Author: Peihang Jiang

This week’s theory class mainly focused on research methods and how to start developing our own research topic for the thesis. We learned about different research approaches, especially the difference between qualitative and quantitative research. Quantitative research is more about using numbers, data and statistics to test ideas, while qualitative research focuses more on understanding meanings, experiences and context . This helped me realise that the type of research we choose depends on what we want to explore — whether we are trying to measure something or understand a process.

We also looked at what a methodology is and why it is important in a research project. I learned that methodology is not just about what methods we use, but also about explaining why we choose those methods and how they help answer our research question . It is closely connected to our research aims and objectives, and it plays an important role in showing the validity and reliability of our work.

Another key part of this week was thinking about how to develop a research topic. We were encouraged to consider different perspectives such as social issues, cultural context, and ethical questions, especially in areas like media and technology . This made me realise that a good research topic is not only something I am interested in, but also something that can be supported by academic research and has meaningful value.

We also went through the requirements for the draft literature review assignment, which helped me understand what I need to prepare, including a research question, objectives, literature review and bibliography . Overall, this week helped me connect theory with my own project, and I started to think more clearly about what direction my research might take and how to support it academically.

This week’s theory class mainly focused on how to write a literature review and how to use academic writing properly. We first learned what a literature review actually is — it is not just a summary of sources, but a critical and structured overview of existing research that helps us understand the current knowledge in a field and identify possible gaps for our own project . Through this, I realised that the literature review is an important foundation for the whole thesis, because it shows both our understanding of the topic and how our work connects to other research.

We also learned how to structure a literature review. A useful idea introduced in class is the “funnel approach”, which means starting from a broad background and gradually narrowing down to specific studies that are directly related to our topic . This helped me understand how to organise research more logically instead of just listing sources. In addition, we discussed how to identify themes, patterns, and gaps between different authors, rather than treating each source separately. This made me realise that writing a literature review is more about analysing relationships between studies instead of simply describing them.

Another important part of this week was academic writing conventions. We were introduced to formal writing rules, such as avoiding personal language, using objective tone, and referencing sources properly using systems like Harvard referencing . I also learned that academic writing needs to be precise and concise, avoiding vague or informal expressions. This is quite different from the way I usually write, so it will take some practice.

Overall, this week helped me understand that writing a literature review is not just about collecting information, but about organising, analysing, and presenting research in a clear and academic way. It also made me realise that I need to start thinking more critically about sources and improve my academic writing style for my future project.

This week we focused on how to choose and develop a research topic, which I realised is much more complex than I expected. At first I thought choosing a topic was just about picking something I’m interested in, but actually it also needs to be researchable, meaningful for future study, and supported by enough reliable sources.

One of the key ideas this week is that the topic will eventually become a research question, and this question is extremely important because it basically shapes the whole thesis. A good research question needs to be balanced — not too broad and not too simple. For example, a very general topic like the history of visual effects is too big to analyse properly, while a question with an obvious answer does not leave much space for discussion. So the goal is to make the question more focused and specific, so it can lead to deeper research and critical thinking.

We also learned that developing a research topic is actually a process of breaking down ideas. A big question needs to be divided into smaller sub-questions, and these will later help structure the essay or thesis. At the same time, the topic is not fixed — it can keep changing during the research process depending on how much information we find or whether new issues appear.

Another important part of this week is understanding how research works in practice. Research is not just randomly reading materials, but a structured process including planning, reading, note-taking and eventually finishing. When taking notes, it is important to record sources clearly and distinguish between our own ideas and direct quotations, otherwise it is very easy to accidentally plagiarise.

We also discussed different types of sources, such as primary sources and secondary sources, and how to evaluate them critically. Not all information is reliable, especially online content, so it is necessary to consider the author’s perspective, possible bias, and whether the information is credible and relevant.

Overall, this week helped me understand that choosing a topic is not just the starting point, but actually the foundation of the whole research. A well-focused and meaningful question can make the entire research process clearer and more manageable, while a weak topic can lead to confusion later on.

This week we focused on short narratives and non-dialogue animation.

First, we learned about different forms of short narratives. A short narrative is usually concise and focuses on one main event, emotion, or theme Short narratives. It often has a clear structure with beginning, middle and end, but everything is compressed. We also discussed micro-narratives, which are even shorter and focus on a single moment or feeling. They are common in digital platforms and rely on emotional impact rather than complex plot Short narratives. This made me think about how to tell a story in a very simple and direct way.

We also studied non-dialogue animation. Non-dialogue animation tells stories through body language, facial expression, music and sound effects instead of spoken words Short narratives. This kind of animation has universal appeal because it can be understood without language. We looked at examples and discussed how visual storytelling can express emotion clearly. I realised that character performance is very important, especially when there is no dialogue.

In addition, we connected this learning to our FMP thesis thinking. We reviewed again how to structure a thesis and research proposal, including introduction, literature review, methodology and themed chapters Thesis structure and notes_mast… Thesis proposal structure We need to think about audience, purpose and research questions clearly Thesis Proposal Approaches . For next week, we were asked to start a blog section about our FMP thesis proposal and answer some questions about our future direction Task for next week.

Overall, this week helped me understand how to build strong visual storytelling in short form, and also how to start connecting creative ideas with academic research.

This week we focused on understanding how to develop a clear thesis proposal and structure for our FMP.

First, we learned what a thesis should include. A full thesis normally has a title page, abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, themed chapters, conclusion, references and appendices Thesis structure and notes_mast…. This helped me understand the overall academic structure and what kind of sections I need to prepare in the future.

We also studied how to write a research proposal. The proposal needs to explain why the research is important, what gap it fills, and what new knowledge it may bring Thesis proposal structure. It should include a research title, draft introduction, keywords, literature review, a draft chapter, chapter outline and an indicative bibliography. I learned that the proposal is not only an idea, but a clear plan with research questions and methods.

In addition, we looked at how to structure the thesis more clearly. We need to identify the audience and purpose, break the topic into main questions and sub-questions, and explain our methodology and critical review Thesis Proposal Approaches . This made me think more carefully about what I want to research and how it connects to my practical work.

We also received a reading list with important books and journals related to animation, film theory, colour theory and game studies Reading List-Term 2 . These sources will support our literature review and help us build stronger academic arguments.

Overall, this week helped me understand the academic expectations of the thesis and how to organise my research in a logical and professional way.