YOUR PRIMARY RESEARCH

What is PRIMARY RESEARCH?

Primary research is new research, conducted by you, and carried out to answer specific issues or questions. It can involve TEXTUAL ANALYSIS, questionnaires, surveys or interviews with individuals or small groups. 
You will all need to conduct textual analysis throughout the process. At first, just a couple of scenes you choose from your focus film will be enough, but before you write the presentation script, you will need to have done more on all 3 films, perhaps led by your secondary research.

What should you make notes on in your textual analysis?
The exact focus of your analysis should depend on your investigation, but here are some suggestions:

• detailed notes on the use of film language (micro analysis), with particular reference to your investigation (eg auteur signature/use of genre conventions/star performance/use of special effects etc)
• notes on macro elements, with particular reference to your investigation (eg narrative structure linked to genre/themes and issues compared to other films you're studying/character development etc)
• a statement to justify your choice of scene for your investigation

REMEMBER - you need to provide evidence of primary research for your Catalogue. 
(Looking ahead - your CATALOGUE DEADLINE WILL BE BEFORE HALF TERM)

EACH WEEK - WE NEED TO HEAR YOUR TOP TIPS AND/OR TOP DISCOVERY!

From TOMORROW (THURS SEPT 22nd), as discussed last week, I'd like you all to share the following with the class:

YOUR TOP TIP FOR THE WEEK FOR SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH
OR
YOUR TOP FINDING FOR THE WEEK

TOP TIP?
I will share 1 each week too, but it might be a great resource you've found, or a great secondary item, or something about organising and presenting material (methodologies). It's your choice!

TOP FINDING?
This is something that's really interested you, surprised you, or intrigued you in an item you've been reading or studying for your project. Say a few words about it and why it's important or interesting to you. 

The idea here is to practice articulating your findings and methodologies, organise your own thinking, and help or inspire others!

WORKING TOWARDS YOUR NEXT DEADLINE - THURSDAY OCTOBER 6th IN LESSON

YOUR DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF YOUR PROJECT IDEAS TO OUR EXTERNAL EXAMINER IS OCTOBER 6TH in the lesson.

As an absolute minimum, you MUST have the following elements ready AND ON YOUR BLOG before that day:

•  Your investigation title as we have agreed it
• Your focus film and 2 others
• at least 5 items in your catalogue that you have already found useful, or expect to use
• brief explanations of what you have already learned from each of them, or hope to learn from them - a few lines for each
• these items presented using Harvard referencing, as explained in the Library presentation. This will be your SECONDARY RESEARCH so far.
• at least 2 scenes from your focus film analysed with relevance to your investigation, in bullet points and supported with screen grabs. Expect to write around 1 screen's worth on each scene at this stage. You may word process this first if you wish and then upload to the blog. This will begin your PRIMARY RESEARCH.

 Here is an extract of the page you need to complete.

Area of Investigation (subject of research): Project Context (star/performer, genre, technology etc): Focus Film and two related films:

Main sources of information (aim for one book, one magazine article and one internet source):

HOW TO DEAL WITH SECONDARY ITEMS FOR YOUR CATALOGUE

Use your blog to organise your accumulated secondary items:

Book sources

• use Library catalogues and the actual shelves to locate books
• Look at the title for relevance, and then check in the Contents and Index pages for references to your focus films and key words of your investigation. You may need to search for associated ideas, or even opposing ideas too.
• ALWAYS RECORD DETAILS OF THE SOURCE ON YOUR BLOG, USING STANDARD BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CONVENTIONS (SEE LIBRARY ADVICE ON THIS)
• read the sections linked to your investigation (you will often need to read it closely to be sure of the points being made)
•  consider photocopying or scanning key pages to highlight and re-read
• post either direct quotes to the blog (properly signalled as quotes with quote marks), or explain points made in your own words 
• summarise the usefulness of each secondary item and DON'T SIFT OR REJECT ITEMS until you have done this (both jobs are part of your Catalogue). 
• to organise your research of Secondary items, use the LABEL GADGET (ask me if you don't know how) and label each post of this kind 'Secondary Research'.
• If it helps, you could construct a separate grid in Word with the details above, and post that to your blog each time you add to it. 

WORK IN PROGRESS - SHARING WITH PEERS

As I mentioned in our last lesson, on THURSDAY SEPT 15th (our next SSRP lesson), I would like you to tell another 1 or 2 people in the group where you are up to with your investigation. This is a useful exercise, designed to help you to take stock of where you're at, and help you to take the next step towards your submission to the moderator.

You will need to do the following for your own investigation, and post this to the blog in a single blog post BEFORE the lesson:

• explain your investigation topic and why you are interested in it (a short paragraph)
• explain your focus film choice (why you chose it and how it relates to your investigation in a short paragraph) 
• choose 1 scene you intend to use as primary research material and explain  how it is relevant to your investigation -a short paragraph
• choose 1 of your secondary material items and explain what you have learned from that source so far (at least 2 precise points)
• show your blog and explain your rationale for information posted there so far (choose 2 posts)

Note - 'a short paragraph' means at least 6 lines (can be bullet points)

For others, as you are listening and viewing someone's work:

• evaluate their topic framework - does it sound feasible? Do you understand their focus? Can you suggest any improvements? Can you suggest any other supplementary films?
• try to make a suggestion for secondary sources
• make at least 1 useful or constructive comment on their blog (via mine) to cover the above.

 LOOKING AHEAD:
I've slightly revised the arrangement for the start of each SSRP lesson. Instead of 1 person presenting something they have found out in research that week, EVERYONE will do this each week on Thursday (except this week). So - EVERY THURSDAY you will need to be prepared to describe what you have learned from elements of ONE secondary item for your catalogue. I would expect this to be something like the following:

• a new insight into your investigation from the secondary item
• a new direction you might take from the secondary item
• an interesting and stimulating idea you have encountered in the secondary item
• a new link from one secondary item to another

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE ALREADY, AND WHAT YOU NEED TO START NOW

Some of you have been asking about deadlines past and present, so I've made a list of things you should already have completed and posted to your blog (tasks set by Andy before the Summer break), and also listed some initial deadlines you will need to meet this term. I can't stress too much how important it will be for you to keep up and meet deadlines for coursework this year - it is vital for your success - and so I will be monitoring your progress carefully!

THIS WORK SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED LAST TERM AND ALREADY BE ON YOUR BLOG (Andy's instructions were given to you in a handout - 'Preparatory Exercise'):

A 500 WORD RATIONALE FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION TO COVER THE FOLLOWING

• a first draft of your research topic title
• your focus film and suggestions for related films (2) - titles and how they might relate to your investigation
• evidence of primary research (blogged textual analysis on specific scenes from the focus film you hope to use - I suggest this should cover at least 3 key scenes, and be at least 1 screen's worth of bullet points for each key scene, focussing on elements related to your interest in this film)
• evidence of secondary research so far (at least 4 items, including books, periodical articles and websites), with precise information about the source and a brief few lines on each about how you think it will be useful to your investigation

IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED THIS WORK, YOU MUST COMPLETE THIS TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY BEFORE THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF TEACHING. Please find me BEFORE lessons begin if you have any issues with tackling this work.

IN ADDITION, ANY INCOMPLETE., MISSING OR INCORRECTLY FINISHED OR EXPORTED DOCUMENTARY FILMS WHICH WERE DUE AT THE END OF TERM WILL HAVE BEEN NOTED, AND WILL BE RECORDED ON ETRACKR. IF YOU THINK YOURS IS IN THIS CATEGORY, YOU MUST ALSO COMPLETE THIS WORK BEFORE THE END OF WEEK 1 (by Sept 9th) -WE WILL BE EVALUATING THESE IN LESSONS DURING WEEK 1.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:
We will be working towards the submission of your title and rationale to the moderator by the end of September. This is an exam board requirement, so it's essential that you know deadlines and meet them.

• small group presentation to peers of work in progress during week 2 of teaching (week commencing Sept 12th). This may also be filmed for evidence.
• continued work towards deadline for moderator submission by Sept 30th -

- at least 10 items in your catalogue (and at least 3 rejected items with explanations), to include Primary and Secondary materials
- full record of your research on the blog
- your more detailed rationale for your investigation (advice to follow on this).

Good luck! If you are worried about any of this, please do email me or come and see me in person to discuss it further.

WELCOME TO MY BLOG, AND TO A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR!

A VERY BIG WELCOME BACK TO YOU ALL!
As you know, I am taking over the supervision of the SSRP from Andy for this year.
This will be my supervision blog to support you, help to remind you or alert you to deadlines, and it will be the place that I post relevant links, materials and my thoughts regarding any of your projects.
I will expect you to follow this blog - so set that up NOW! (Ask me or someone else if you don't know how). I'll elect to follow your blog also, so you will need to add that gadget if you haven't already done so.

I am concerned to see that some people have not posted the 500 word rationale that Andy expected you to do before the Summer break. I need to advise you that unless these are posted to your blog by the end of our first week of teaching (Friday Sept 9th), I will need to raise a Cause for Concern notice on etrackr, because I will be concerned that you are not able to meet the significant challenge of independent study demanded by the SSRP.

Your first Autumn deadline will be VERY SOON, and this will involve you giving me and your peers an update on your progress over the Summer. More advice on this to come soon...
This will be a very busy year, so aim to 'hit the ground running' for maximum success!