This week’s lectures focused on how to choose a clear and manageable research topic and how to develop a strong academic argument. We learned that a good research question should be focused, researchable, and intellectually challenging, rather than too broad or too obvious. The topic should connect to art, design, or visual culture and sustain long-term interest.
The sessions also emphasised the importance of building an argument. Academic writing is not just descriptive but argumentative, requiring a clear position supported by credible evidence. Developing sub-questions, evaluating sources, identifying bias, and finding gaps in existing literature are essential steps in forming a convincing investigation.