An exegesis is the written text that accompanies a creative project. For that reason, it may not always follow the traditional thesis models of other disciplines. This is because ''practice-led research situates creative practice as both a driver and outcome of the research process; it also positions the researcher in a unique relationship with the subject of the research'' (Hamilton & Luke, 2009, p. 32). The exegesis, therefore, could be considered a new form of academic writing that adds to the diversity of thesis structure.
This page will help you to:
- gain an overview of a research exegesis
- understand essential skills required to write a research exegesis
- structure and write a research exegesis.
Before you continue, reflect on your previous writing experiences and the feedback you have received. How would you rate your ability in the following skills? Rate your ability from ‘good’ to ‘needs development’.
Reflect on your answers. Congratulations if you feel confident about your skills. You may find it helpful to review the materials on this page to confirm your knowledge and possibly learn more. Don't worry if you don't feel confident. Work through these materials to build your skills.
Introduction to the research exegesis
This section gives a general overview of the research exegesis.
What is a research exegesis?
When conducting a project in the creative arts, you do two things simultaneously. You will:
- explore and analyse relevant theories and research
- develop your creative project.
Both of these activities feed into and inform each other.
In your exegesis, you record, document and interpret what occurs in your creative project and also explain how theories and previous research inform it. In doing this, you demonstrate your in-depth understanding of previous work on your topic, including the conceptual, theoretical and/or cultural context of the discipline.
What is included in a research exegesis?
A research exegesis may include common key chapters expected in a traditional research thesis, such as:
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Literature Review
- Chapter 3: Creative Practice Research Design
- Chapter 4: Results, Analysis and Discussion
- Chapter 5: Conclusion
A strong research exegesis demonstrates a line of argument that develops across your chapters and shows logical relationships between chapters. For example:
| The introduction and the conclusion | Your introduction and conclusion must be consistent. For instance, does your conclusion address the extent to which you achieved the aims that you outlined in your introduction? |
|---|---|
| The literature review and discussion | When you discuss the outcomes of your creative project, you will draw on the theories and creative works that you addressed in the literature review. |
| Research design and results | In these sections, you must make it clear how your research design led to your results. |
What skills are essential for writing a research exegesis?
To write a research exegesis, you need a wide range of skills. You need:
| Creative arts skills | These are the skills specific to your discipline, such as drawing, composing or film-making. |
|---|---|
| Research skills | These include the skills of:
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| Research communication skills | These include the skills of:
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