This week introduced the Thesis Proposal assignment and the structure that will eventually be required for the final thesis. We looked at the different components of the proposal, including the research question, introduction, literature review, methodology and chapter outlines. The session helped clarify how the proposal acts as a roadmap for the larger thesis project and how each section contributes to developing a focused and achievable study.
However, much like the start of the previous term, many of us were focused on an approaching deadline. Our draft literature review was due within a few days, so Nigel spent much of the session answering questions and providing practical advice to help us prepare our submissions. He gave guidance on structure, formatting, word count and the overall expectations of the assignment, which was reassuring as I was still refining my work before submission.
Looking back, the session helped me see the connection between the literature review I was about to submit and the larger thesis proposal that would follow. Rather than viewing the assignment as a standalone task, I began to understand it as the foundation for future research. This also encouraged me to continue developing my newer research direction around attention and viewer guidance in 360 animated films, as it is likely to form the basis of both my proposal and Final Major Project moving forward.