Defending & Moving On
Getting Your Life Back!
Chapter 7-The Dissertation Defense
- Can be enjoyable…remember you would not be defending your dissertation if your chair did not beleive your were ready to defend and pass!
- Lasts between one to two hours
- Short (no more than 10 min.) summary of your dissertation given at beginning of your defense
- Summary sets the stage then the committee will proceed with discussion and generally four types of questions: 1. general clarification, 2. Methodological clarification, 3. alignment of data with conclusions, 4. expansion and next steps
http://www.google.com/thebluestmuse.blogspot.com
www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/gallery
www.physics.ohio-state.edu
9 Key Points About Your Dissertation Defense (pg. 131)
1. Prepare a summary.
2. Don't use PowerPoint-unless you are at GWU!
3. Only bring your dissertation draft.
4. Don't get defensive.
5. Be specific.
6. Be gracious.
7. Listen to your dissertation chair.
8. Have fun!
9. Remember, it's just a dissertation. (AND…the best dissertation is a finished dissertation!)
How to Handle Conflict & Difficult Situations at Your Dissertation Defense (pg. 135)
- Be Prepared
- Determine whether the conflict is really about you.
- Remember-YOU KNOW A LOT!
- CITE, CITE, CITE
- Turn the attack into a "limitation"
- Propose that this is "a great follow-up research project"
- Look to your dissertation chair for support!
Publish Your Findings
Step 1-Realize that what you have accomplished in your dissertation matters.
Step 2-Think about exactly who the audience might be.
Academic Audience: Books, Peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations
General Audience: Magazines & Newspapers, School and community based presentations, Workshops and consulting, Blogging
Step 3-Realize that it is about the quality of venue in which you present or publish your findings.
Apply Your Research (K-12 Education)
"Move forward with implementing your research ideas and findings and don't let them sit on the shelf gathering dust."
"If not you , then who? and If not now, then when?" rabbi Hillel
Teach the next Generation-Higher Education
- Types of Faculty Positions in Higher Ed chart on page 143
- Tips for finding full time position (pg. 144)
- Where to look.
- What to look for.
- CV versus resume.
- What to submit.
- Expectations.
- Publish, publish, publish.