ARK-E5520 - Thesis seminar, Lecture, 8.9.2023-15.12.2023

Översikt

• Assignments
  The assignments act as a basis for the discussions, and build up into your final Thesis Report.
  

  A1. Assignment 1.  Nature of your Thesis and Preliminary Abstract. Given 22.09. Deadline 29.09.
  A2. Assignment 2.  The Context of your Thesis. Given 22.09. Deadline 27.10.
  A3. Assignment 3.  Questions and Answers. Given 20.10. Deadline 17.11.
  A4. Assignment 4.  Archives - Mental and Physical Sites. Given 17.11. Deadline 24.11.
  A5. Assignment 5.  Thesis Report. Given 24.11. Deadline 08.12. Feedback 22.12.
  

  • Välj aktivitet A1.

    

    A1. Inlämningsuppgift

    Assignment 1.  Nature of your Thesis and a Preliminary Abstract

    Deadline 29.9. 17:00
    
    Give your thesis a headline (and a subheadline) and write a very short description (abstract) of your coming thesis - max. 2000 characters with spaces. After the abstract text, list a set of sources that you already know you will be using for the thesis, or a description of the types of sources/literature/references, that you think you will be using (the list is not included in the 2000 character-count).
    
    This is the first ‘try’ to formulate your thesis ideas in written form, so nothing needs to be ready or polished.
    
    Be prepared to present your thesis idea/topic with a few minutes ‘elevator pitch’ (based on your short abstract) during our 06.10. session.
    
    Deadline for the assignment is 29.9.
    (There’s no session on the 29^th, but we will use the texts for dividing you into discussion groups for the 06.10. and later sessions.)

    
    

  • Välj aktivitet A2.

    

    A2. Inlämningsuppgift

    Assignment 2.  The Context of your Thesis

    Deadline 27.10. 15:00
    
    The assignment submission has two headlines - ‘Other Theses’ & ‘Keywords’:
    
    A. Other Theses
    The thesis is in some ways more ‘personal’ than other work done during your studies, however, getting to grips with previous work is essential to help you position your thoughts in relation to the discipline, and avoiding overlapping. Collect and review previous thesis work (from Aalto, or other universities) that you think is related to your topic or that you feel inspired by. Ask yourself, how can you learn from the previous work?
    Are there sources, references, methods of inquiry, analysis and/or presentation that you think are worth considering in your own work?
    
    You can review previous thesis work from Aalto on the website AaltoDoc - please see the links on the ‘Resources’ page.
    
    Compile and organize your observations (and the theses you looked at) for example as lists, bullet points etc.
    
    B. Keywords
    Your Thesis will be related to existing theses, but more broadly it will have a relation to general phenomena - for example, if you are designing a new type of school building in Helsinki, then your thesis will (according to the way you prioritize its different aspect) be a part of the discussion on a. different existing types of school buildings, b. the idea of a learning environment, c. contemporary buildings in Helsinki, d. etc...
    
    Consider the different issues your thesis will explore, and write down the topics your thesis will explore as a list of keywords, with short explanations. As each Thesis work will be connected to a large number of different topics, a key method of framing your thesis is giving more ‘weight’ to some topics and less to others - consider the weight you are giving to each of the keywords (what is most important for your thesis, what is secondary and so on.)
    
    Upload the ‘Other Theses’ & ‘Keywords’ as one pdf on 27.10. 15:00.
    These texts will be used as a basis for discussion in the 27.10. session.

    
    

  • Välj aktivitet A3.

    

    A3. Inlämningsuppgift

    Assignment 3. Questions and Answers

    Deadline 17.11. 15:00

    1. Whether you are working primarily with a design or a research thesis, there is a problem or an issue you are trying to answer or clarify - this might be your main 'research question' or a series of queries.
    Write what your design question is / could be, try to condense your interest in answering one question, that can be then subdivided into smaller questions, but avoid several questions with little connection between them.
    2. How can you answer your research/design question? What of the possible methods (if any) your have read about could be used in your work?
    Write a short draft of the methods you might use in your thesis.
    These texts (questions & methods) will be used as a basis for discussion in the 18.11. meeting.

    Deadline for the assignment is 17.11. at 15:00
    

    
    

  • Välj aktivitet A4.

    

    A4. Inlämningsuppgift

    Assignment 4. Archives - Mental and Physical Sites

    Deadline 24.11. 15:00
    
    If you are working primarily on a research thesis
    Map out the literature and data you need for your work - this will be in some ways your 'site' - what kind of theoretical/historical field do you have to cover and what information do you need to make your case?

    If you are working primarily on a design thesis
    Explore the framing of the material you are working with, and what do you need to collect. If your design has a 'place' - what is the extent of the area you are working on - how large a region do you have to take into account and what types of information do you need to have for you work? If your Thesis will include the analysis of other projects (reference projects, models etc.) consider also how to frame the material you collect of these (what is relevant to your Thesis)? Start collecting material and sources already if possible.
    If your thesis has some elements of both (research & design - as most theses do) - do both of the exercises and evaluate the suitable scope - amount & depth - of material you will need for your thesis - remember that the thesis is not a dissertation, but it is a master's thesis, and should be sufficiently extensive.

    These texts (literature, site material, reference projects) will be used as a basis for discussion in the 25.11. meeting.

    Deadline for the assignment is 24.11. at 15:00
    

    
    

  • Välj aktivitet A5.

    Tillgänglig om: You are a(n) Studerande

    

    A5. Inlämningsuppgift

    Assignment 5. Thesis Report

    Deadline 08.12. 15:00
    
    The Thesis Report is the 'portfolio' that outlines your thesis preparations done during the seminar course.
    Put together your report by reviewing the work you have done during the spring (rewriting and reformulating it if needed), and collect the material in one pdf-file.

    The contents of your report

    0. Title + subtitle
    1. Abstract (a short abstract describing your work + list of keywords, max 2500 characters with spaces) - 1 page
    2. Design Problem / Research Question and sub-questions (what are the questions/problems/themes you are exploring through your Thesis) - 1 page
    3. Methods (how are you going to answer the questions or clarify the problems) - 1 page
    4. Materials (what kinds of materials - your site(s), mental and physical - literature & data - do you need for your work - describe with words, no images) - 2 pages
    5. Introduction - max. 4 pages
    6. Schedule (your timetable for getting your Thesis ready) - 1 page

    Deadline for the assignment is 08.12. at 15:00
    

    
    

  • Välj aktivitet Late Submissions

    

    Late Submissions Inlämningsuppgift

    Late submissions of complete Thesis Reports for course credits, but no feedback.

    Deadline 12.1.2024 at 15:00