MI792/MI892 DOCTORAL SEMINAR
Wilbert Shenk, Professor of Mission History and Contemporary Culture
Summer 2003 Pasadena

SEMINAR DESCRIPTION

This seminar provides opportunity for doctoral students to present their tutorials for peer review and critique as well as gain experience in evaluating and critiquing the work of others. The seminar is based on presentations by students of their tutorials.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

· The ability to present scholarly materials to a group of peers effectively.

· Skill in evaluating the scholarly work of others and offering constructive criticism.

PRESENTATION GUIDELINES

For the presenter

Each presentation is scheduled for ninety (90) minutes, divided as follows:

· 20-25 minutes oral summary of the tutorial

· 20-25 minutes evaluation in small groups

· 40-45 minutes plenary interaction with the presenter

When presenting a tutorial always show how it relates to your program by indicating your dissertation topic and listing other tutorials. Present a current tutorial, i.e., one just being completed or soon-to-be completed, rather than a tutorial finished sometime in the past. The amount of material you present should not exceed seventy (70) pages even if the tutorial is longer.

Plan your oral presentation carefully. Your 20-minute oral overview should enable your audience to understand the central problem you are addressing, highlight your main findings, and summarize the argument in support of your thesis. A few well-designed overhead transparencies can enhance your presentation. (Time is limited; avoid technology-based presentations that may break down.)

For seminar participants

Following the presentation you will caucus in groups of 3-4 and spend 20-25 minutes reflecting on the presentation. To facilitate this step: each participant should formulate and bring to the seminar in written form:

· The key insight you have gained from this tutorial

· One point of constructive criticism of the tutorial—e.g., what would have improved it for you?

· How could the oral presentation have been improved?

Each small group will designate one person to report the one insight and the one criticism that the group wishes to share with the presenter in the plenary discussion.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Each Ph.D. student is required to attend 20 sessions of the doctoral seminar and present two tutorials; D.Miss. students must attend 15 sessions and make two presentations.