School of Contemporary Chinese Studies
Undergraduate Programmes Feedback Sheet

Student Number:4218704

Module code: T13172

Module title: Dissertation

Provisional mark:

Comments:
This is a timely topic, and there is much data to consider, as well as many potential examples or case studies. However, your aims and methodology should be refined before you progress to the next stages of your research.
First, you mention a typology of corruption, proposed by Heidenheimer. Can you explain this in more detail? Is there a particular type of corruption you wish to consider in your dissertation?
Second, your research question needs to be formed in response to the literature. The questions you outline can be dealt with in the introduction, since they mainly pertain to certain types of data. For example, as you note, China’s corruption level can be determined by consulting various indexes.Rather than make obtaining data of this nature your aim, focus on the arguments concerning corruption that have been presented by different scholars. Critically review this literature in order to determine where your own study might fit in.
One of your aims concerns determining the effectiveness of Xi’s campaign. Again, a judgement can be made on this by referring to the available data. The stance taken in the proposal regarding the campaign should also be more critical; it presently accepts that Xi’s administration is purely interested in tackling corruption.Yet some commentators wonder if the campaign is mainly aimed at removing his political adversaries. You also suggest that there might be a positive side to corruption: what might this be?
The proposal lists a decent number of quality works, however besides Heidenheimer and Unodcorg, these are not referenced in the actual proposal. Please also check the School’s guidelines on referencing, and be sure to proofread and put everything in your own words.
In short, I recommend generating a clear question in response to the literature, and producing a working hypothesis or thesis statement. Once this has been done, you will be able to set out your argument and a more precise methodology.
That said, this is an important area of research. Your provision of an analytical framework, from Heidenheimer, is promising and this kind of structured analysis is to be welcomed. Consideration of these issues will help you realise the potential inherent in this topic.
First Upper second Lower Second Pass Fail
Approach to the topic/relevance to the question as set X
Descriptive and informational content X
Analysis and criticism X
Structure and clarity of argument X
Presentation of data/evidence, support materials, referencing and bibliography X

Name of Marker: Scott Pacey Date: 09 Dec 2015