The session focused on Harvard referencing conventions and continuing the development of the thesis proposal. This was useful because the proposal is not only about having a strong research idea, but also about presenting the research in a clear, academic and properly referenced way.
A key part of the session was understanding the expectations for thesis writing. The guidelines explain that the thesis should use an appropriate methodology, cite scholars where relevant, and consult peer-reviewed texts such as academic books and journal articles. They also warn against relying on personal blogs, film reviews or YouTube as academic sources, unless they are being used for a very specific animation reference.
The session also helped me understand how to use formal academic language. The guidelines explain that academic writing should avoid emotive language, sweeping generalisations, slang and vague words. Instead, it should be objective, precise and carefully worded. For my proposal, this means I need to describe my topic critically rather than emotionally, even though the subject itself is serious and difficult.
Another important focus was Harvard referencing. The resource explains that any quotation or paraphrase from a scholar, critic, film, TV show or other source must be clearly referenced in the text and included in the reference list or bibliography. This reminded me that even when I write an idea in my own words, I still need to cite the author if the idea comes from their work.
We also looked at how to reference different types of sources. Since my project may include film, animation, images and possibly media references, it was useful to see that films, TV programmes, images and games all have different referencing conventions. The guidelines explain that films should be listed in a filmography and that the first reference to a film should include the title, director and year.
For my thesis proposal, this means I need to be organised with my sources from the beginning. I should keep a clear record of academic texts, films, animations, images and any other references I use. This will help me avoid confusion later when creating the bibliography, filmography or image list.