Seminar #1 - Spring 2001

Dr. Foldesy asked if anyone had any questions or anything they wanted to talk about:

•  Topic #1:  The amount of work involved this semester

  •  It was mentioned that there was quite a bit of work this semester.

  • It was expressed that Cohort IX members felt the same last semester but were glad of the work they put in once the semester was over.

• Topic #2:  Final Comprehensives

  • Portfolio

  • Talk with advisor

  • It can be set up different ways

  • Make sure growth can be seen (set up on base of the four strands of the program)

  • Look at benchmarks

  • Presentation:  summarize portfolio (how program has influenced you)

• Cohort Project

  • Write it up and tie it to the four strands of the program

  • Include:

    • purpose

    • details

    • time frame

    • maintenance

• State/National Presentation/Publication

• Written Comprehensive

Topic #2:  Dissertations

• The purpose of this seminar is to demystify the dissertation.

• Discussed technical writing

• Anatomy of the dissertation:

I.  Proposal -- first three chapters

II.  Approval -- the committee say go ahead with dissertation.

Dissertation=1/3    Writing=1/3    Crafting=1/3

Chapter 1

• Introduction

• Conceptual framework

• Problem statement

• Purpose of the study

• *Limitations

• *Delimitations

• Significance of the study (importance)

• Definition of Terms

• Summary

• Introduction sets the stage

• Conceptual framework -- conceptualizing the whole piece

• Problem statement -- What study is all about

• Purpose of the study -- The purpose of this study will be/was...

• *Limitations -- cant control (inherent within the design)

• *Delimitations -- can control (inherent within judgments the researcher makes)

• Significance (importance) of the study -- Why is the study important?

• Definition of Terms -- Terms that will be used in the study (alphabetical order)

• Summary -- 1 paragraph summarized closing (what happened)

*  What you are not going to study (numerated)

Chapter 2

• Investigate only the lit that deals with what you are studying (purpose of the study)

• Exhaust the literature (ALL)

• Synthesize the literature

• Go to the primary source (actual original author)

• Avoid sweeping statements (blanket statements)

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