RESEARCH PAPER: FIRST DRAFT
Due October 24, 2005

Fall 2005 Thesis Roadmap
Tips
• A good tool for outlining your thesis is Omni Outliner. This software is available on all the Macs in the lab.
• Have a friend proof read your paper and tell you if they understand your ideas and research.
• Check your spelling and punctuation.

Title Page (1 page)
The following information must appear on your title page:
• The title of your research paper
• Your name
• The date
• The name of the course and school
• Your instructors' names (thesis group leader, thesis writing instructor, and advisor - if applicable.)

Table of Contents (1 page)
The table of contents should list the main sections of your paper and the page on which they begin.
• List of Illustrations
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Historical, Theoretical and Cultural Context
• Analysis and Synthesis
• Conclusion
• Footnotes
• Bibliography

List of Illustrations (1 page)
The list of illustrations should list the titles for all the illustrations found in your paper, followed by the page they can be found on. For example:
1. Joshua Davis, Praystation.net, 1999...............................page 5
2. Kazimir Malevch, Black Square, 1923-29........................page 7
3. Screen shot of opening frame from artist's storyboard.....page 10

Place your illustrations within the body of the research paper. Please make sure to include the corresponding illustration number and caption. For example:


2. Kazimir Malevch
Black Square, 1923-29

Abstract (1 page)
An abstract is a summary of your research paper. It should be brief: as short as 1 paragraph or as long as 1 page. I would advise writing the abstract after you have written your paper. It will be easier for you to summarize your work once all your research is analyzed and concluded.

A good abstract draws in the reader. It is the "selling tool" to get your audience engaged in your project and research paper. Start your abstract with a strong sentence that clearly describes your project, its form, and its significance. You should then expand it to include your motivation for the project, its objectives, its technical conditions, and your results/conclusions. Answers to the following questions should be found in your abstract:

1. What did you do?
2. Why did you do it? What questions were you trying to answer?
3. How did you do it? State methods.
4. What did you learn? State major results.
5. Why does it matter? Point out at least one significant implication.(1)

Introduction (1- 2 pages)
One - two pages describing the topic of your thesis; its scope, and final form. This means raising the key issues of your subject, and the relevance your work has to the field of digital art. The introduction should include a compact thesis statement, ideally one sentence, which summarizes your artistic position.

I would recommend that you write a rough introduction at first and fine tune this section after the historical, theoretical and cultural context section and the analysis and synthesis section are completed. You will have a better understanding your research then.

For more guidelines see:
Kastens,Kim, Stephanie Pfirman, Martin Stute, Bill Hahn, Dallas Abbott, and Chris Scholz, ed. "How to Write Your Thesis." Retrieved on September 23, 2005. http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~martins/sen_sem/thesis_org.html#Introduction

Historical, Theoretical and Cultural Context (4 - 9 pages)
Note: This section expands upon the historical, theoretical and cultural context research initiated in your proposal. You are expected to elaborate and fine tune your research for this first draft of your research paper.

Some of the questions you should ask yourself when preparing this section:

• What is the general background of your work?
• What projects, films, art movements, animations, theories, and cultural events have contributed to your desire to create your work and do your research?
• If appropriate, be sure to include a review of work done by others.
• If appropriate, explain the theories you are researching and employing
• What is the objective of your own work?

The thesis is expected to reflect the student's individual direction and interests within the field of possibilities brought about through an awareness of digital art and its potential uses in the chosen area of practice. A thesis is a self-directed study, in which you define your own territory as a computer artist in context with other artists and themes. The nature of your research should be determined by the central questions, issues or themes that you are addressing. In order to make your graduate thesis unique, you must go beyond your existing body of knowledge. The way to do this is through research, online and at a library.

The research section of your thesis facilitates the creative work by dealing with the ideas behind it. It should support the ideas behind your creative thesis with historical references and by placing it in the wider context of digital art. You need to learn about and describe the creative and theoretical work that other people have done before you.

The springboard for your thesis will be your own past work and the work of artists who have influenced you. Draw upon your strengths and then find an area of digital art that inspires you. It is expected that you will meet with your Thesis Group Leader to formulate your research outline.

Analysis and Synthesis (1 - 3 pages)
This is the section in which you evaluate your research and argue that the various sources you site in your historical, theoretical, and cultural context section provide the support for your thesis statement. You should consider the following questions when analyzing your research:
• How has your research directly contributed to your work and/or creative process?
• How has your research contributed to the development of your personal aesthetic and your artistic viewpoint?
• Why is your research important?
• What in your research has helped form your unique vision and project.
Remember, the analysis and synthesis section will grow to become your "Expanded Artist Statement" during the spring thesis writing section. In this section you should explain the "Why" and "What" of your artist sic purpose -- using the historical, theoretical and cultural context research as the support for your personal artist sic voice.

Conclusion (1 page)
Remember that the conclusion is the last part of the thesis paper that will be read. It is therefore important to leave your reader with a strong final impression.

A conclusion is not simply a summary or repetition of your research. It is the section where you tie together what you have learnt from your research and why it is important. For example, you might compare your conclusions to the conclusions of others in the field -- are they the same or different. You might also suggest what new projects or directions should be taken by yourself or others to expand upon your research and findings. Your goal in the conclusion is to demonstrate how your ideas and work are valid and create a new way of thinking.

Bibliography (1-2 pages)
List all books and reference materials, i.e. articles, books, videotapes, web sites, films, audio tapes, programming code. This bibliography should have at least 15-20 diverse references. For the final research documentation you will be expected to write a short paragraph for each of these references, summarizing the reference and describing its relevance to your research.

If you are unsure of bibliography forms, look at the Chicago Manual of Style or MLA Guidelines

Footnotes (1 page)
Please be sure to use footnotes if you are quoting or paraphrasing someone else’s words. Again, use either the Chicago Manual of Style or MLA Guidelines for your footnotes.


Sample 0405 First Draft Research Papers in PDF format

Lahari Shetty

Heidi Sandecki

Yuli Ziv
(Note: this sample is written by a non-native English language speaker. There are some odd usages of English, but I include it, because it is well conceived and written in her own words.) Again, it is most important that you use your own words and not someone else's.

______________________________________________________
1. Kastens,Kim, Stephanie Pfirman, Martin Stute, Bill Hahn, Dallas Abbott, and Chris Scholz, ed. "How to Write Your Thesis." Retrieved on September 23, 2005. http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~martins/sen_sem/thesis_org.html#Abstract