Random Quote
Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.
---- Robert Frost
Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar.
---- Edward R. Murrow
Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.
---- Leonardo DaVinci (1452-1519)
Always be wary of any helpful item that weighs less than its operating manual.
---- Terry Pratchett
I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
---- Albert Einstein
As soon as I buy the moose head, I have to go pick up some KY jelly.
---- Mary Roninette Kowal
I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.
---- Isaac Asimov
Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.
---- H. G. Wells
The voodoo priest and all his powders were as nothing compared to espresso, cappuccino, and mocha, which are stronger than all the religions of the world combined, and perhaps stronger than the human soul itself.
---- Mark Helprin, Memoir from Antproof Case, 1995
If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur.
---- Doug Larson
Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.
---- Fred Allen
The least of learning is done in the classrooms
---- Thomas Merton
One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork.
---- Edward Abbey
Technology will not replace teachers...teachers who use technology will
probably replace teachers who do not.
---- Ray Clifford
Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.
---- Abigail Adams (1744 - 1818)
Sleep is a symptom of caffeine deprivation.
---- Author Unknown
A magician pulls rabbits out of hats. An experimental psychologist pulls habits out of rats.
---- anonymous
I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later.
---- Mitch Hedberg
Those who know nothing of foreign languages, knows nothing of their own.”
---- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749 -1832)
It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be aiming not at that goal itself but at some more ambitious goal beyond it.
---- Arnold Toynbee
Any man whose errors take ten years to correct is quite a man.
---- J. Robert Oppenheimer
This may be the most interesting blog theme I've ever seen. http://eflgeek.com/index.php Definitely in my top 5 at least.
---- Steve Dembo
Arguments over grammar and style are often as fierce as those over IBM versus Mac, and as fruitless as Coke versus Pepsi and boxers versus briefs.
---- Jack Lynch
We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything.
---- Thomas A. Edison
Isn't it interesting that the same people who laugh at science fiction listen to weather forecasts and economists?"
---- Kelvin Throop III
Questions
I’m still debating whether to do the dissertation option or not. To get further advice and input I wrote an email to the professor in charge of dissertations, who just happens to also teach the research methods class which I just completed. Anyhow I’m including the email here, so if anyone would like to provide advice or personal anecdotes I would appreciate it.
Professor Tent,
My name is ******* *******, student number ********. I just finished research methods this semester and all the course work towards the masters program. I have some questions about the program in general and specifically about the dissertation option.
When I first started graduate studies it was my intention to do the dissertation option and possibly go on to doctorate level in the future. But recently I have come to the conclusion that I am not as interested in pursuing a doctorate degree as I once was. At this point I am seeking advice about the level of work and commitment required to do the dissertation option.
I do see a long term advantage to having completed a dissertation as it is the more mainstream approach to having completed graduate studies and will add greater legitimacy to a distance degree (which unfortunately to some is suspect in level of commitment and education acquired). However to me there are also advantages to completing my degree by course work. The greatest being that I could finish in June next year rather than November and receive my parchment in time for the next hiring season here in Korea. If I do the dissertation and finish in November approximately how long will it be before I receive official documentation of having completed a masters degree? What is your recommendation? Do you feel that it is better to do the dissertation or do the course work or that they are equally valuable?
Provided I do the dissertation option and that my research proposal is acceptable, what exactly is required of me. I know that I am to write, I believe, 15,000 words. But other than that and conducting the research I am not sure if there is anything else required. If possible I would like to find out as early as possible so that I can begin any extra work I need to during the next 10 weeks as I am on a vacation from teaching and will be better able to focus my energy in this area.
I am also interested in what is involved in the process of acquiring advisors and forming a committee. Will there be a defence? If so, how will this be conducted taking into account the distance aspect of the course.
I realize you are backed up grading as I did receive the email notice you sent to all students. I look forward to recieving your reply as soon as you have some extra time.
Sincerely
********
Sean. inscribed these words of wisdom on Wednesday Dec 1, 2004 at 11:08 PM
general_linguistic_study | Dissertation |
Tim Nall wrote 156 words on Thursday Dec 2, 2004 at 11:45 AM
Blinger,
We’ve had this discussion at our school also. In general, doing a Master’s Thesis (dissertation, in your neck of the woods) adds an extra year to the amount of time required. It is becoming more and more common and acceptable to finish without one. Some PhD programs still may require their entrants to have completed one, though, particularly those programs which consider themselves top-tier. One professor told me that in his opinion, however, those who do NOT go on to get a PhD benefit more from doing a thesis.. since the PhD work will easily equal and surpass the stuff needed to complete a thesis. That seems a bit backwards to me, though, since I would think that a Master’s is the terminal degree for those whose main goal is to teach (principally, I assume, that means teaching undergrads) rather than to carry out research/teach grad students… So.. take all this for what it’s worth.