Now that you are beginning to write your Personal Study essay it seems appropriate to clarify the use AI. These principles is relevant for any for of writing that an A-level photography students is required to do, ie. essays, artists case studies, contextual studies, image analysis etc.
We (teachers) are assessing an individual students ‘knowledge’ and ‘understanding’ so if it seems as if a piece of written work is inconsistent with the evidence you already have published on the blog, then some sort of viva voce (oral examination) would be good to ascertain if that work does represent that students’ ‘knowledge’ and ‘understanding’ of a topic. If not, then the usual guidelines around plagiarism need to apply – ie disqualification.
Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation that regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England are really clear about the use of ChatGTP to construct coursework. It’s basically a hard NO. Coupled with the fact that they use AI detection on work which appears to be plagiarised or fabricated by AI and can disqualify it. Synthesising arguments from research is an essential skill which is being tested in assessment objectives so to get an AI to do it is essentially cheating.
For those interested here is a document from JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications outlining the current rules that govern student’s use of AI. Also, here in the following link to the Ofqual Guide for Schools and Colleges 2025 there is a paragraph about teachers using AI as the means to mark student work. It is under the subheading ‘During Assessments and Marking’.
How to use AI responsibly: If using AI is essential for your learning, follow these set of principles:
Reference if AI/ ChatGPT has been used like any other literary or academic source.
Reference what text prompt has been used and when (date).
Demonstrate how you have used AI to inform your own knowledge and understanding.
DEADLINE: Essay Introduction Draft MUST be handed in Thursday 18 Dec 2024
DEADLINE: Final Essay MUST be handed in Fri 31 Jan 2025
ESSAY: In the Spring term will be spending 1 lesson a week, normally Wednesdays on writing and developing your essay. However, you will need to be working on it independently outside of lesson time.
Objective:Criteria from the Syllabus
Be aware of some of the methods employed by critics and historians within the history of art and photography.
Demonstrate a sound understanding of your chosen area of study with appropriate use of critical vocabulary. – use for image analysis
Investigate a wide range of work and sources
Develop a personal and critical inquiry.
How to start: Copy this essay plan into your own blog post, titled: Essay Draft:
Literary sources: Go to this blog post here: Theory: Literary Sources and copy relevant key texts relating to the subject of your essay and list in alphabetical order in your bibliography. In addition, find your own key texts in relation to artists selected for in-depth analysis in your essay and list these too. These texts could be interviews with the artist, or reviews/ critique’s written by others. See useful online sites/ sources here .
Research and identify 3-5 literary sources from a variety of media such as books, journal/magazines, internet, Youtube/video that relates to your personal study and artists references .
Begin to read essay, texts and interviews with your chosen artists as well as commentary from critics, historians and others.
It’s important that you show evidence of reading and draw upon different pints of view – not only your own.
Take notes when you’re reading…key words, concepts, passages, page number to be used for in-text referencing etc.
Essay Question
Think of a hypothesis and list possible essay questions
Below is a list of possible essay questions that may help you to formulate your own.
Some examples of Personal Study essays from previous students:
Essay Plan Make a plan that lists what you are going to write about in each paragraph. Further help can be found here essay structure or see link here The Royal Literay Fund
Essay question:
Opening quote
Introduction (250-500 words): What is your area study? Which artists will you be analysing and why? How will you be responding to their work and essay question?
Pg 1 (500 words): Historical/ theoretical context within art, photography and visual culture relevant to your area of study. Make links to art movements/ isms and some of the methods employed by critics and historian.
Pg 2 (500 words): Analyse first artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.
Pg 3 (500 words): Analyse second artist/photographer in relation to your essay question. Present and evaluate your own images and responses.
Conclusion (250-500 words): Draw parallels, explore differences/ similarities between artists/photographers and that of your own work that you have produced
Bibliography: List all relevant sources used
Use of AI / ChatGPT – go to this blog post here for guidelines.
Key Terminology: Here is a link to a glossary of key words, glossary of photographic processes, glossary of art movements and genres, and linking words and phrases.
Essay writing: Here is a link to another blog post which will provide you with guideline and more details about how to structure each paragraph in your essay.
Draft Introduction (250-500 words). Think about an opening that will draw your reader in e.g. you can use an opening quote that sets the scene. You should include in your introduction an outline of your intention of your study e.g. what and who are you going to investigate. How does this area/ work interest you? What are you trying to prove/challenge, argument/ counter-argument? What historical or theoretical context is the work situated within. Include 1 or 2 quotes for or against. What links are there with your previous studies, if any? What have you explored so far, or what are you going to photograph? How will your work develop. What camera skills, techniques or processes have you experimented with, or are you going to experiment with?
