Supervising a PhD-thesis From process to product Ingvild Folkvord Ås, 5.12.2012 Joanna Rubin Dranger: Frøken Makeløs & Karrieren, Aschehoug, 2001 1
Teamwork 2-3 persons Explain to each other what a typical development in a candidate s work process looks like. Describe afterwards the important aspects of the supervisor role during the different stages. Meta-communication Supervisor: During this stage I ll be much more critical then earlier, and I ll almost act as the devil s advocate. The purpose of this is to ensure that what you write is properly done. 2
Meta-communication cont. Supervisor: You rarely ask about something. Is everything we discuss really clear to you? Student: It is nice with all the positive things you say, but there must be something you are not satisfied with? Example from Handal and Lauvås, Forskningsveilederen (Cappelen, 2006) Writing a tool for thinking It is most difficult when someone you have talked with over a long time, and who you think has a good understanding of the problem, shows to be incapable of expressing this in writing. [ ] Frequently this has to do with the writing tool writing as a means to think being completely undeveloped. Because most of those we work with are not experienced in academic writing. Email from experienced supervisor 3
What can you start writing on from day one? Motivation (as background), what spurred your interest for the topic Your suggestions for data method central concepts theory limitations perspective The most exciting part of your thesis What you want to change What you actually know A rough conclusion Central argument Your examples and your analysis of them Your prejudices to the field List of keywords about central themes, dimensions, persons, parameters Source: Rienecker and Stray Jørgensen, Den gode oppgaven, Fagbokforlaget 2006. 1. The study s research question: What are you asking about? 5. The procedures of the study: How do you ask? 2. The study s professional purpose, potential use: Why do you ask? 4. The tools of the study - theories, concepts, professional methods: What are you asking with? 3. The study s data, material, phenomena: What are you asking to? Rienecker and Stray-Jørgensen: Den gode oppgaven 4
1. 5. 2. 4. 3. Akademisk skrivekompetanse Med fagteksten i fokus Moves in Research Paper Introductions Move 1: Establishing a research territory a) By showing that the general research area is important, central, interesting, problematic, or relevant in some way (optional) b) By introducing and reviewing items of previous research in the area (obligatory) Swales, John M. & Feak, Christine B.: Academic Writing for Graduate Students. The University of Michigan Press. USA, 2004 [1994], p. 244. 5
Akademisk skrivekompetanse Med fagteksten i fokus Move 2: Establishing a niche a) By indicating a gap in the previous research, raising questions about it, or extending previous knowledge in some other way (obligatory) Swales, John M. & Feak, Christine B.: Academic Writing for Graduate Students. The University fo Michigan Press. USA, 2004 [1994], p. 244. Akademisk skrivekompetanse Med fagteksten i fokus Move 3: Occupying the niche a) By outlining purposes or stating the nature of the present research. (obligatory) b) By announcing principal findings (optional) c) By indicating the structure of the R.P (optional) Swales, John M. & Feak, Christine B.: Academic Writing for Graduate Students. The University fo Michigan Press. USA, 2004 [1994], p. 244. 6
Guidelines for response Be constructive Be specific Adapt your response to the stage the text is in Ask The writer should request what kind of response he/she wants Underline good sentences and paragraphs Supervisors NB: Try to make genre norms and criteria explicit during the cooperation with the candidate. 7
Literature Folkvord, Ingvild: Patentløsninger og Fingerspitzengefühl om å veilede til PhD-graden. Trondheim, Tapir Akademisk Forlag, 2005. Handal Gunnar og Per Lauvås: Forskningsveilederen. Oslo, Cappelen, 2006. Lie, Sissel: Fri som foten: Om å skrive fagtekster. Oslo, Ad Notam Gyldendal, 1995. Lie Sissel: Slipp ordene løs! Skriveprosess og fagtekster. Oslo, Akademika, 2012. Nygaard, Lynn P.: Writing for Scholars. A Practical guide to making Sense and Being Heard, Oslo, Universitetsforlaget, 2008 Rienecker, Lotte; Stray Jørgensen, Peter: Den gode oppgaven. Bergen, Fagbokforlaget, 2006. Swales, John M: Feak, Christine B.: Academic Writing for Graduate Students Essentials Tasks and Skills. Ann Arbor, The University of Michigan Press, 1994. 8