MI792/892: Doctoral Seminar (0 units)

Betty Sue Brewster, Associate Professor of Language and Culture Learning
Summer 2006 Pasadena

 

 

DESCRIPTION:

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

 

COURSE FORMAT:  This seminar is a one-week intensive that will meet daily from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Ability to effectively present scholarly materials to a group of peers and respond to constructive criticism.
Ability to summarize your research clearly and succinctly.
Learn from one anotherÕs research and research processes.
Skill in evaluating the scholarly work of others and offering constructive criticism.
Prepare to join the body of professionals in your field.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

For the Presenters

No later than August 7, 2006, submit in writing or electronically, to the SIS doctoral office a copy of the tutorial (or condensed tutorial) you will be presenting, along with a one-page summary (see below). Present a current tutorial - one just completed or soon-to-be completed, rather than a tutorial finished sometime in the past. The amount of printed material you submit should not exceed seventy (70) pages. If the tutorial is longer, submit a prepared written condensation of no more than 70 pages. (If you are presenting a condensation, also submit to the seminar instructor a copy of your complete tutorial a week before the seminar).
When presenting a tutorial show how it relates to your dissertation topic and other tutorials. Include with your tutorial a one-page (250-word) summary of your dissertation: Title, Problem statement, Purpose, Research questions, Brief summary of methodology, and a List of tutorials with dates and readers.
Plan your oral presentation carefully. Your 20-minute oral overview should enable your audience to understand the central problem you are addressing, and should highlight your main findings and summarize the arguments in support of your thesis. A few well-designed overhead transparencies, or a power point, can enhance your presentation. (Time is limited; avoid a technology-based presentation that may break down, or have a back-up.)

 

For Seminar Participants

Each seminar participant should read the tutorials before the session. To facilitate the discussion. each participant should formulate and bring to the seminar in written form (one copy for the instructor, and one for the group discussion):
The key insight you have gained from reading this tutorial
One point of constructive criticism of the tutorial Š what would have improved it for you?
After the oral presentation, append a suggestion on how the oral presentation could have been improved. 
Following the presentation you will caucus in groups of 3-4 and spend 20-25 minutes reflecting on the presentation. Each small group will designate one person to report one insight and one criticism that the group will share with the presenter in the plenary discussion which will follow.

 

PREREQUISITES:  Registration only with permission of SIS doctoral advisor.

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Each Ph.D. student is required to attend 20 presentation-discussion sessions of doctoral seminars and present two tutorials; D.Miss. students must attend 15 sessions and present two tutorials.

 

FINAL EXAM:  None.

 

Last Date Edited: March 28, 2006