Investigative Study

Title: Investigative Study unit

Ref:
Level: 6
Credit Points: 15
Weighting: 1.0
Study Time: 150 hours

Commences: Friday 7th October 2011

Deadline: Draft: Friday 18th November2011.

Final Essay: Wednesday11th January 2012. Drafts and final submissions should be handed into the course office no later than 12.00 midday.

Unit Leader: Amanda Stephenson, email astephenson@aucb.ac.uk

Description:

As part of your Level 6 studies, you will produce a piece of critical writing 4000 words in length.  The units provide opportunities for you to undertake individual research, with tutorial guidance, and pursue a particular line of inquiry pertinent to your post-course aspirations, whether you intend to undertake further study or enter the creative industries.

Investigative studies is  the culmination of the critical, theoretical and historical work studied so far, and as such, you submission should evidence advanced critical analysis, interpretation, and communication skills. It is the chance to build upon the critical analysis developed in New Perspectives to New Contexts, however you do not necessarily have to build upon the topic studied in that unit. It is advised, however, that you relate your area of study to your chosen specialism.

You might, for example,  consider one of the following:

  • An aspect of the work of a particular practitioner from the field of digital media.
  • How a particular context affects the reading of a specific piece of work (whether that be commercial piece of work or a work of art)
  • How social networking/web broadcast sites have changed advertising/marketing/privacy
  • An analysis of the implications of new media on the music or film industry.
  • A comparison of the work of two practitioners from different generations/countries/social backgrounds, etc.
  • How changes in technology have affected the production, dissemination and consumption of a particular aspect of digital media.

You are not restricted to these examples; within reason you may write about whatever you like as long as it is agreed in advance with your tutor. It is important to be very focussed in your critical analysis, and therefore you must be able to make a statement about your chosen topic that you are able to back up with close textual analysis.

Outline Syllabus:
• Realisation of Investigative Study topic and title
• Structure of written work
• Development of critical argument through the application of research
• Use of theoretical frameworks
• Application of academic protocols

Method of delivery:
Group debate on issues relating to individual Investigative Study proposals.
Individual tutorials to support your development and progress including preparation, discussion and feedback on the written project in progress.

Aims:
A1 To identify, and define the area of research

A2 To apply the skills required to plan research, formulate and present a written argument

A3 To investigate theoretical and cultural contexts appropriate to the area of research

Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this unit you will be able to:
LO1 Demonstrate independent judgement in analysis and investigation and the ability to draw together ideas within a particular area of study

LO2 Demonstrate the ability to plan, research, formulate and write a sustained piece of academic writing using appropriate academic protocols

LO3 Demonstrate the ability to debate appropriate theoretical and cultural contexts through the study


Assessment Requirements:
Written Investigative Study of 4,000 words 100%


Assessment Criteria: (specific criteria related to the learning outcomes and linked to the statement of generic assessment criteria matrix):

Evidence of research and analysis, synthesis and development-evidenced through the production of a piece of academic writing (LO1)

Evidence of knowledge of contextual and theoretical issues and depth of subject knowledge – Evidenced through production of an appropriate study (LO1)

Evidence of knowledge of academic protocols – Demonstrated through a well-structured and appropriately referenced written project (LO2)

Evidence of understanding and critical analysis through the application of research– Demonstrated through a self-negotiated subject within an appropriate theoretical and cultural context (LO3)

Reference Material:
This specialist and reference material will be determined by the individual nature of your Investigative Study; guidance on primary and secondary sources and other appropriate material will be provided by your tutor and Subject Librarian.

See
http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/essays/abstract.html
for advice on general structure of an abstract – this applies also to your report as a whole.

http://www.aucb.ac.uk/aboutus/thelibrary/bibliography.aspx
essential reference on the recommended Harvard format for creating a scholarly bibliography and important notes on AIB plagiarism policy

Note on Plagiarism.

Plagiarism is when you copy other people’s work from whatever source (books, magazines, online) and do not correctly credit it to the original author. If you do this, intentionally or unintentionally, you may leave yourself open to accusations of cheating (plagiarism). The Harvard Referencing Guidelines (library bibliography link above) are the AUCB recommended guidelines for both constructing a bibliography, and for referencing quotations in your Report. Make sure you read them, and abide by them.

Suggested structure of Investigative Study Report

Please see www.new-reflections.co.uk/essaywebsite for help on this.

Note on writing style appropriate for Investigative Study Unit

Please note that this is a degree-submission document, and that you should avoid casual, vernacular, ‘chatty’ styles of writing. These may be appropriate for blogging, magazine articles or in conversation with friends, but the Investigative Study unit requires a formal, balanced and objective approach that is written in a formal English style (like a text book).

Note: An academic document is defined by its structure AND the style of writing deployed. Pay careful attention to both these issues.

Document format, running header and page numbering

Make sure that your document has a running-header (in Word>View>Header and Footer) that includes your name, short document title and page number expressed as 1/10, 2/10 etc

The document should be saved in the format:
Yourname_Investigative-study-report-date.doc
And saved as a Word doc.

To help get you started, here are a few things to consider:

1) PICK A TOPIC YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN. This is really important because you need to pick something that you are not going to get bored of. If you don’t care about your topic it will show in your work, and it will most likely show in your marks.

2) PICK A TOPIC THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF. In other words, do not pick a topic/medium that is entirely new to you. For example, a student on a previous year decided she wanted to concentrate on film studies, and it meant she had to go and learn all the basic film study stuff (that students on the film course had to learn in year 1). Her work was good, but not the LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYSIS that is expected of third year students. SO while her mark wasn’t awful it wasn’t as good as it could have been had she concentrated on something she already had a basic understanding of.

3) Keep asking yourself WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS ARTIST/WORK/MEDIUM/TOPIC? What REALLY interests me about it? Why is it important that I share my ideas about this topic?When considering anything think about its significance to the world, culture, our identities, the future of technology etc etc. In other words CONSTANTLY THINK ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE. Although the essays need to be quite focused, you still need to show understanding of the significance of the work/medium/artist to its context.

4) TALK YOUR IDEAS THROUGH WITH YOUR FRIENDS. A general conversation can lead to forming and consolidating your ideas, because once you can talk about it (put it into words) it becomes clearer in your mind. And the most unlikely person may just ask a question or point something out that really helps you get your ideas together.

5) Visit my website to start giving you ideas on structure, typesetting, the most common mistakes etc etc. And please EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!

Good luck, have fun!