Methods xpub

Intro:

The Reading, Writing, and Research Methodologies Seminar is tailored towards (further) developing research methods within the first year of this master. By establishing a solid foundation of research skills, it will eventually prepare students for their Graduate research in the second year. Through reading core theoretical texts, they will establish a common vocabulary and set of references to work from. They will learn the practice of classic ‘essayistic methodologies’, including close reading, annotation, description and notation, students learn to survey a body of literature, filter what is relevant to their research and create comparative pieces of analysis. The seminar helps students to establish methodical drafting processes for their texts, where they can develop ideas further and structure their use of notes and references. The course takes as axiomatic that the perceived division between ‘practice’ and ‘theory’ is essentially an illusion.

Curriculum: The seminar will involve:

(a.) Identifying the object of your research: description and analysis of your work

(b.) Contextualizing your work through description and reflection on contemporary and historical practices.

(c.) Identify research material key to your practice.

(d.) Synopsis and annotation of key texts

(e.) Writing machines: creating methods for group and individual writing.

Throughout, there will be an emphasis on working collectively, whether in a larger discussion group or in smaller reading and writing groups.

Editing Reading, Writing & Research Methodologies - handbook information

https://xpub.pzimediadesign.nl/curriculum.html

Plagiarism

Simple Wiki Style Sheet:

Titles and works = italics

Essays = Title in Caps

Notation = Harvard System (writer, page number) = (Smith, 26)

URL = make link

Guide to Essay Writing

A Guide to Essay Writing

Outcome of the seminar (trimester three)

The specific outcome for the RW&RM seminar of 2016-17 will be a 1500 word text which reflects on your own method and situates your work in relation to a broader artistic and cultural context. The various texts produced within the RW&RM seminar will serve as source material for your text on method. In common with all modules on the course RW&RM serves to support your self-directed research. Therefore, the text on method will inform your Self-Evaluation at the end of the third trimester and provide the basis for your Graduate Project Proposal that you will produce in the fourth trimester.

Key texts that will inform this course

XPUB Reader

16 Nov = DEADLINE FOR ESSAY FIRST DRAFT, REVIEW

9 Nov

Lesson plan:

Continuing from the last session

The aim between now and the end of the trimester to write an essay (1500 words max). This week we will discuss the material and next session (next week) we will review the first drafts. Aim of essay: Choose two texts that have been reading which have a relation to each other and make a comparison. To do so you will need to make a synopsis of the texts (outline what the thesis of each = what is the text about = what does it have to say?).

Groups of three: Make notes on the pad of what your peers have to say.

1) Writer: describe, in your own words, what the text (s) you are reading are about.

2) Readers: make notes on the pad of what your peer is saying.

Readers, ask:

3) Why this text is of interest to you?

4) What is its relation to your self directed research?

5) After ten minutes of discussion hand over the notes to the writer. The writer then uses this as a basis to edit into and write a synopsis of their text.

After one hour take your colleagues notes on your chosen text and work into them.

Half an hour before the end of the session we meet as a group to review work done.

12 Oct

Lesson Plan

So far you have

(1) made a brief description (what, how and why?) of a project you worked on

and

(2) made notes on a lecture by Vilém Flusser and/ or Marshall McLuhan

If you have not done so, please make a link from the methods page to those texts: like this:

https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/User:Francg/expub/media-wiriting

or this

https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/User:Eastwood

(3) For Wednesday's session: Bring along a text you are reading or want to read in the near future.

Please choose a* text* that has a relation to the work you are doing on the course.

For instance, a text that may have been referred to in Florian's seminar; a text you have discussed in tutorials; or a text you have encountered in your self-directed research.

In this session we will devote time to making a synopsis of the text and ask how we unpick and follow productive research strands.