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
> [mailto:[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
> <mailto:[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
> [mailto:[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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> SOCREL-PG is the Postgraduate e-mail list of the BSA
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> To join SOCREL-PG, send the following one-line
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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
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