ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the supervision of master's-level researchers in professional settings. It focuses on research writing for master's dissertations or Work Based Projects where students are concurrently engaged in professional activity, as in education, health, law, business and related areas. Master's students in professional settings negotiate connections between professional activity and academic study. Social and emotional aspects are crucial, particularly as increasing numbers of students come from geographically and culturally disparate backgrounds. The model for support of master's students has developed along with the increase in interest and uptake in master's-level study in Education in Scotland. Generic support reduces the pressure on individual supervisors and provides consistency to students. Effective formative assessment, feedback and revision are key aspects of the generic support. Students are provided with feedback and feedforward on their writing throughout the course. Common 'generic criteria' are supplemented by specific assessment criteria for each master's course, including the final project.
