mas.940
Assignment: Answers to "the Five Questions"
Due: Thursday, September 19
Email us the text by Thursday,
September 19 at 5 PM.
To the best of your ability at
this time, answer the following questions about the work that you are considering
doing for your thesis research. If you have more than one idea, adressing
each is one way to decide. However, we are only requiring one set of answers.
The ultimate decision will be between you and your advisor.
Here are "the Five Questions":
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What problem are you addressing?
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What is the contribution to your
field of research/inquiry?
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Why is this problem important
(e.g., why would this work be meaningful to someone not committed to your
field?)
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How are you going to attack the
problem? (i.e., how will you subdivide the main task into manageable chunks?)
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What resources will you need
to reach your goal?
The objective of this part of
the first assignment is to start framing a thesis proposal. When you revise
your evolving pre-proposal, keep building arguments for the following:
"what is the problem", "why should we care", and "how will you know when
you're done."
As a guide, continue to think
about the following five questions during the proposal process. Use these
questions to structure your class assignments and also focus on critical
answers that you'll need to address in the proposal.
When you email your assignments
to us before the meeting on Tuesday, September 24, it will give us a chance
to read them before class and better help you in the discussions. As always,
if you have questions about the task, please send us a message. We're happy
to answer questions and look at drafts.