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FAO CGAA Year 1: The Time Machine Written Assignment


Lots of activity re. Unit 6 on the blogs - and that's great, but this is a reminder to all first years in regard to their written assignment for The Time Machine Unit. Before I do the 'hearts and minds' speech, I'm giving you the essay question as a refresher:

You are asked to produce a 2,000 word written assignment. Choose an example of contemporary visual culture from within your own area of study. Discuss ways in which historical and cultural perspectives might be used to interpret its meaning. In your response, make reference to key ideas encountered in the lecture programme. Specific attention should be paid to academic conventions.

In terms of subject, this is a very open brief, except you're expected to choose something that associates with CG Arts & Animation - but that is a big, broad area. Just think about that for a moment; over the course of the past 25 weeks, you've looked at metamorphosis and its cultural meaning, at production design and the meaning of things and places, at Freud and the uncanny, at film grammar, genre, editing and narrative, and at animation and animators. Indeed, a quick look back over your blogs will show you that you've experienced and examined a diverse array of 'contemporary visual culture' and all the various historical and cultural perspectives that might influence and inform it. You have also written 7,500 words of formal written assignment over 5 units and written x amount of properly referenced, properly presented film reviews. You've accomplished something real and scholarly. What are you even worrying about? You have LOADS of experience at writing undergraduate-level academic assignments and you have the time to ensure that what you submit for the Time Machine unit is proof-read, polished and 'practically perfect in every way'.

No one is going to tell you what subject to write on; the idea is you've grown adept at seeing questions and hunting out the answers, but I suggest that all of you put a post together asap in which you offer up a proposal and planned essay structure. There is no reason why you shouldn't return to an idea or example that caught your attention in a previous unit, but remember whatever you choose should cross-reference with one or some of the ideas discussed in the lecture programme. This does not mean your subject has to encompass ALL ideas covered - it means you identify a key theme or theory that will help you discuss your chosen subject in its historical and cultural context (i.e. Frankenstein as creature of the Enlightenment...).

Please be aware that I will be marking these assignments. My expectations of your abilities at this late stage of year one are high. If you write this final assignment of your first year the night before hand-in you are taking all the hours you've already spent writing those other essays and reviews and flushing them down the toilet. Some of you may secretly (and not so secretly) think that all the writing, reading and referencing I've put you through has been a waste of time - well, if you f**k this one up, you'll be right! And remember - after this, the mark for the next assignment you submit contributes directly toward your final degree award. Make no mistake - this essay is important. In truth, ladies and gentlemen, your second year of CG Arts starts here. With the advent of Unit 6 and this final written assignment, you are 'first years' no more...

So - for your convenience - I reprint here the criteria with which by now you should be very familar. If you ensure that your assignment covers these areas, you'll be writing about your subject matter in a contextualised way - guaranteed. If you ignore these prompts (and some of you have been over and over) you run the risk of writing contentless waffle. Don't write contentless waffle!

1) A clear introduction which should mention the different published sources you have used and your reasons for choice. You should use no less than 5 published sources to inform your presentation.

2) A clear definition of key ideas relating to your given topic, with supporting evidence in the form of, no less than, 3 quotations from 3 different published sources. Quotations must be interpreted and their importance discussed, they should also be referenced correctly using the Harvard method.

3) The cultural context (political and social) in which the topic came out of/was in reaction to.

4) An illustrated ‘who’s who’ of key individuals associated with given topic, with a clear explanation of what you think their significance is and why.

5) Historical examples of key words/images/artefacts associated with given topic and an assessment of their importance.

6) Contemporary examples of key words/images/artefacts associated with given topic and a comparison to the historical examples.

7) A conclusion.

8) A bibliography and illustration list correctly set out using the Harvard method.


You must submit a paper-copy of your written assignment, and a clearly labeled submission disc containing a digital copy of your written assignment and pdf archive of your group blog.


Hand in date: FRIDAY 6th MAY 2011 Between 10am -12pm

(Faculty Admin office, ground floor)

And finally - please take a look at the assessment criteria; this is what I'll be using to gauge the success or otherwise of your written assignments - it makes sense if you look at it too!

On completion of this unit you will have produced evidence of:

  1. Growing critical knowledge and understanding of historical periods and ideas.

  2. The application of research skills and information collation that support the development of a critical study.

  3. Ability to structure arguments and present an essay using academic conventions.

So make a start now - start reading, start researching, start planning, start writing.

Good luck. Be amazing! Any questions - post '@Phil'

(For more guidance and advice on writing a decent academic assignment, go to the group blog's 'search posts' option and type 'written assignment' - an archive of previous guidance prepared lovingly by yours truly will magically appear...)

Comments

  1. Which is why I chosed to do my essay on Computer Generated Arts. Found good books for it also.

    ReplyDelete

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