Differentiation (2011) Roberta Quance Postgraduate Coordinator School of Languages, Literatures, and Performing Arts

What is it?  In practical terms: an interview that establishes that you have made sufficient progress with your thesis to warrant formal admission to candidacy for the PhD

Components (Due one week before) An outline of your thesis: its rationale A sample of your writing (5000 words) focused on your research question A bibliography (following MHRA guidelines) A forward plan for the drafting of your thesis (a timetable and chapter outline) A training statement

The panel  An examiner from your area who is not involved in the supervision of your thesis  An examiner from outside your area  A Chair from the Postgraduate Subcommittee

Your supervisor  Is there as an observer during the interview: will not participate  Will be asked to provide a report to the panel of your progress to date  Might be asked about the supervision process or your working environment

Your presentation  Be concise (about 5-10 minutes)  Offer the rationale behind your project  Pick out the main points  Flag up where your project inserts itself into a field

Outline: in 2-3 pages  Should set forth what your corpus is for the project: the works you will discuss, or the material you will analyze  Should argue for the significance of the match between corpus and research question(s)(Are you asking the right questions? What is the gain?  Briefly, insert this project into the field: what has been done? Where do you fit in?  Advance an overall argument and show, chapter by chapter, how you intend to make it

Sample of writing  Should represent your analysis of a research question (in a text or corpus)  Should not be the literature review that you have carried out (previous scholarship)  Should make it clear what theory or methodology you are bringing to bear

Working bibliography  Key works dealing with your subject, including the theory or methodology you are applying  A list of the primary works you are addressing (films, plays, texts, particular corpus)  Must follow conventions in your field (normally MHRA): consult your supervisor

Forward plan  Timetable with deadlines for completion of the different chapters of your project: at least, a bimonthly breakdown  Build time in for rewriting for each chapter upon receipt of feedback/critique from your supervisor (minimum of one round of revisions)  Should be planned against a three-year period

Training record  Review this beforehand with one of your supervisors  Summarize the different kinds of training you have to your credit  Show how you have satisfied the hours required by the University

Interview per se: handling questions  Mentally underline your main ideas  Anticipate questions from someone coming at this from the outside  Be able to paraphrase yourself, break down technical points and terms  Acknowledge what you might still have to do or think about  Always appear to be listening/dialoguing

Results  After the interview you will be told informally what the outcome is by the Chair  You will receive a copy of the Chair’s report and a formal letter from the School to confirm the decision

Follow-up  Discuss the examination with your supervisor, especially if any revision is recommended