Reference no: EM133111741

AR7045 Thesis - University of East London

Through this module you will advance and consolidate knowledge and experience gained through your theoretical and design-based work conducted throughout the previous terms of your studies. Through this module you will develop your final thesis on a topic of your choice.

The main aims of this module are:

To research in depth on a concept or theme relevant to interior design, and gain in-depth knowledge and expertise. To develop a professional ethos and attitude.

To consolidate a body of work and communicate it successfully in different contexts and to different audiences. - To develop the ability to reflect critically, discuss, represent visually and in writing complex design ideas.

Learning Outcome 1: Interrelate conceptual, theoretical and practical tools and methods. (EID), (SID)

Learning Outcome 2: Understand the relationship between theory, strategy and design and communicate this in a professional and rigorous way. (PID), (CID)

Learning Outcome 3: Demonstrate critical reflection on social/cultural/economic/technical knowledge and its integration into design processes and professional life (SID)

Learning Outcome 4: Synthesise the ideas presented within studies, texts or other learning materials (CID)

Learning Outcome 5: Construct and demonstrate clear, well defended argument using a range of media and approaches

The above skills will be developed through a small number of tutorials held in small groups or individually, and self-driven research and coursework. You are additionally strongly encouraged to expand your knowledge and experience by attending the optional lectures offered in UEL / in other institutions in London, visit exhibitions, galleries, museums, and buildings in London, if and when possible.

Final Output:
You are expected to complete an advanced critical academic essay of 6000 - 9000 words (including everything; bibliography etc.), on a topic of your choice, discussed and agreed with your tutors. This theme will build upon the knowledge and experience you developed through the previous modules. Your essay will be presenting your rigorous and critical understanding and reflection on theories and practices relevant to design. The underpinning research question needs to be communicated with clarity. The narrative that you present needs to be clear, rigorous, and well justified. It is advisable that you consider reflecting of a theme relevant to one of your design projects and relate theory and practice.

Your essay needs to demonstrate that you have read carefully and understood in depth a range of critically selected books, journal papers, and articles, relevant to your theme.

Through developing this essay you will acquire new knowledge. You also need to demonstrate that you have critically understood and discussed a range of approaches towards your question at hand. Reflect on the context of each argument or text. When, how and why was it developed? How does it relate with other arguments expressed at the same period of time (or at different moments in time)? Your essay needs to demonstrate your advanced ability to contextualise the knowledge, views and arguments you read. You need to demonstrate your understanding of the cultural, social, political and historical context through which the specific views, designs, arguments have emerged. You need to demonstrate your ability to critically combine what you have learned in order to produce new arguments, ideas and knowledge.

References: References need to be given in a professional way using the Harvard/ APA system. Please refer to the relevant document made available to you. It is extremely important to present your sources following the specific academic conventions.

Structure: The content of your topic will indicate the type of structure you follow. However, as a general rule, have in mind that the introduction needs to present a clear and comprehensive summary of your essay. The sections-chapters of the essay will be developing key sub-themes/ topics of the overarching theme of your choice. The structure needs to follow a clear logic.

Figures: Each image you use needs to be numbered Figure 1, Figure 2, etc. The caption under each image needs to be of the following format: Figure 1: [caption of the image here]. At the end of the essay, after the list of references, you need to present a list saying where each Figure was found.

Format: The essay needs to be written in Word. (It cannot be written in any other software). At the end, it needs to be saved in two formats; DOC and PDF. You will be expected to submit your final essay digitally (DOC and PDF).

A few tips that might help you:
In addition to the detailed conversations that you will be having with your tutors, you can also reflect on the following questions, to self-assess your work-in-progress: When you read a new book or article, as yourself: What new did I learn? What did I encounter that I didn't know before? (or that I hadn't thought of before). As you progress with your essay, and readings, ask yourself these questions. If you are not learning something new, it means that you are either not selecting critically what you read or that you are not reading things critically and carefully.

When you read books/ articles by different authors, who have seemingly similar/ relevant views, ask yourself: What are the subtle differences between their views? What language, concepts, metaphors and notions do they use to discuss their arguments? From what context do these arguments emerge? How do they relate with other views expressed in their time? Reading critically, makes one come up with new exciting questions. While reading, what new questions came to your mind? What new issues were raised? Phrase and articulate in writing these new questions that have come up, and discuss them with your tutors.

Feel free to use images and discuss them in detail and depth. In some cases it helps if you describe what you see on the picture, and then critically reflect on it and relate it to your research question and arguments.

Also, you could reflect on the following questions: What is it the most interesting and exciting thing I learned through working on this essay? What new critical questions did it open up, and how would I address them in the future if I had the opportunity? How do the theoretical ideas encountered inform my future design practice and thinking? What new theoretical questions has the study of design precedents raised in my mind?

Attachment:- Thesis.rar