Courage and the dissertation

In honor of today, the 4th of July, I would like to talk about courage. One does not generally think of this word when considering dissertations, however, it is an integral part of the process. It took great courage for you to decide to move from the path you were on, to that of a doctoral program. You may have left on the old path, friends and even family members who did not understand your new direction. That can be painful and lead to second thoughts. You left comfort and went into the unknown, an exciting but also frightening decision.

You have probably questioned that decision many times, wondering if you are "good enough" to finish. While this is normal, it is also takes courage to face your deepest fears and continue. Along the way, you may have had your writing (and maybe your ideas) criticized and had to rewrite, yet you have bravely continued. Today, reflect on your courage and the example you are to others. Because of your example, your children, grandchildren, friends, and people you do not even know may find the courage to face the unknown in order to find a better future. Today, celebrate courage and independence. You have earned it!

Next time I will talk about avoiding absolutes in writing.  Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu

Writing problems: Person Pronouns

English (as with many languages) has 3 levels of personal pronouns:

 

	Singular	Plural
First Person	I, me, mine	we, us, our
Second Person	you, your	you, your(s)
Third Person	he, she, it, him, her, it, his, her(s), its	they, them, their, theirs

APA does not allow the use of first person plural "we" or "our" (the exception is if there are multiple authors). The broader use of the word "we" (often referred to as the "editorial we" or "royal we") leaves the reader wondering to whom you are referring. Instead, substitute an appropriate noun or clarify to whom you are referring. Here are some examples for a dissertation. 

Incorrect: We know that the elderly ……

Correct: Researchers have found that the elderly …..

Incorrect: Drug use is common in our country

Correct: Drug use is common in the United States. 

Incorrect: We will contact possible participants by …

Correct: I will contact possible participants by… 

Next time, in honor of the 4^th of July, I will talk about courage and the dissertation.  Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu 

Blog Index for June

2014, Current to 6/27

Topic	Dates of Posts
Dissertation, general	6/25
Selecting a Topic	4/28, 5/9
Organization
Committee Members	5/7
URR
Center for Research Quality
Overview of Process
Premise
Prospectus	4/4, 4/7, 4/9, 4/11, 4/14, 4/18, 4/21, 4/23, 4/25, 4/28, 5/2, 5/5
Proposal
Research questions	4/18
C. 1
C. 2 (literature related)	6/9, 6/11, 6/16
C. 3	1/3, 1/6, 1/13
Defense
IRB	1/10, 1/15, 1/17, 1/20, 1/22, 1/24, 1/27, 1/29, 2/3, 2/5, 2/7, 2/10, 2/12, 2/17, 2/19, 2/21, 2/24
Data Collection
Quantitative	1/3, 2/26, 3/12
Qualitative	1/6, 3/14
Mixed Methods	1/3, 1/6
C. 4	3/5, 3/10, 3/12, 3/14, 3/17, 3/19, 3/21
C. 5	3/21, 3/24, 3/26, 3/28
Final Defense
Career
Goal Form	5/23, 5/26, 6/2
Motivation	1/1, 6/4, 6/6
Secondary Data	2/24
Support, Getting	5/21
Writing	5/16, 5/19, 6/16, 6/18, 6/20
Other	2/14, 3/3, 3/7, 4/16, 5/12, 5/14, 5/28, 6/2, 6/13, 6/23, 6/27

 

2013

Topic	Dates of Posts
Dissertation, general	7/5, 8/16, 8/19, 9/27, 10/2
Selecting a Topic	4/23, 7/8, 7/10
Organization	4/22, 10/2
Committee Members	4/17, 5/3, 6/10, 7/19, 8/21
URR	5/8, 5/27
Center for Research Quality	12/9
Overview of Process	4/19, 9/18, 12/13
Premise	4/17, 9/6
Proposal	4/22, 9/9
Research questions	10/9
C. 1	5/6, 10/21, 10/23, 10/25, 10/28, 11/1
C. 2 (literature related)	4/26, 5/29, 6/3, 6/12, 6/17, 6/28, 9/16, 10/11, 11/4, 11/6, 11/9, 11/15
C. 3	5/1, 10/16, 10/28, 11/18, 11/20, 11/22, 11/25, 12/2, 12/4, 12/6, 12/11, 12/16, 12/18, 12/20, 12/23, 12/27
Defense	4/23, 5/8
IRB	5/10, 10/14
Data Collection	5/13, 5/15, 10/16
Quantitative	5/17, 7/24, 7/26, 7/29, 7/31, 8/2, 8/5, 10/4, 10/7, 11/20, 12/2, 12/4, 12/6, 12/18, 12/23, 12/27
Qualitative	5/20, 11/20, 11/22, 11/25, 12/11, 12/16
Mixed Methods	5/22, 11/18, 11/20, 11/22, 11/25, 12/11, 12/20, 12/23, 12/27
C. 4	5/17, 5/20, 5/22, 7/17
C. 5	5/24, 9/20, 10/11
Final Defense	4/23, 5/27/ 9/11
Career	7/12
Goal Form	8/12
Motivation	6/5, 6/26, 7/1, 8/16, 8/23, 9/2, 9/18, 10/18, 11/8, 11/27
Secondary Data	5/31
Support, Getting	4/26, 6/5, 6/24, 8/16
Writing	4/26, 4/29, 6/12, 6/21, 7/3, 8/9, 8/14, 9/4, 9/23,9/25
Other	4/18, 6/7, 6/14, 6/19, 6/24, 6/26, 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/19, 7/22, 8/7, 8/16, 8/19, 8/26, 8/28, 8/30, 9/2, 9/13, 9/18, 10/18, 11/27, 12/13, 12/25

 Next time I will talk about some common writing problems.  Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu

 

How to complain

I commonly receive emails from students complaining about something- their chair, committee member, URR, IRB, etc. I think it important for you to consider how such emails are received- ones that are written in a calm voice, are clear, and professional are much more likely to be taken seriously than when someone rambles for pages, is demanding, and threatening. This may seem somewhat counterintuitive; isn’t the threatening one more serious and angry? Perhaps, but they also come across as someone who does not understand the system and is not looking for solutions, they simply want to vent. 

How can you be taken seriously when you are upset? I suggest first opening word and just dump all of your emotions and frustrations into that document- layout everything that happened and how you felt about it. Feel better? Ok delete it and let's start fresh. 

Let's start a new document, now unemotionally lay out the sequence of events that has led to the current issue. Include the dates; do not personalize or say how you felt about it – just give the facts. Once you have a clear timeline, write a BRIEF summary of the history, again no emotion.

Now I want you to think about what you would like the reader to do about the issue. How do you want them to help you? Would you like him or her to suggest some solutions? Would you like him or her to speak to your chair and possibly mediate? Add that in as a polite request. 

Time to write the email. First, introduce yourself to the email recipient, where are you in your program? What program? Have you ever met him or her? State that you are seeking their help/ advice/ etc. with a problem with (whomever). 

Copy the brief summary into the email. Then add the section on what you would like the reader to do for you. You may add one sentence with how you are feeling about the problem (e.g., "I am feeling very frustrated, and would deeply appreciate your input"). End the email by thanking them for their help. If you have emails or documents that show the history or in some way support your claims, attach them. I suggest that you then let the email set for a day, read it again when you are calm. If it sounds clear and professional, go ahead and send it. 

Next time I will post an updated blog index.  Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu