The Sustained Investigation
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sustained investigation/səˈsteɪnd ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn/ | A continuing exploration of an artistic question through research, experimentation, making and revision. |
| coherence/kəʊˈhɪərəns/ | The quality of a body of work that holds together as one investigation. |
One idea explored deeply
- Big Idea 2 is about making. Its heart is the sustained investigation 持续探究.
- It is a body of work exploring one question or idea in depth over time.
- It is guided by questions or inquiry and develops as you make.
The 2-D portfolio's sustained investigation section contains how many images?
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The sustained investigation is 15 images plus written evidence.
What it must show
- It shows practice, experimentation, and revision — not unrelated pieces.
- The 2-D portfolio's investigation section is 15 images plus written evidence.
- The works should connect, showing a real journey.
How a sustained investigation develops across its works
Part of a sustained investigation or not?
Sort each as fitting a sustained investigation or not.
A sustained investigation should show practice, experimentation, and revision.
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It must show the journey, not just finished pieces.
Select all features of a strong sustained investigation.
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Focus, experimentation, and coherence are strong; unrelated pieces are not.
Match each term to its meaning.
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SI = deep study; coherence = one journey; 15 = section size.
Coherence
- A clear, focused inquiry gives the body of work coherence 连贯性.
- Coherence means the pieces feel like one investigation, not a random collection.
- The inquiry can change direction, and that evolution is valued.
When the pieces feel like one connected investigation, the body of work has ____.
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Coherence ties the works into one investigation.
A sustained investigation is not a folder of your best unrelated pieces. It must show practice, experimentation, and revision around a focused inquiry, with coherence. A set of polished but disconnected works scores far lower than a connected journey — even a rougher one.
One student's 15 images all explore "how light changes a familiar room": early studies, bold experiments, a failed idea, and refined final pieces. They share a question and clearly build on each other — strong coherence and a real sustained investigation.
The sustained investigation is a body of work exploring one inquiry in depth over time, shown in 15 images plus writing. It must show practice, experimentation, and revision and have coherence — feeling like one connected journey, not a random collection.
Write from one guiding question
- A student has sketches about 6 unrelated themes.
- The sustained investigation needs depth.
A student has sketches for 6 unrelated themes and wants a sustained investigation. What should they choose, and why?
Depth comes from staying with one question long enough to change the work.
What fits a sustained investigation?
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One question gives the later experiments something to revise.