ARTEFACT For Extended Project

What you have to do: 3000 word report accompanied by a performance or artefact. A presentation to a non-specialist audience at the end of the process.

What are the individual sections of the artefact? Activity log/blog – no recommendation Abstract/summary – 50/100 words Introduction – 200/400 words Research/review – 450/900 words Discussion – 675/1350 words Conclusion – 125/250 words Bibliography – no recommendation

What should they include? Abstract/summary: summarise your view point and conclusions reached in the project. This will focus the reader on the purpose, findings and conclusions of the report. The abstract should be considered once the main body of the report has been drafted. Introduction: should have explanation of, and rational for, the project title, an identification of the controversial aspects of the title, and relevant literature/data sources with a discussion of key terms. Based on the work produced for the project proposal. Research review: research needs to be gathered including theories which need to state the key dates, developments and the people involved. They should relate to social context, discussing influences on key figures. Need to comment on reliability of the sources, say whether they are primary/secondary, as well as distinguishing between facts, speculation and subjective opinion. Particular sources will often be biased, and this is something that can be mentioned.

Discussion/analysis: should form a particular argument/hypothesis in relation to their question. Your point of view needs to be stated clearly. Arguments both for and against should be explored, critically evaluated, assessing whether or not the arguments are logically valid. They should be clear and consistent with the use of language, in relation to the key terminology. Conclusion/Evaluation: this needs to be stated clearly, considering how the arguments support their point of view and how the analysis of data does/does not allow or reject the proposed hypothesis. This is a reflective study of the research process so the significance of the results, how ideas have been developed and what you have learnt about the methodology of the research, needs to be established here. Bibliography: consistent reference system for source material (e.g. Harvard referencing). Need to include: the author, where the quotation came from, date of publication, publisher and the full URL link.

Research skills: The core skills you will need to use in the course of their research are: to think logically about arguments which are encountered in personal research. to gather and handle source material critically. to appreciate the importance of precision in the use of language or data when building a case for your point of view. to show sensitivity to counter-arguments or rival theories. to develop skills in presenting the project in a persuasive, cogent fashion. to undertake a reflective study of what has been learned during the course of research or the statistical significance of the results.

Design phases: Analysis of the brief including recognition of objectives, constraints and opportunities. Research into a range of primary and secondary sources that will inform/inspire the work. Research into appropriate critical and contextual references with indications of how these relate to the project work (identify the key ideas). Exploration of and experiment with materials, techniques and processes with ongoing annotations that evaluate the potential of these. Development of alternative ideas that provide possible solutions to the brief. These will be tested and reworked as necessary. This work will integrate aspects of the research and your own ideas. The best ideas, images, forms, structures etc. will be selected for further development and refinement. Production of a final piece of work. The design cycle you may return to any of the project phases to amend, improve, and refine the work against the original brief. Any changes in direction will be noted and explained. Critical evaluation of the process and final work against the original brief • Completion of bibliography, acknowledgement and review of sources used. Presentation of the work in an appropriate form.