The session continued with individual online tutorials. In preparation, we were asked to identify our research area, think about possible questions or problems, write a short statement about the purpose of the study, and find at least five academic publications that could support the research.
A key resource this week focused on quoting, paraphrasing and summarising. This was useful because the draft literature review requires careful use of sources. The resource explains that quoting, paraphrasing and summarising are different ways of using evidence from other writers, but that every quote, paraphrase or summary must be cited to avoid plagiarism. It also explains that direct quotations should be used sparingly at university level, while paraphrasing is usually preferred because it shows understanding of the source.
This is important for my literature review because I need to show that I understand the academic ideas I am using. Instead of filling the review with direct quotes, I should explain the arguments in my own words and connect them clearly to my research question. For example, if I use sources about media framing, propaganda or animated documentary, I need to explain how each source helps me understand the relationship between visual storytelling, war narratives and civilian experience.
We also looked at UAL standards and ethics. This reminded me that research must be conducted responsibly, especially when dealing with sensitive subjects. My topic includes war, suffering and civilian experience, so I need to be careful not to use shocking imagery or emotional language without critical purpose. The research should be respectful, academically grounded and aware of the ethical issues involved in representing real-world conflict.
Another useful resource was the revised proposal structure. It explains that the research proposal should include an introduction, background significance, literature review, research design and methods, suppositions and implications, conclusion, and bibliography. The introduction should explain what the research is about, state the research question and outline how the writing will answer it. This helped me understand how my draft literature review will eventually become part of a larger proposal structure.
The revised proposal structure also explains that the literature review should not simply list sources. It should be selective and should synthesise and evaluate how the research contributes to the discussion. For my project, this means I need to organise my sources into clear themes, such as media language, animated documentary, memory and trauma, and the use of stylised 3D animation to communicate emotional distance.