Developing a Thesis: Visual Storytelling in Social Media

1. Discuss the ways that you are going to keep track of the research you are doing. Make lists of the places you are exploring and what useful tips you can offer with regards to finding materials. Use the ideas covered in the lecture and Clark’s book to illuminate the path for others. Act as though you are writing your own guide to conducting research.

   The primary ways I will keep track of my research is using technology. When I am online, I bookmark everything that I find helpful into a SCAD > Thesis folder in Safari, which will sync across my devices. On Amazon, I created a Wish List for my Thesis of books that I want to consider/buy. On my iPad, my favorite app is GoodNotes, where I can write with my stylus just like I’m writing in a notebook. So I have a SCAD folder with a Thesis Prep “notebook” for all of my freewriting. I also have a Mind Maps app, which lets me conveniently create Mind Maps that can be exported. Both of my key iPad apps sync to my Dropbox account for backups. And of course, there is my blog to document additional thoughts and progress.

2. Discuss how you are planning to ‘map’ texts, per Clark’s book.

   The strategies for mapping texts that stood out to me most was getting the topical overview, considering the impact the writing as a whole is trying to make, and consider why I am reading the text (how will this help me define my problem or support my argument, and making notes about it as I go).

I did some research in the SCAD Graduate Thesis Collection and found some interesting topics, which are helping me to clarify what my topic or thesis statement could be. Being constantly told to narrow our focus is starting to make sense. Here are the three theses that I found in this initial search:

1. Empathy Within Orthodoxy: Fostering a Culture of Innovation in Faith-Based Organizations Through Design Thinking by Jay Bopp
2. The Effective and Empathetic Designer: Professional Identity as a Function of Self-Definition by Andrea Nordstrom
3. Crossing the Line: Why Designers and Aid Agencies Need Each Other by Timothy Putt

From it, I gleaned ideas for books to read, with Amazon creating great recommendations. I also found some insight into committee members, noting that Professor Jason Frazier was on the committee of each of these students.

Here are some of the books that I have bookmarked for potential reading.

1. Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Nonprofits Impact Culture and Others Don’t by Phil Cooke
2. Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend by Andy Stanley
3. Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication by Tim Schraeder
4. This is Service Design Thinking: Basics, Tools, Cases by Marc Stickdorn
5. The Design of Business: Why Design Thinking is the Next Competitive Advantage by Roger L. Martin
6. The Ten Faces of Innovation: IDEO’s Strategies for Defeating the Devil’s Advocate and Driving Creativity Throughout Your Organization by Jonathan Littman
7. Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation by Tim Brown
8. User Friendly Churches: What Christians Need to Know About the Churches People Love To Go To by George Barna
9. Church Marketing 101: Preparing Your Church for Greater Growth by Richard L. Reising
10. Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples by Francis Chan
11. Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church by Matt Chandler

I think I’m starting to get excited! I really look forward to digging through some of these books.