DPLS 730fa06 - Proposal Seminar
DPLS 730 - Proposal Seminar
Fall 2006 3 Credits
Professor: James Beebe
Office RC 250
Office phone: (509) 323-3484
Home phone: (509) 456-2571
email: beebe@gonzaga.edu
Last updated November 12, 2006 Changes Session 7
Course Overview
This course is a seminar which means students meet to share ideas and learn from each other. In order to gain the most benefit from the seminar, students need to be prepared for each session and be open to other class members' suggestions. Proposal Seminar is designed to provide students with assistance in developing the dissertation proposal. Students should aim to leave the seminar with a completed draft of the entire proposal (Chapters I, II, and III of the dissertation).
Course Objectives
By the end of the semester, the students should:
1. Be familiar with critical elements in the dissertation process and the Doctoral Program's expectations.
2. Be able to produce written material in APA format that is easy to read and that meets the requirements of a doctoral dissertation, including the use of references.
3. Have developed a knowledge base pertaining to their topic and have communicated this knowledge base in a meaningful, interesting, and clear manner.
4. Have identified a research problem that is supported by this knowledge base.
5. Have developed a clearly stated purpose of the study.
6. Have identified methods for researching the problem to be studied.
7. Have identified ethical considerations and limitations of the study given the chosen research design.
Required Texts
American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.).
But I've never written a dissertation before: A user-friendly guide for the preparation of the dissertation.
Strongly Recommended Support Materials
EndNote. Software for managing bibliographic references. (Order online)
Dissertation Template. The Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies provides students a template for the dissertation based on Microsoft Word (Version 6.2 or higher).
Laptop, memory stick (UBS). Bring to class.
Optional Texts
Becker, H. (1986) Writing for the social scientists. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Fitzpatrick, J. Secrist, J., & Wright, D. J. (1998) Secrets for a successful dissertation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Locke, L. Spirduso, W., & Silverman, S.J. (2000) Proposals that work: A guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Pellegrino, V.C. (1987). A writer's guide to transitional words and expressions. Wailuku, HI: Maui Arthoughts.
Rudestam, K.E., & Newton, R.R. (2001). Surviving your dissertation: A comprehensive guide to content and process. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Strunk, W., & White, E. B. (2000). The elements of style (4th ed.).New York: Longman
Any book on how to use MS Word.
Course Evaluation
All students who complete a draft of the dissertation proposal will receive a "S" (Satisfactory) for the course. Students who do not complete the work for the course will receive an "IP"(In Progress). At the time the proposal is completed, the student will be responsible for preparing a grade change form and getting the signature of the instructor.
Assignments and Seminar Activities Sep 9, 16, 30; Oct 14, 28, Nov 11, 18; Dec 2
PRIOR TO THE FIRST SESSION
1. Post to Blackboard your petition. The Petition should include a clear statement about the purpose of the study that begins: The purpose of my study is to....... This will be part of at least three or four pages of Chapter I. The petition should included an almost complete Chapter II, about 40 pages, with a minimum of about 20 research studies (as oppoed to theoritical thought pieces), and at least three of four pages of Chapter III. This is the minimum requirement for getting into 730. Your advisor may require additional work.
(your posting should be a new thread--revisions will be a reply to your posting. Comments on others topic will be replies to their posting)
2. Locate at least one dissertation that could serve as a model for your dissertation. Ideally it will have to do with your topics but it does not have to. Begin with the Doctoral Program List of Dissertation Title (link from the Doctoral Home Page /doctoral. Search for dissertations at other universities using the link from the Doctoral Program Dissertation Titles page. Bring to the second class session.
3. Make an appointment with one of the librarians at Foley to search for dissertations and other sources and Post to Blackboard the title of the dissertation using correct APA format
4. Read all of the Blue Book.
5. Check out the All But the Dissertation Survival Guide http://www.abdsurvivalguide.com/and the PhinisheD page http://www.phinished.org/
Class Assignment should be posted to Blackboard by Wed. 5:00 before the Saturday class session if you want feedback.
Session | Seminar Topics | Assignments/Prior to Class |
Session 1 Sept 9 | a. Introduction to the seminar b. Overview of the dissertation process c. Student presentation of topic, purpose, statement, and research questions | Read entire Blue Book, Reread Chapter I and II. See Prior to the First Session |
Session 1A Sept 9 | a. Use of the template b. Use of EndNote | |
Session 2 Sept 16 | a. APA writing format b. Personal writing habits c. Chapter I, purpose and contents d. Writing Chapter I and the use of references e. Establishing a theoretical framework for the study f. Use of model dissertations | Read Redbook Re-read Chapter Bluebook pp 19-22 (new) Post contract to Blackboard Move petition into template, if it is not there already. Generate Table of Contents. Post to Blackboard Bring 9 copies of Table of Contents to class Be prepared for oral class presentation on major authors, previous scholarship, and theoretical framework. Bring copy of model dissertation to class |
Session 3 Sept 30 FACE-TO-FACE CLASS OPTIONAL Check in on Blackboard | OPTIONAL FACE TO FACE, Use of electronic data bases, Foley Library a. Chapter II, purpose and contents | Check-in on Blackboard Re-read Bluebook pp 22-24, 70-72 Edited first three to five pages of Chapter I. Headers for the rest of Chapter I. Post to Blackboard |
Session 4 Oct 14 | a. Discussion on Chapter II and conceptual framework b. Writing Chapter II and the use of references c. Dealing with personal biases c. Revisiting of Chapters I and II of the dissertation, content and writing | Bring 9 copies of full draft of Chapter I to class. Post to Blackboard Bring 9 copies of first 2 pages of Reference list to class Bring 9 copies of first two or three pages of Chapter II . Post to Blackboard |
Session 5 Oct 28 NO FACE-TO-FACE CLASS Check in on Blackboard | You are encouraged to make an appointment with me to discuss your progress a. Continued work on Chapter II, content and writing | Draft of at least one full section of Chapter II. Post to Blackboard |
Session 6 Nov 11 | a. Chapter III, purpose and contents b. Personal writing experiences | Re-read Blackboard pp. 32-42 (new) Bring 9 copies of the first 10 pages of Chapter II to class. Revised Reference list. Post to Blackboard Bring 9 copies of revised reference list to class. Post to Blackboard |
Session 7 Nov 18 | a. Overview Chapter III | Enough hard copies everyone in class Draft letter of informed consent based in IRB. First five pages chapter II First five pages chapter III First two pages of References |
Session 8 Dec 2 Potluck Brunch at | a. Mock proposal defense b. Discussion of the dissertation process, working with your committee, changing the proposal, etc. c. Panel discussion on the process | Bring 9 copies of Chapter I, II, and III to class. |
