Postgrad Archives - Enhancing Postgraduate Environments

The Thesis as Argument

PostGrad — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 11:22:36 +0000

The thesis is the most common mode of knowledge presentation used at Postgraduate level. In this video, we suggest that the thesis is first and foremost an argument. The contribution it gives to the field is to add a particular argument – a position that is taken on the phenomenon being studied. There is a need for coherence across the thesis to ensure that this argument is built in ways that are credible, valid and aligned to the norms of knowledge construction demanded by the discipline. This demands a chain of smaller arguments, each substantiated by evidence, slowly building the thesis as a whole. This video discussed what forms of evidence these might take.

Developed by Sioux McKenna and Lynn Quinn, Rhodes University. Thanks to Sabela Cuba for filming and Dinah Arnott for production and editing.

Explore these additional resources

Thesis as argument worksheet

You may also find these blogs useful in developing a strong argument in your writing:

Aitchison, C. (2016) ‘Has this thesis got anything to say?’, Doctoral Writing SIG

Thomson, P. (2013) ‘Writing the thesis abstract’, Patter

Who might find this useful?

This video would be useful for supervisors and postgraduate scholars. It can also form part of a workshop on thesis structure or academic writing. There is a useful worksheet which can be used in conjunction with the video to help postgraduate scholars develop their thesis statement. You can download it here.

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In-depth Qualitative Interview

PostGrad — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:06:23 +0000

The in-depth qualitative interview is a difficult data collection skill to master. Researchers discuss their experiences of interviewing. They also give some tips on how to conduct in-depth interviews and some do’s and don’ts when interviewing.

Developed by Grace Idahosa, Department of Political and International Studies, Rhodes University. Thanks to Louise Vincent, Chipo Munyuki and Desire Chiwandire.

Explore these additional resources

Sideman, I., 2006. Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A guide for researchers in Education and Social Science. New York: Teachers College Press.

Who might find this useful?

This video can be used as a guide by academics and researchers planning to use in-depth interviews as a method of data collection.

The post In-depth Qualitative Interview appeared first on Enhancing Postgraduate Environments.

Overview of PhD

PostGrad — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 09:29:41 +0000

This poster provides an overview of the Purpose and Scope of a PhD study, drawing on the South African Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) and the South African Qualifications Authority Level Descriptors. The poster is useful for current PhD candidates, and those hoping to engage in a PhD, as well as supervisors supporting PhD candidates. The poster includes the level Purpose, scope and descriptors of a PhD, as well as a breakdown of notional hours.

Developed by Priya Vallabh – Rhodes University

Explore these additional resources

Council on Higher Education (CHE). (2013). The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework. CHE: Pretoria.
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). (2012). Level Descriptors for the South African National Qualifications Framework. SAQA: Pretoria.

Who might find this useful?

This resource may provide a useful tool for supervisors to use in their first supervision meeting with new PhD candidates, to open a discussion about the level and scope of work required in a PhD.
It may also be useful for PhD candidates who would like to understand the scope of commitment required from them.

The post Overview of PhD appeared first on Enhancing Postgraduate Environments.

Overview of Master’s Degree

PostGrad — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 09:04:58 +0000

This poster provides an overview of the Purpose and Scope of a Master’s study, drawing on the South African Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) and the South African Qualifications Authority Level Descriptors. The poster is useful for current Master’s candidates, and those hoping to engage in a Master’s degree, as well as supervisors supporting Master’s candidates. The poster includes the level Purpose, scope and descriptors of a Master’s degree, as well as a breakdown of notional hours.

Developed by Priya Vallabh – Rhodes University

Explore these additional resources

Council on Higher Education (CHE). (2013). The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework. CHE: Pretoria.
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). (2012). Level Descriptors for the South African National Qualifications Framework. SAQA: Pretoria.

Who might find this useful?

This resource may provide a useful tool for supervisors to use in their first supervision meeting with new Master’s candidates, to open a discussion about the level and scope of work required in a Master’s Degree.
It may also be useful for Master’s candidates who would like to understand the scope of commitment required from them.

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Overview of Postgraduate Diploma

PostGrad — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 08:48:39 +0000

This poster provides an overview of the Purpose and Scope of a Postgraduate Diploma, drawing on the South African Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) and the South African Qualifications Authority Level Descriptors. The poster is useful for those hoping to engage in a Postgraduate Diploma, as well as current students and lecturers working on Postgraduate Diplomas. The poster includes the level Purpose, scope and descriptors of a Postgraduate Diploma, as well as a breakdown of notional hours.

Developed by Priya Vallabh – Rhodes University

Explore these additional resources

Council on Higher Education (CHE). (2013). The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework. CHE: Pretoria.
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). (2012). Level Descriptors for the South African National Qualifications Framework. SAQA: Pretoria.

Who might find this useful?

This resource may provide a useful tool for Postgraduate Diploma course coordinators to use in their first course session with new students to open up a discussion about the level and scope of work required in a Postgraduate Diploma.

The post Overview of Postgraduate Diploma appeared first on Enhancing Postgraduate Environments.

Overview of Honours Degree

PostGrad — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 08:19:21 +0000

This poster provides an overview of the Purpose and Scope of an Honours, drawing on the South African Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) and the South African Qualifications Authority Level Descriptors. The poster is useful for current Honours candidates, and those hoping to engage in an Honours degree, as well as supervisors supporting Honours candidates. The poster includes the level Purpose, scope and descriptors of an Honours degree, as well as a breakdown of notional hours.

Developed by Priya Vallabh – Rhodes University

Explore these additional resources

Council on Higher Education (CHE). (2013). The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework. CHE: Pretoria.
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). (2012). Level Descriptors for the South African National Qualifications Framework. SAQA: Pretoria.

Who might find this useful?

This resource may provide a useful tool for supervisors to use in their first supervision meeting with new Honours candidates, to open a discussion about the level and scope of work required in an Honours Degree.
It may also be useful for Honours candidates who would like to understand the scope of commitment required from them.

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Early Career Academics: Balancing work and thesis

PostGrad — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:36:22 +0000

You are in your office with your proof of registration for postgraduate studies and wondering how you are going to balancing working and studying. This short video (3:45min) will provide you with three things to think about at the start of your journey.

Developed by Dr Amanda Hlengwa, Rhodes University. PhD scholars and supervisors captured in the video footage from the CHERTL and Faculty of Education PhD programmes.

Who might find this useful?

This might be useful to early career academics working and studying. It might also be useful to researchers/postgraduates whose studies are part of a larger body of research.

The post Early Career Academics: Balancing work and thesis appeared first on Enhancing Postgraduate Environments.

The Ethics of Research using Human Participants

PostGrad — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 07:54:50 +0000

This video clip outlines the general ethical considerations when developing a study involving humans as research participants. The importance of ethics in research using humans, as well as considerations of respect for persons, beneficence and justice are addressed.

Miriam Mattison; Department of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics; Rhodes University

Explore these additional resources

Human Sciences Research Council

Department of Health

National Health Act

Health Professionals Council of South Africa

National Health Research Ethics Council

Who might find this useful?

Particularly useful for student and emerging researchers in any field involving humans as research participants, e.g. health sciences and social sciences.

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Supporting Academic Writing Practices in Postgraduate Studies

PostGrad — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 07:38:34 +0000

This booklet outlines the development of academic writing practices and includes lots of useful activities. It has been developed on a sound theoretical basis and explains the research on writing development in an accessible and useful way. It will be a boon for supervisors and postgraduate scholars alike.

Download PDF

By Kirstin Wilmot and Heila Lotz-Sisitka, Rhodes University. If you found this useful, you might like to watch a short video about the need to develop your writing by writing for yourself first.

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Just Write

PostGrad — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 14:59:02 +0000

The key to strong academic writing is to write for yourself first and often. You need to have a good sense of your own position in relation to what you’re writing about before you try to craft a piece for a reader. Supervisors and PhD scholars share writing advice in this video and focus on the need to ‘Just Write’!

Developed by Sioux McKenna – Rhodes University. Thanks to Dinah Arnott for video editing, Sabela Cuba for filming, and all the supervisors and PhD scholars who contributed to this video.

Explore these additional resources

The Rhodes University Postgraduate Writing Sourcebook has loads of useful tips and tasks to enhance your writing
The University of Witwatersrand guidelines for writing reading responses
The Doctoral Writing Blog includes lots of useful advice on academic writing
The Thesis Whisperer has lots of useful advice on academic writing

Who might find this useful?

This video is suitable for anyone interested in academic writing. It would make a good addition to a writing workshop.

Supervisors who want to find out more about how to support their students’ writing development are encouraged to read ‘Risk in Academic Writing’ by Lucia Thesen and Linda Cooper (2013). This highly recommended text brings together the voices of postgraduate supervisors and students as they discuss the making of knowledge in writing.

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