In Week 04 of Advanced 3D Computer Animation, Professor Nigel Mairs showed how to structure a literature review for my research topic, Player-Created Avatars and Digital Ownership. Nigel explained to me that the literature review will form a key part of my final thesis, so I need to start drafting it early and refine it over time. He showed me how the research question acts as the anchor for the entire study, and every argument, source, and discussion must connect back to it.
Step 1: Understanding the Topic
I learned how to organize my literature review by first defining clear objectives, then gathering relevant secondary sources such as academic books and peer-reviewed journal articles. Professor Nigel emphasised that I must avoid unreliable sources like blogs or general online content and instead use trusted academic platforms like Google Scholar and university library resources. I also understood the importance of identifying gaps in existing research, as this is where my own argument will sit.
Step 2: Gathering Sources
Nigel explained how to structure arguments by comparing different scholarly viewpoints. I need to present contrasting ideas, analyse them, and then position my research based on evidence. He also introduced me to reference management tools like Zotero and Mendeley, which help organise citations and maintain a clean bibliography. I found this useful since managing multiple sources can become complex.
I also learned about formal academic writing. I need to avoid personal language and write in an objective tone. Clear structure, concise sentences, and precise vocabulary are important. I must follow Harvard referencing consistently, including in-text citations and a full bibliography. He also explained how to correctly use quotations, paraphrasing, and referencing for different media such as films, articles, and online sources.