COURSE ASSIGNMENTS





Assignment 1

Describe your topic to be developed as an overview proposal. Length - one page or less, single spaced. Include: Name and Date, Title, Problem Statement, and Proposed Methodology. Prepare sufficient copies to be distributed to the class for the discussion. Each seminar participant will provide written comments to the writer of the description. Each person will be given a short period to discuss the project during the semiar and to receive additional feedback from the other participants.


Assignment 2

Each student will be required to attend a workshop, designed to provide experience in using the computer to search the university on-line library catalog, containing over 1/2 million citations. Additionally, during this same class, students will have the opportunity to do computer searching of a bibliographic database programmed for retrieval.


Assignment 3

Based on comments from class, prepare the introduction and problem chapter of your proposal. This is a draft. Concentrate on writing clearly what you want to tell the reader in three or four pages. Substance and clarity are more important than format. Avoid big words, use your own language. Make enough copies for class, so all can read and critique.


Assignment 4

Based on comments from class, continue, as above, with the review of literature. This could be 20 pages easily, but more important than length is the submission of something for colleagues to review.


Assignment 5

Review and evaluate three dissertations relevant to your chosen topic. Prepare a written critique of each, one or two pages in length. Be prepared to present this in class. You may find the evaluation form on page 91 useful.


Assignment 6

Based on comments from class, continue as above with the research design.


Assignment 7

Based on comments from class, continue as above with the preparation of the reference list.


Assignment 8

Develop a dissertation proposal (overview) to be presented to a simulated overview committee comprised of class members. Length - minimum of 15 pages, maximum of 25. Copies should be available one week prior to the presentation to the committee. Follow the overview outline in the text.

Each student will be assigned to serve as a research advisor and as a committee member for other students. Research topics should also be discussed with student advisors as soon as possible.


Assignment 9

Review of the Literature, Research Design, Bibliography. When the parts have been put together, revised, and shared with the research advisor, they become the draft overview.


The dates of assignments may vary with the scheduling of instructional resources.