Dissertation resource from Univ. of Pretoria

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by RoscoeB, Jun 17, 2007.

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  1. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    I shared this with another board and had been meaning to post it here. It's a pretty good website that includes a free online newsletter on writing a thesis/dissertation.

    It's found here: http://www.exactica.co.za

    This month's newsletter focuses on libraries.

    BTW, this resource was recommended by my advisor in Pretoria's theology department.

    Hope you find it useful.

    Roscoe
     
  2. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member


    That's great Roscoe!


    Abner :)
     
  3. Thank you very much for posting this link. I am looking forward to having athorough look at it.
     
  4. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member

    Great! I'm in my fourth and final year as a PhD student with Pretoria. I was not aware of this resource until you shared it with us. Thanks so much.

    In actuality, I'd been in a slump with my dissertation for a few days before reading the materials provided on the website to which you've drawn our attention. I was encouraged and provided a renewed dose of motivation.

    Thanks!
     
  5. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    My Pretoria story is turning out to be rather different! My prospective supervisor just told me that he's leaving to go be in charge of the department at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. I suppose it's a good career move for him, and he's offered to supervise me there in their DEd program, but I'm not sure that's the droid I'm looking for.

    -=Steve=-
     
  6. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Hey Cory,

    Great to hear from you!

    Will you travel to SA for graduation next spring? If so, then we will graduate together. Wouldn't it be cool to have two US students marching together? Of course, there may be others.

    I hope to have my thesis finished by September. It consists of seven chapters. At the moment, I'm finishing up chapter 4. I'll do chapters 5 and 6 in July, and the final one in August.

    I find myself feeling nervous and a bit anxious as I move closer to completion. Just hoping everything will work out in the end.

    BTW, how's your teaching going?

    Roscoe
     
  7. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Hi Steve,

    So sorry to hear this. Same thing happened to me at another SA school. I hope you can find another prof at Pretoria to see you through.

    BTW, I was contacted recently by someone doing research for Wikipedia. I was really impressed with the effort he put into his research. He went all out to get reliable information and he followed up on all the leads and resources I provided. We exchanged quite a few emails.

    Just thought I should mention this. :)

    Roscoe
     
  8. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Thanks, Abner.

    I haven't spent much time on the website, but I've been munching on the newsletters. I especially like the Q&A section at the bottom of each issue.

    Don't know if they are archived on the website, but if anyone's interested, I'd be happy to forward them. Just shoot me an email.

    Roscoe
     
  9. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Hi Michael,

    You are welcome. Glad you found this helpful.

    Roscoe
     
  10. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member

    Thanks for your note. No, I'm afraid that I don't anticipate being able to complete the process in time to participate in the April graduation ceremony in South Africa. My supervisor informed me that the university changed its dissertation submission process so that one now can only submit at either the end of August or the end of April. I simply don't think I'll be ready to submit at the end of August, especially since I have yet to prepare the journal article that has to be sent along with the dissertation. That being the case, I guess I'll have to wait until next April to submit, which will mean that I'll hopefully be postured to travel to South Africa for the September 2008 graduation ceremony. If you have some info that conflicts with this understanding of things, I'd love to hear about it. It would be neat to be able to be there at the same time for graduation.

    Thanks for asking about my teaching. I'm really enjoying it. My relationships with students and the growth I am experiencing personally have been especially rewarding aspects of the two years I've spent at the seminary thus far.
     
  11. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Thanks for sharing this. I didn't know about the submission deadlines. Since I won't be ready to submit in August, I guess I'll have to wait until next year.

    Good to hear about your teaching experiences. I hope I can have similar opportunities when I graduate. If I could only teach part-time and write the rest of the time, I would be happy.

    Blessings.

    Roscoe
     
  12. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    My main attraction to Pretoria was that the guy there seemed like he'd be a pretty good supervisor. I'm not sure whether I'll follow him to CPUT, but it's not out of the question.

    I realize that part of the problem is that I don't know enough people there. However, I may be in South Africa for a Shuttleworth Foundation meeting on OERs later this year, and if so I'll try to turn it into a school hunting trip -- go meet education professors at as many schools as possible and see if I click with anyone at a well regarded school, etc.

    -=Steve=-
     

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