Category: Nigel

During the break, I finished writing my literature review. Instead of simply summarising sources, I aimed to connect them and highlight different perspectives. Through writing, I reached a more nuanced understanding of my topic. While visual elements do play an important role, they do not operate independently. Narrative context and psychological factors also contribute significantly… Continue reading WEEK 10

This week’s lecture focused on academic writing techniques, including quoting, paraphrasing, and maintaining ethical standards. We also discussed how to compare sources and develop a critical argument within a literature review.

This week, we had individual tutorials in preparation for our research proposals. We were asked to define our research area, write a short statement of intent, and identify relevant academic sources. In my case, I worked on defining a comparative project focused on motion graphics in two key formats: title sequences and short-form audiovisual advertisements.… Continue reading WEEK 8

This week’s online session focused on building a strong literature review and introduction, emphasising how structure supports clarity and academic rigour. Nigel introduced a paragraph-based approach rather than numbered sections, which initially seemed minor but I now see as essential for creating a more fluid and cohesive argument. Using the “intro–explain–cite” structure within each paragraph… Continue reading WEEK 7

In this class, we mapped out the entire research‑design process, starting with how to frame a clear, focused research question and moving through the steps of a robust literature review. We examined the main types of reviews: systematic, narrative, meta‑analysis, umbrella, descriptive, and realist, highlighting when each is appropriate and how to synthesise sources rather than… Continue reading WEEK 6

We walked through the full thesis‑planning workflow. From picking a research topic to staying resilient when setbacks hit. The session emphasised practical steps (like using a funnel to narrow a question) and concrete tools (Mendeley for reference management, chunked timelines, and recovery checklists) so you can move from a vague idea to a polished draft… Continue reading WEEK 5

During this session, we walked through the essential steps for building a strong literature review since we’ll have to submit ours after the break. We emphasised the impirtance of need of a research question that serves as an “anchor” for the entire project and fits within the 6 000‑word thesis limit. Once the question is set,… Continue reading WEEK 4

In the second class, we focused on a short narrative without dialogue. We watched and discussed numerous animations shared on Padlet by my peers, exploring the challenges they might have faced in creating them through meaning and emotion… My favourite was Chih Chih’s share:

This first session provided a brief introduction to the thesis’s core foundations. The main objective was to guide us through the requirements for submitting the proposal before summer break. Nigel emphasised the importance of selecting an interesting research topic, explaining that a strong topic supports a thorough and engaging study. He encouraged us to start… Continue reading WEEK 1