Model dissertations What makes these good? part 1

Exploiting Rapid Change in Technology

Enhanced Learning

… for Post Graduate Education

Analyzing Dissertations

What Makes These Work? Or Not?

For those days when the well is feeling dry and a tad

echo-y, I keep a running list of my favorite quotes—

things I’ve read, things I’ve edited, things I’ve found in

the WD archives, things people have said to me in

interviews.

Such tiny, perfect revelations… Zachary Petit

The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.”

—Philip Roth

Not a wasted word. This has been a main point to my

literary thinking all my life.”

—Hunter S. Thompson

Why? Because you’ll develop…1. Your own voice faster2. A toolbox that works for you3. Understanding that will help your relationship

with your supervisor/committee chair4. You’ll begin to understand your dissertation or

thesis as a project you are managing… transferable skill #1

Goal: To Get You to Look at Others Finished Dissertation or Theses Differently

Agenda

Taking a look at what makes them good…Innovation vs Good Solid Work… both are important

Part I1. Abstracts2. First Paragraphs3. Layouts/organization4. Writing stylePart II1. Lit review logic2. Clarity of methodological design3. Good use of theoretical frame4. Great and unusual findings.

Abstracts

Abstracts

Tell you enough, but not too much?Leave you wanting more?

1. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1861733661.html?FMT=ABS



Which of the following dissertations in history (all US)…

http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1861733661.html?FMT=ABS



Abstracts

Tell you enough, but not too much?Leave you wanting more?

1. Compare… http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/759483406.html?FMT=ABS

2. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/917232897.html?FMT=ABS3. Compare…

http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/872061704.html?FMT=ABS4. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1081471870.html?FMT=AB

S

Which of the following dissertations 2 teaching biology and 2 the biological

sciences





First Paragraphs

First ParagraphsWhich of the following dissertations revolving around issues of culture, draw

you in, seem provocative, make you want to read more?

Analyze the following according to how crisp they are, how concise, and

whether the problem they will be studying becomes immediately apparent.

Compare…1. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1038

367230.html?FMT=AI2. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1010

625516.html?FMT=AI3. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1038

367230.html?FMT=AI

http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1038367230.html?FMT=AI



Layouts and Organization

Comparing Layout of Two the from the Title Should be similarCharter School Teacher Attitudes Toward the Implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System by Shayna K Fox-Norwitz

TEACHER PERCEPTIONS REGARDING PORTFOLIO-

BASED COMPONENTS OF TEACHER EVALUATIONS

By Charles I Nagel

Charter School Teacher Attitudes Toward the Implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System


1. Literature clearly focused on the topics of teacher evaluation and the policy

that governs it

2. Methodology chapter is ???? Unusual

3. Two problem statements – one in chapter 1 and one in chapter V – seem

identical

4. Findings chapter – not results and they are not usually the same thing

5. Clear conclusion – pg 145 – looks back on key variables defined in

previous research and reiterates their importance or not in this study –

NOT in any particular order

6. Ends in summary


TEACHER PERCEPTIONS REGARDING PORTFOLIO-BASED COMPONENTS OF TEACHER EVALUATIONS


1) Lots of history

2) 6 Research questions with 1-4 themes each

3) RQ6 page 163… clearly complex issues were uncovered. This alone could

be a journal article –

4) No conclusions or final statement – leaves us with recommendations for

next steps


Writing Style in Dissertations

Challenging change: Local policies and the new geography of American immigrationby O'Neil, Kevin Singleton, Ph.D., Princeton University, 2011, 163; 3481709

Table of Contents 1. The new geography of American immigration……………………………………………………………………………………..…1

Chapter One tables and figures………………………………………..................................................……... 29 2. Natives’ opinions toward immigration in a new immigrant destination………………………………………..……..35

Chapter Two tables and figures………………………………………................................................……….…60 3. Geographic dispersal of the foreign‐born population and local anti‐immigration policies………………..….68

Chapter Three tables and figures…………………………………………..………………………................…………102 4. Do local anti‐Immigration policies slow demographic change?…………………………………………………………..108

Chapter Four tables and figures………………………………......................................................….…..…137 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………145 Appendix A: Types of local anti‐immigration policies in the US, 2000‐2009……………………………………………155

http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/907243010.html?FMT=AI page 1 & 2

Challenging change: Local policies and the new geography of American immigrationby O'Neil, Kevin Singleton, Ph.D., Princeton University, 2011, 163; 3481709

In many respects, the answer to the question “does it matter where immigrants live?” appears to be a clear “yes.” Social scientists have provided important examples of why life for immigrants is different in the new immigrant destinations than in the established immigrant destinations, producing numerous journal articles and several prominent edited volumes on the subject (Jones 2008; Massey 2008; Singer, Hardwick, and Brettell 2008). The news media has also been attracted to the drama of immigrants infiltrating formerly all‐white suburbs or replenishing the declining populations of rural areas.

However, when it comes to the politics and policies surrounding US immigration, it is less clear whether it matters where immigrants live. There are reasons to believe that it does: Many theories of the way that native‐born citizens form opinions about immigration and immigrants ascribe an important role to the size and characteristics of the local immigrant population. I review these theories in detail in Chapter Two, but simply put, they postulate that having immigrants nearby changes the opinions of natives either by presenting economic and social threats or by providing opportunities for cooperation and learning.


Where's the “public” in public policy: Skewed democratic pluralism vs.

nuanced public opinion in attitudes toward unauthorized immigrants

by Kay, Ward, Ph.D., George Mason University, 2010, 244; 3406657

1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1

2. U.S. Immigration Policy ..................................................................................... 5

Theories on Immigration............................................................................. 6

History of Immigration Policy .................................................................. 14

Current Immigration Policy ...................................................................... 17

Recent Reform Efforts .............................................................................. 23

3. Public Opinion and Public Policy ..................................................................... 30

Historical and Theoretical ......................................................................... 31

Literature Review...................................................................................... 35

Dimensions of Public Opinion .................................................................. 53

Pluralism and Public Opinion ................................................................... 55

4. Opinion on Immigration Policy ........................................................................ 60

Public Opinion through Interest Groups ................................................... 62

Media Polls ............................................................................................... 72

Academic Literature.................................................................................. 86

Discussion ................................................................................................. 89

Public Opinion‘s Influence on Immigration Policy .................................. 94

5. Methodology ..................................................................................................... 96

Survey Methodology ............................................................................... 103

Sample Design ........................................................................................ 104

Data Collection ....................................................................................... 109

Data Analysis .......................................................................................... 123

6. Research Findings ........................................................................................... 134

Immigration Policy Scale ........................................................................ 135

Determinants of Immigration Policy Attitudes ....................................... 139

Where's the “public” in public policy: Skewed democratic pluralism vs.

nuanced public opinion in attitudes toward unauthorized immigrants

by Kay, Ward, Ph.D., George Mason University, 2010, 244; 3406657

This disconnect between the results of public opinion polls and perceptions of the

senators represent competing theories of determining public opinion. Polling, representing

the aggregation of individual opinions as measured by surveys, is the current methodology

that most people associate with public opinion. A scientific survey relays on sampling the

public in such a way that the results represent the population. An alternative to polling is to

gauge public opinion by only those expressing their views publicly – such as at a

demonstration or by contacting their congressman. In this manner, the size of the crowd or

the number of e-mails indicates how strongly those interested in the issue hold their opinion.

This unrepresented method of perceiving public opinion can be swayed by a vocal minority

but to politicians whose jobs rely on reelection it has face validity.

Since the call-in campaign was organized by interest groups, an alternative theory

of public opinion involved is the group theory of democratic pluralism. The theory of

democratic pluralism is that over time and across all issues that arise, groups will exist so

that public opinion will be fully represented. This would occur through existing groups and by

new groups that would form as new issues or as segments of the population who felt

underrepresented began organizing them. The theory is that public opinion will be presented

by these groups (Glynn, Herbst, O'Keefe, & Shapiro, 1999).

http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/860323878.html?FMT=ABS page 1 & 2


What’s Up at MN & DN this summer?

1. VERY IMPORTANT – backwards map your summer work

2. 30 day writing challenge, 30 day work-life balance challenge, and 365s -

keep you in touch with your work3. Group work – RLC writing OR

Lingerers

1. For non – university users… Buy a book and get the website usage for free2. For anyone who has literature & a story with or without data…. Time to get

published?

Avoid this one

1. VERY IMPORTANT – backwards map your summer work2. 30 day writing challenge, 30 day work-life balance challenge, and 365s -

keep you in touch with your work3. Group work – RLC writing OR Lingerers

Model dissertations What makes these good? part 1

Education

Transcript of Model dissertations What makes these good? part 1