FMP
Selected Topic: The use of computer stereo vision in animation production and their future development
Want：To debate the use of 3D stereoscopic visual effects in animation creation and their potential future development, and to prove the point of view through the actual application in the final works.
Class：
Choosing a Thesis Topic (and defining a research question)
Your topic will become your ‘research question’. The subject you pick must in some way connect to the area of art, design and visual culture.
You need to consider what resource materials will be available to you (finding this out will be part of your proposal research). Do not rely on personal experience for information.
Your choice of topic is part of the marking criteria of your Thesis. The key points are focus and challenge. A strong topic might receive the comments: Topic well focused and intellectually challenging. Choice of topic suggests considerable critical awareness and understanding.
A weak topic might receive this: Topic limited in approach, purely descriptive, lacking an issue based subject OR inappropriately ambitious.
Things to pay attention to when selecting topics:
- If the problem with this topic is that it is too broad then it needs to be made more specific.
2. Any question that has an easily available -or obvious – right answer falls into the ‘too narrow’ category.
3. You may think if your general topic area is fine but the title isn’t right yet there’s nothing to worry about. This is a mistake because your question should drive your research and structure your Thesis/case.
4. When developing a research question you need to work out all the different, relevant factors that will inform a convincing analysis. In other words you need to break your question or topic down into sub-questions. These sub-questions will then help you form the structure of the Thesis.
Further Modifying Your Topic
You will continue to modify your topic throughout the research process. How you modify your topic will depend on:
• Whether there is too much information
• Whether there is too little information
• Whether new issues arise in the research process that need to be addressed
Check List for Choosing a Topic
- Have you chosen a topic which will hold your interest for a sustained period?
- Do you know what the current issues relating to this topic are?
- Have you found out who the leading experts / key writers are in this field and what reviews of the topic already exist?
- Do you have the support of your supervisor for your topic?
- Where are you going to find the appropriate background reading and other sources of information you need for this topic?
- Have you checked their availability?
- Are you going to do primary research? What access do you have to your area of interest? When are you going to do it? Have you discussed the practicality of it with your supervisor?
- Have you a clearly articulated position which you aim to test? (if appropriate)
- Are you sure that your topic is sufficiently focused?
- Does it respond to a question and/or present an argument?
- Have you a clear, manageable research question?
Researching your Topic
Choosing your topic will involve a considerable amount of initial research. Research involves locating key sources. There are two kinds of sources:
a) Primary or original sources. These could be a mediaeval manuscript, a poem, a photograph, the records of an institution, a dress, an interview…
b) Secondary or interpretative sources i.e. papers/articles/books written about a subject.
Each source/text is written/produced from a perspective and has a specific function. Interpretation, therefore, depends not only on the content, but also the context. In other words, don’t take everything at face value. Notice and make note of the position that is being taken by theauthor/producer. An essential part of a good Thesis is commenting on the different position’s authors take.
There are four main stages to research:
• Researching the research
• Planning the research
• Doing the research
• Finishing the research
Research Resources
The UAL libraries ：https://arts.ac.libguides.com/welcome
Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/
Credo: https://search.credoreference.com/
The E-Library：
The library subscribes to numerous electronic databases and journals.
http://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/library-services/e-library/
Finding E-Books Guide：https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/98d39c15-9b36-4966-813c-4a08dc7fe3a4?list=trending