work carried out (relevant and well-documented synthesis of the scientific literature, quality of the methodological approach and appropriateness to the objectives, relevance and soundness of the analysis and interpretation)
- the ability to discuss critically the methodological choices made and the conclusions drawn from the work;
- the correctness, quality and relevance of the written presentation;
- the quality of the oral presentation.
Language assessment
The language assessment ("rapport de langue") may lead the jury to reduce the mark awarded to the dissertation, in accordance with the procedures set out in the document Evaluation of language proficiency in written work, TFCs, dissertations and TFEs on bachelor's and master's degree programmes in French and Romance languages and literature (general studies and French as a foreign language)’, or even to declare the dissertation a failure.
In the event of failure of the dissertation due to the language assessment, without prejudice to article 153 of the RGEE, the president of the jury will notify the student that he/she cannot present the oral defense of the dissertation, given that this failure cannot be remedied by the defense.
For dissertations written in Spanish or Italian, the 2nd reader includes the language evaluation in his/her grade.
Rules on the Use of AI
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), if used, must be employed responsibly and in accordance with the principles of academic and scientific integrity. Since scientific integrity requires proper source citation, the use of AI must always be explicitly and precisely acknowledged.
Whether acknowledged or not, the presumed use of AI tools will be considered non-compliant with academic standards when it results in:
- citing bibliographic sources to support claims without having consulted the sources in question and/or without a clear connection between those sources and the ideas developed;
- including in the bibliography references whose validity has not been verified or that are entirely fictitious.
Likewise, throughout the thesis, the student must demonstrate full mastery of bibliographic referencing rules. To avoid suspicion of plagiarism, they must ensure that they:
- DO NOT copy a text without quotation marks and/or without citing the source;
- DO NOT reproduce a chart, data, illustrations, etc. without citing the source;
- DO NOT rephrase or summarize an author’s original idea without citing the source;
- DO NOT translate, in whole or in part, a source without citing it;
- DO NOT use someone else’s work while presenting it as their own (even with the author’s consent);
- DO NOT purchase a paper.
This definition complements that set out in Article 107 §2 of the RGEE and constitutes a specific provision within the meaning of §3 of the same article.
Any student who fails to comply with the above rules is liable, in the event of irregularity or plagiarism established by the jury, to academic sanctions as detailed in the RGEE (Section 7).
Other information
Online resources
Faculty or entity
Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)
Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in French and Romance Languages and Literatures : General
