Defense

In class students will complete a mock proposal defense. Please indicate on which date you will present.

April 12 1. DeeDee Bober 2. Michael Pfahl 3. George O'Connell 4. Katelin Brendel 5. Mariel Sallee 6. Jeanne Romani

April 19 1. Elizabeth Davis 2.Damon Kimaik 3. Octavian Maianu 4. Josh Perkins 5. Dyann Whlay 6. NJ Akbar

Presenting your research, defending your proposal

//I have mastered the literature in the area from which I have derived my dissertation idea.// //I have identified an important question that I propose to answer.// //I can articulate why this is an important question, and I can show how I will answer it in a way that will contribute to the field's base of knowledge.//

Proposal defense: - Determine if student has a good understanding of the research area s/he will pursue - Demonstrate that student can think/learn/work independently as a researcher, thus is prepared to conduct research on selected topic - Articulate sound research design for how student will systematically investigate the problem

15 minute presentation o Succinctly frame your topic/subject § Research problem § Research purpose – establish that this is important § Specify research question(s) o Identify/justify the need for this research (‘should’ versus ‘can’) § Significance § Literature Review (brief) o Methodology: the plan for answering the question § method must align with research question(s) § rationale for sampling decisions § clear articulation of what data will be collected; what are the analyses that will be undertaken with these data, and how will the results, whatever they might be, advance the existing literature.

This website includes tips on presenting one's dissertation - helpful in preparation of the defense []