Hi all,
I can certainly arrange this, especially now that we have a dedicated "Postgraduate
Page" on the Socrel site: http://www.socrel.org.uk/postgraduates/index.html
Best wishes,
Sarah
>Hi everyone
>
>This has been an incredibly interesting and useful
>exchange - the combined knowledge and wisdom is
>potentially quite useful to other people.
>
>Can I suggest someone - Sharon? Sarah? - creates a
>document copying/summarising all these points, and
>have it posted on the main Socrel website? Maybe the
>main BSA website or through the BSA postgrad
>convenors?
>
>Abby
>
>
>--- "Christina.Welch"
>[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Hi there,
>> Just to add to this I would also suggest that a
>> focus on methodology and potentially 'fuzzy'
>> terminology is useful - terms like postmodernism etc
>> can be quite wooly and the examiners may wish to
>> clarify their useage with you to be sure you are
>> aware of debates surrounding such terms.
>> Good luck
>> Tina
>> Dr. Christina Welch
>> Theology & Religious Studies
>> University of Winchester
>> Winchester
>> SO22 4NR
>> Tel: 01962 827521
>> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Sociology of Religion post grad list
>> [[log in to unmask],'','','')">[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sian
>> Hawthorne
>> Sent: 09 March 2008 20:34
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Preparing for the PhD viva - request
>> for suggestions
>>
>>
>> Hi Sharon,
>>
>> Congratulations on finishing your thesis!
>>
>> I found the following helpful when preparing for my
>> viva:
>>
>> 1) write out chapter summaries of each chapter so
>> that you're clear on what each chapter achieves,
>> what its central arguments are, etc.
>> 2) write out what you think the main contributions
>> of your thesis are
>> 3) write out what the key themes are and and how
>> they relate to each other
>> 4) produce a list of typos etc. so that you can
>> present them to the examiners if appropriate (this
>> can help to avoid being given corrections).
>>
>> Bear in mind that it is unlikely that your
>> examiners will have read every single thing you've
>> written in your thesis and will therefore more
>> likely confine discussion to the broad themes, and
>> the broad implications of your thesis--you can
>> cleverly guide them to this by making sure that your
>> thesis is well signposted with good clear
>> introductions and conclusions to each chapter.
>>
>> In my experience, viva questions tend to proceed
>> fairly organically, although the examiners will
>> arrive with a set of questions/issues they want to
>> explore in more detail with you. They will probably
>> start out by asking you what your thesis is about.
>> Don't let this throw you--it doesn't mean they
>> haven't read it but rather that they are required to
>> ascertain whether or not you wrote it. During the
>> viva it's helpful to remember that it's OK to
>> disagree with your examiners' reading of your work
>> and their own position vis-à-vis what you propose.
>> You just need to know where to draw the line and to
>> concede the point and that's the tricky bit. I think
>> it's important to remember that what examiners are
>> really trying to assess is your competence in the
>> wider field in which you're situated and so you
>> should try and link what you've done to some of the
>> big debates in your field. Be clear about what you
>> bring to the table and what it contributes to other
>> work in a similar area. Don't worry if some of the
>> questions seem a little aggressive or unsympathetic.
>> You are not being personally attacked and so you
>> should try to relish the chance to defend what
>> you've worked so hard on for so long. A viva is the
>> first (and probably the last) chance you'll have the
>> undivided attention of two people interested in your
>> work so enjoy it!
>>
>> Finally, make sure after your viva that you go out
>> and let your hair down with some friends. It's a
>> chance to celebrate your success but also to thank
>> your friends for putting up with you for the last
>> however long!
>>
>> Wishing you lots of success!
>>
>> Sian
>>
>> Dr Sian Hawthorne
>> Director of Studies, MA Gender Studies and
>> Religion; MA Study of Religions
>> MA Programmes Convenor
>> Department of the Study of Religions
>> SOAS, University of London
>> Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square
>> London WC1H 0XG
>>
>> Tel: 020 7898 4215
>> www.soas.ac.uk
>>
>> From: Helen Meads
>>
[log in to unmask],'','','')">[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 6:41 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Preparing for the PhD viva - request
>> for suggestions
>>
>>
>> Hi, Sharon,
>>
>>
>>
>> I recently went on a course at my Uni (Birmingham)
>> called "Preparing for your viva" and one of the
>> things I recall from that is that we were advised to
>> be aware of the foundation knowledge in our subject
>> area and particularly of any recent developments
>> since the thesis was submitted.
>>
>>
>>
>> Also, think of the sorts of skills you used in any
>> presentations you have done (especially questions
>> after any papers you have given) - the experience is
>> as similar as you can get. You'll have all the
>> skills.
>>
>>
>>
>> Here are a few links from which we were given
>> extracts (I think you'll need to search 'viva'
>> within the sites):
>>
>>
>>
>> www.grad.ac.uk http://www.grad.ac.uk/>
>>
>> Joseph Levine's www.learnerassociates.net
>> http://www.learnerassociates.net/> (and there are
>> other websites where students report their
>> experiences)
>>
>> There's also something on the University of New
>> South Wales website (no link, but we had an extract
>> in the handout)
>>
>>
>>
>> We also saw a viva on dvd, produced by a university
>> in the East Midlands (Nottingham, Loughborough?) - I
>> don't think it's the same one Adrian recommends,
>> though. That focused partly on how the examiners
>> prepare - make sure you know all about them was
>> another piece of advice.
>>
>>
>>
>> Also, make sure you understand your Uni's
>> regulations about procedures for corrections (minor
>> or major). Get fellow students to ask you the
>> questions you dread, have a mock viva with your
>> supervisor. Remember that this is one exam where
>> you'll know more about the subject than your
>> examiners. Use examples and evidence in your
>> discussion with the examiners and don't rush your
>> answers.
>>
>>
>>
>> Abby said re-read your thesis, but we were also
>> advised to prepare a one-page summary for each
>> chapter and to prepare example answers and take your
>> notes in with you. Also, use post-it notes to flag
>> significant pages in your thesis (and make sure you
>> take it in with you!).
>>
>>
>>
>> Other books recommended (apart from the Rowena
>> Murray) were (all OU Press):
>>
>> TheResearch Student's Guide to Success, Pat Cryer
>>
>> The Unwritten Rules of PhD Success, Gordon Rugg,
>> Marian Petire
>>
>> How to Get a PhD, Estelle M Phillips, Derek S Pugh
>>
>>
>>
>> Does your Uni run a similar course? If so, do get
>> on it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Hope this helps! Good luck!
>>
>>
>>
>> Helen
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Sociology of Religion post grad list
>> [[log in to unmask],'','','')">[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
>> Sharon Smith
>> Sent: 08 March 2008 14:13
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: [SOCREL-PG] Preparing for the PhD viva -
>> request for suggestions
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear fellow list members,
>>
>>
>>
>> I am due to have my PhD viva in about eight weeks
>> time and would be most
>>
>> grateful for suggestions as to what I should look
>> out for as I prepare for
>>
>> it.
>>
>>
>>
>> With thanks in advance and best wishes,
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Sharon Smith
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>Dr Abby Day
>ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow: "Believing in Belonging: An Exploration of Religious
Belief and Identity"
>Department of Anthropology,
>Arts D 422
>University of Sussex
>Brighton, BN1 9RH, United Kingdom
>http://www.sussex.ac.uk/anthropology/profile210508.html
>
>SOCREL-PG is the Postgraduate e-mail list of the BSA Sociology of Religion Study
Group.
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