Thesis Defense – ENGL 690

Course Description

This course is designed to help students complete their M.A. Thesis. It is expected that research for the thesis project will be relevant to the student’s study in the master’s program and will make an academic contribution.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The purpose of this course is to allow the student to successfully write and defend a thesis under the supervision and direction of his/her thesis director.

Course Assignment

1. Course Requirements Checklist: After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.
2. Thesis Draft Pre-Submission Assignment: Students must submit their most recent thesis draft.
3. Thesis Schedule: Drafts (4): Students will draft each section of the thesis. Students will be required to submit revised and improved final drafts of the chapters, based on the feedback of the thesis director, for the final thesis submission.
4. Thesis Draft Submission Assignment: The average thesis will be about 95-120 pages (70-95 pages of text, plus bibliography and any appendices) that is preceded by a formal title page, an abstract of no more than 150 words, dedication, acknowledgments, table of contents and a list of any tables or figures. It must be followed by a complete bibliography or reference section and appendices (if any).
5. Thesis Submission and Defense Assignment: After the thesis is completed and submitted to Canvas, the student will need to orally defend his or her research and analysis before the committee. The thesis chairperson will host the meeting via Microsoft Teams or the equivalent. Students can expect the thesis defense to be approximately one hour. Basic questions about the design of the study, outcomes of the study, and opportunities for further research in the area will be asked. The student will need to be ready to defend all methodologies used and all conclusions reached in the study.
6. Quiz: Thesis Library Submission: Students will take a one-question quiz after they have submitted their successfully defended thesis to the library. Details on the library submission are outlined in the quiz instructions.