Category: Theory Term3

This week we focused on academic writing and referencing conventions for thesis research. The sessions covered the requirements of Harvard referencing, the importance of using peer-reviewed academic sources, and the correct methods for citing books, journal articles, films, images, and other research materials.

During the week, I gained a better understanding of academic writing standards and the importance of maintaining accurate and consistent referencing throughout a research project. I also reviewed the requirements for the thesis proposal submission and reflected on how these guidelines could be applied to my own research. This helped me prepare for the next stage of writing and ensure that my work follows appropriate academic conventions.

This week I finalised a preliminary chapter structure for my dissertation. After spending several weeks developing my research topic and considering how different sections of the study connect with one another, I began organising the dissertation into a clearer and more coherent framework.

Developing the outline encouraged me to think about how the research question could be addressed across multiple chapters and how the discussion could progress logically throughout the dissertation. This process also helped me identify the key themes that would become the focus of each chapter and provided a clearer direction for the next stage of writing.

Dissertation Outline:

Chapter 1: Introduction
Introduces the research background, research questions, aims, and objectives. It also explains the significance of studying generative AI in digital animation and outlines the overall structure of the dissertation.

Chapter 2: Literature Review
Reviews existing research on generative AI, creative authorship, originality, creative autonomy, and environmental sustainability. This chapter establishes the theoretical foundation of the study.

Chapter 3: Case Studies and Analysis
Examines AI tools such as Midjourney, DALL·E, and Stable Diffusion. It analyses how these tools are applied in concept design and visual development within digital animation.

Chapter 4: Generative AI and Creative Authorship
Discusses how generative AI influences creative authorship, originality, and creative decision-making. The chapter explores whether AI changes the creator’s role within the production process.

Chapter 5: Generative AI and Environmental Sustainability
Investigates the environmental impact of AI systems, including energy consumption and carbon emissions, and considers sustainability challenges within digital creative industries.

Chapter 6: Conclusion
Summarises the key findings of the research and reflects on the future relationship between generative AI, creators, and sustainable creative practice.

This week we explored chapter planning and research objectives in greater detail. The sessions focused on how different chapters contribute to the overall purpose of a thesis and how research objectives can help guide the development of an argument. We also revisited the concept of the “Golden Thread” and discussed the importance of maintaining clear links between research questions, objectives, methods, and conclusions.

During the week, I reflected on how my own thesis could be structured around its research objectives. I began considering how each chapter might contribute to answering the research question and support the overall direction of the study. This helped me develop a clearer understanding of how to organise my research and maintain a consistent focus throughout the thesis.

This week we focused on the structure and development of the thesis proposal. The discussions covered the different sections required within the proposal, including the introduction, research methods, chapter outline, and draft chapter. I gained a better understanding of how these elements work together to support a research project.

The session also highlighted the importance of ensuring that each chapter contributes to answering the research question. This encouraged me to think more carefully about the structure of my own thesis and how different topics could be organised throughout the study. Although my work was still at an early stage, I began considering how the overall argument could be developed across different chapters.

This week I continued thinking about the structure of my thesis. I spent some time considering how different parts of the research could be organised and how the overall argument might develop throughout the paper.

I also began outlining possible chapter structures and thinking about what each section should focus on. Although these ideas were still very preliminary, the process helped me build a clearer understanding of how the thesis could be developed in the future.

This week I began thinking about how to structure my thesis proposal. The sessions helped me understand how different sections of the proposal work together and how a clear research argument can be developed. We discussed the importance of presenting a strong rationale for the research and creating logical connections between different parts of the proposal.

During the week, I started considering how to write the introduction section of my proposal. I reflected on how to present the background of my research topic, explain its relevance to digital animation, and introduce the key issues that the study aims to explore. Although I was still at a very early stage of development, these reflections helped me build a clearer direction for the proposal and prepare for the writing process ahead.

This week we continued exploring research design strategies and methods. The sessions focused on how different research approaches can be applied to answer specific research questions and support academic investigations. We examined a range of research methods and considered how research design influences the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.

During the week, I reflected on which research methods would be most suitable for my dissertation topic. I began considering approaches such as case study analysis and literature-based research, while also evaluating how these methods could help address my research objectives. This process helped me develop a clearer understanding of how to structure my research and build a stronger foundation for my thesis proposal.

This week we focused on research planning and the development of research proposals. We explored the concept of the “Golden Thread”, which emphasises the importance of creating clear connections between the research question, objectives, methods, and conclusions. This helped me understand how different parts of a dissertation should work together to form a coherent argument.

We also learned about research objectives and research design, including how to identify research aims, develop achievable objectives, and select appropriate research methods. In addition, I explored academic resources related to animation studies and began considering potential approaches for my own dissertation topic. These sessions helped me gain a better understanding of how research projects are structured and how to develop a focused and practical research plan.

This week we were introduced to the Final Major Project Thesis and Thesis Proposal requirements. We discussed how to select a suitable research topic, develop research questions, and identify the audience and purpose of a dissertation. The lectures also outlined the overall structure of a thesis, including the introduction, methodology, literature review, discussion chapters, and conclusion.

During the week, I began exploring potential research topics related to digital animation and emerging technologies. I considered how my research could contribute to the field and started thinking about possible questions that could be developed into a dissertation project. This helped me gain a clearer understanding of the expectations and objectives of the thesis module.