Response from Anna

This morning every one received a response from Anna regarding sending her our chosen/proposed assignment titles. Although this was a general email I feel alot happier already about the unit and feel I have now been given some guidance from her suggestions on where to get started. 

Dear All,

thank you to those who have sent proposed essay topics/titles and related material. At this stage I realise that you wont all have fully defined the focus of your essay, but having the topic area defined will help you with this. To help get started on this process here are some things you should do over the next week or so before I see you for the seminars on 2nd March:

 

1. Key word search- as with last year, doing a 30- 60min search session on the library catalogue search database or google will help you come up with some relevant sources for the essay- both visual and text based. If you put in key terms, but alter them each time you will often get different texts coming up; EG: If I was looking for something around typography and postmodern design I may try the following terms; Typography + Postmodernism; Postmodern graphic design; postmodern design; visual communication and postmodernism; postmodern design theory; typography and graphic design, typography and theory; .... and so on!! if you have key names (Carson, Brody, Barnbrook etc) search those names and add words to narrow the search. This should start to give you a range of sources that you can then narrow down by selecting or rejecting the texts/books by looking through the contents, index page and bibliography in the book.

 

2. Also look at Design journals and websites for past articles around your topic- this can also be useful for images.

 

3. search for exhibitions or online websites of key practitioners you may be interested in.

 

4. look at the data bases linked to library section of AIB website/Blackboard. Remember you can search the library catalogue from any pc at home or on campus- just log on to AIB and click on the library links- you may be prompted to give user name and pass word.

 

5. KEEP A RESEARCH FILE!! put in all your notes and photocopies from texts/articles, keep careful note of all your sources, noting down authors, title, date, publicher, or if article, magazine name as well and volume numbers and page numbers for any quotations. Also collect any images you may need and put in the file if photocopies. If you work on a lap top or want to save texts and images create a new electronic file to put in all the research material and always back it up on disc or memory stick. Remember this is a stand alone unit, but you can take your research topic/theme and expolre it more fully or from a different angle for level 6 BA unit Investigative Study.

 

6. Charlotte's sessio will help you get material for the essay and even if you still dont have a clear focus/defined title, you will be able to gather material that roughly corresponds with your area of interest. Dont forget to attend in your groups next Monday 23rd Feb!!

 

7. Finally for the next session on 2nd March please read the methodologies section of the unit handbook- we will cover this in those seminars, plus we will help you define the foucs and case studies you will write about if you have not yet done so your self, so dont panic!!

 

STATEMENTED STUDENTS SEEING LEARNING SUPPORT: Please note, you need to let me know again that you are attending , or have made, appointments to see LS for the duration of this unit, and that you would like to apply for an extension. I can then send this list to Brian Long and Neil and if approved you will normally be able to have a two week extension. You can notify me by email or when I see you on 2nd.

 

Thank you!

 

Anna

Hopefully I will receive some personal feedback from my email as well just to clarify that I am on the right track and that I have chosen a suitable topic to commit to.