This week’s theory class mainly focused on how to use sources properly in academic writing, especially the difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarising. I learned that these are all ways of incorporating other people’s ideas into our work, but they should be used differently depending on the situation. Quoting should be used carefully and not too often, while paraphrasing is the most common and preferred method, as it shows our own understanding of the material. Summarising is mainly used to give a general overview rather than detailed evidence .
We also learned how to integrate sources more effectively using methods like ICE (Introduce, Cite, Explain), which helps make our writing clearer and more structured. This made me realise that using sources is not just about adding references, but about explaining how they support our argument and connecting them to our own ideas. It also emphasised the importance of writing in our own words rather than relying too much on direct quotes.
Another important part of this week was understanding academic standards and ethics. We discussed issues such as plagiarism and the importance of properly citing all sources. I realised that academic writing is not only about presenting ideas, but also about being responsible and honest in how we use other people’s work .
Overall, this week helped me improve my understanding of how to use and present research in a more academic way. It also made me more aware of the importance of academic integrity, which is essential for developing strong and credible research.
Tutorial Reflection
In this week’s tutorial, we discussed my research topic about AI in the creative process in more depth. Initially, I wanted to focus mainly on how AI influences design workflows and how it can be used more effectively within the creative process. My idea was quite practical, looking at AI as a tool that can improve efficiency and support creative production.
However, during the discussion, my tutor suggested that I should also consider the negative aspects of AI, rather than only focusing on its advantages. This made me realise that my topic was currently quite one-sided. For example, AI can reduce the sense of authorship and creativity, as some outputs are generated instantly without the same level of human input, which may weaken the “soul” or personal expression in creative work. In addition, there are also wider issues such as the environmental impact of AI, including the high energy consumption required to run large-scale models.
This feedback helped me understand that my research should not just explore how to use AI, but also critically examine its impact from different perspectives. A more balanced approach would allow me to develop a stronger argument, rather than simply presenting AI as a helpful tool.
Overall, this tutorial pushed me to rethink my research direction and made my topic more critical and academic. I now feel that combining both the positive and negative aspects of AI will make my research more meaningful and relevant.