LECTURE Critical Engagement and Evaluative Commentary

DESCRIPTION ------- CONTEXTUALISATION ------- INTERPRETATION

LEARNING OUTCOMES

ENQUIRY

Effectively engage in self-directed research (primary and secondary) at an advanced level using appropriate and innovative methods and demonstrating strong organisation skills.

• What research are you going to undertake?

• How does it relate to previous research

• How does it relate to your field of expertise?

• Where is the gap in existing research/ knowledge or practice that you are trying to fill?

• What methodology/techniques are you going to use?

PROCESS AND KNOWLEDGE

Apply a high level of critical understanding and analysis in specialist area that enables the formulation of informed conclusions and an individual approach

• How are you going to analyse your research?

• What is your position in relation to other research/ practice in your area?

• How are you going to relate theory to practice?

• How are you going to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in relations to the project?
  

KNOWLEDGE AND ENQUIRY

Identify and define issues and demonstrate use of analytical and evaluative skills throughout the project

• How are you going to evaluate options?

• What records are you going to keep in order to demonstrate your ability to analyse and refine an idea/concept?

REALISATION

Produce an original body of work executed to a professional standard

• What specialist knowledge and skills will you need to complete the project?

• Will you need to collaborate/network use outside expertise?

• How will you ensure that the standard is appropriate for Masters Level?

COMMUNICATION

Reflect upon your personal development and understand the relevance and context of the project at a vocational or professional/academic level

• How will you know that your work is relevant to industry, academia or both?

• Who will be interested in your project and why?

• What tools will you use to reflect upon your personal and professional development? (Learning journal/blog etc.)

PROCESS

• Utilise effective project and time management skills

• Produce a project timeline or schedule with key milestones and adhere to it

• Attend tutorial and be prepared

• Act upon advice

• Present your work effectively and within the given deadlines

ANALYSIS, EXPERIMENTATION, ENQUIRY, EVALUATION AND REFLECTION.

CONTEXTUALISATION

Historical Context

• The stands of history that relate and support your research question

• Applicable to contemporary projects too - demonstrate awareness of how your field and discipline has developed

• Summarise your project and findings

• Connect your themes together- clearly show how all of the elements of your project link

• Refer back to your introduction

• Demonstrate how you have met your aims and objectives

• Suggest potential for future development

Cultural/Societal Context

• Your awareness of the field you are working in, the links between your research, critical analysis and your ability to explain your intentions to uncover new findings through primary and secondary research

• What was/is happening in society and culture? How does this relate to your project area, and help you to understand it in a more nuanced way?

Theoretical Context

• What has already been written about/ theorised in your research area?

• How does it relate to your research question?

• How are you using these ideas to help develop your outcome?

CRITICAL EVALUATION

Introduction:

Brief overview of the project

• Main aims/objectives

• Research question

• Key features of outcome USP

• Scope of research (introduce your key primary/secondary research and theoretical perspective/ key writers drawn)

• Define your key terms

• Briefly summarise the structure of your evaluative commentary
  

Research

• Context, historical /cultural/social/theroetical

• Theoretical perspective - which theories did you draw on and why? How were they relevant? How did they help contribute to your outcome?

• Methodology/ -ie. What did you choose and why? Was it appropriate and effective? Why/Why not? Would you do anything differently in the future

• Literature/academic reading - what were the main sources you looked at? Why? How did they relate to and help you further understand your topic? How did they contribute towards your thinking and outcome?

• Exhibitions/archives - were you able to visit any (including online)? What did you find? How did they further your understanding and project?

• Visual research and empirical experimentation: what did you do and how did this help you learn ?

• Competitor/Market/Audience - what did you find out and how did this shape and inform your project?