This is the first of two parts analyzing others works in order to develop our own faster and more efficiently. Covered are the abstract, introduction, first paragraphs, layouts and organization of theses and dissertations,

1. Exploiting Rapid
Change in Technology
Enhanced Learning
… for Post Graduate Education
Analyzing Dissertations
What Makes These Work? Or Not?

2. For those days when the well is feeling dry and a tad
echo-y, I keep a running list of my favorite quotes—
things I’ve read, things I’ve edited, things I’ve found in
the WD archives, things people have said to me in
interviews.
Such tiny, perfect revelations… Zachary Petit
The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.”
—Philip Roth
Not a wasted word. This has been a main point to my
literary thinking all my life.”
—Hunter S. Thompson

3. Why? Because you’ll develop…
1. Your own voice faster
2. A toolbox that works for you
3. Understanding that will help your relationship
with your supervisor/committee chair
4. You’ll begin to understand your dissertation or
thesis as a project you are managing…
transferable skill #1
Goal: To Get You to Look at
Others Finished Dissertation or
Theses Differently

4. Agenda
Taking a look at what makes them good…
Innovation vs Good Solid Work… both are important
Part I
1. Abstracts
2. First Paragraphs
3. Layouts/organization
4. Writing style
Part II
1. Lit review logic
2. Clarity of methodological design
3. Good use of theoretical frame
4. Great and unusual findings.

5. Abstracts

6. Abstracts
Tell you enough, but not too much?
Leave you wanting more?
1. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1861733661.html?FM
T=ABS
2. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1841918434.html?FM
T=ABS
3. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1811957862.html?FM
T=ABS
Which of the following dissertations in history (all US)…

7. Abstracts
Tell you enough, but not too much?
Leave you wanting more?
1. Compare…
http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/759483406.html?FMT=ABS
2. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/917232897.html?FMT=ABS
3. Compare…
http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/872061704.html?FMT=ABS
4. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1081471870.html?FMT=AB
S
Which of the following dissertations 2 teaching biology and 2 the biological
sciences

8. First Paragraphs

9. First Paragraphs
Which of the following dissertations revolving around issues of culture, draw
you in, seem provocative, make you want to read more?
Analyze the following according to how crisp they are, how concise, and
whether the problem they will be studying becomes immediately apparent.
Compare…
1. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1038
367230.html?FMT=AI
2. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1010
625516.html?FMT=AI
3. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1038
367230.html?FMT=AI

10. Layouts and Organization

11. Comparing Layout of Two the from
the Title Should be similar
Charter School Teacher Attitudes Toward the
Implementation of the Rhode Island Model of the Educator
Evaluation System by Shayna K Fox-Norwitz
TEACHER PERCEPTIONS REGARDING PORTFOLIO-
BASED COMPONENTS OF TEACHER EVALUATIONS
By Charles I Nagel

12. Charter School Teacher Attitudes Toward the Implementation of the
Rhode Island Model of the Educator Evaluation System
http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1407832800.html?FMT=AI
1. Literature clearly focused on the topics of teacher evaluation and the policy
that governs it
2. Methodology chapter is ???? Unusual
3. Two problem statements – one in chapter 1 and one in chapter V – seem
identical
4. Findings chapter – not results and they are not usually the same thing
5. Clear conclusion – pg 145 – looks back on key variables defined in
previous research and reiterates their importance or not in this study –
NOT in any particular order
6. Ends in summary

13. TEACHER PERCEPTIONS REGARDING PORTFOLIO-BASED COMPONENTS
OF TEACHER EVALUATIONS
http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1033568134.html?FMT=AI
1) Lots of history
2) 6 Research questions with 1-4 themes each
3) RQ6 page 163… clearly complex issues were uncovered. This alone could
be a journal article –
4) No conclusions or final statement – leaves us with recommendations for
next steps

14. Writing Style in Dissertations

15. Challenging change: Local policies and the new geography of
American immigration
by O'Neil, Kevin Singleton, Ph.D., Princeton University, 2011, 163;
3481709
Table of Contents
1. The new geography of American immigration……………………………………………………………………………………..…1
Chapter One tables and figures………………………………………..................................................……... 29
2. Natives’ opinions toward immigration in a new immigrant destination………………………………………..……..35
Chapter Two tables and figures………………………………………................................................……….…60
3. Geographic dispersal of the foreign‐born population and local anti‐immigration policies………………..….68
Chapter Three tables and figures…………………………………………..………………………................…………102
4. Do local anti‐Immigration policies slow demographic change?…………………………………………………………..108
Chapter Four tables and figures………………………………......................................................….…..…137
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………145
Appendix A: Types of local anti‐immigration policies in the US, 2000‐2009……………………………………………155

16. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/907243010.html?FMT=AI page 1 & 2
Challenging change: Local policies and the new geography of
American immigration
by O'Neil, Kevin Singleton, Ph.D., Princeton University, 2011, 163;
3481709
In many respects, the answer to the question “does it matter where immigrants
live?” appears to be a clear “yes.” Social scientists have provided important examples of
why life for immigrants is different in the new immigrant destinations than in the
established immigrant destinations, producing numerous journal articles and several
prominent edited volumes on the subject (Jones 2008; Massey 2008; Singer, Hardwick, and
Brettell 2008). The news media has also been attracted to the drama of immigrants
infiltrating formerly all‐white suburbs or replenishing the declining populations of rural
areas.
However, when it comes to the politics and policies surrounding US immigration,
it is less clear whether it matters where immigrants live. There are reasons to believe that it
does: Many theories of the way that native‐born citizens form opinions about immigration
and immigrants ascribe an important role to the size and characteristics of the local
immigrant population. I review these theories in detail in Chapter Two, but simply put, they
postulate that having immigrants nearby changes the opinions of natives either by
presenting economic and social threats or by providing opportunities for cooperation and
learning.

17. Where's the “public” in public policy: Skewed democratic pluralism vs.
nuanced public opinion in attitudes toward unauthorized immigrants
by Kay, Ward, Ph.D., George Mason University, 2010, 244; 3406657
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1
2. U.S. Immigration Policy ..................................................................................... 5
Theories on Immigration............................................................................. 6
History of Immigration Policy .................................................................. 14
Current Immigration Policy ...................................................................... 17
Recent Reform Efforts .............................................................................. 23
3. Public Opinion and Public Policy ..................................................................... 30
Historical and Theoretical ......................................................................... 31
Literature Review...................................................................................... 35
Dimensions of Public Opinion .................................................................. 53
Pluralism and Public Opinion ................................................................... 55
4. Opinion on Immigration Policy ........................................................................ 60
Public Opinion through Interest Groups ................................................... 62
Media Polls ............................................................................................... 72
Academic Literature.................................................................................. 86
Discussion ................................................................................................. 89
Public Opinion‘s Influence on Immigration Policy .................................. 94
5. Methodology ..................................................................................................... 96
Survey Methodology ............................................................................... 103
Sample Design ........................................................................................ 104
Data Collection ....................................................................................... 109
Data Analysis .......................................................................................... 123
6. Research Findings ........................................................................................... 134
Immigration Policy Scale ........................................................................ 135
Determinants of Immigration Policy Attitudes ....................................... 139

18. Where's the “public” in public policy: Skewed democratic pluralism vs.
nuanced public opinion in attitudes toward unauthorized immigrants
by Kay, Ward, Ph.D., George Mason University, 2010, 244; 3406657
This disconnect between the results of public opinion polls and perceptions of the
senators represent competing theories of determining public opinion. Polling, representing
the aggregation of individual opinions as measured by surveys, is the current methodology
that most people associate with public opinion. A scientific survey relays on sampling the
public in such a way that the results represent the population. An alternative to polling is to
gauge public opinion by only those expressing their views publicly – such as at a
demonstration or by contacting their congressman. In this manner, the size of the crowd or
the number of e-mails indicates how strongly those interested in the issue hold their opinion.
This unrepresented method of perceiving public opinion can be swayed by a vocal minority
but to politicians whose jobs rely on reelection it has face validity.
Since the call-in campaign was organized by interest groups, an alternative theory
of public opinion involved is the group theory of democratic pluralism. The theory of
democratic pluralism is that over time and across all issues that arise, groups will exist so
that public opinion will be fully represented. This would occur through existing groups and by
new groups that would form as new issues or as segments of the population who felt
underrepresented began organizing them. The theory is that public opinion will be presented
by these groups (Glynn, Herbst, O'Keefe, & Shapiro, 1999).
http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/860323878.html?FMT=ABS page 1 & 2

19. What’s Up at MN & DN this summer?
1. VERY IMPORTANT – backwards
map your summer work
2. 30 day writing challenge, 30 day
work-life balance challenge, and
365s -
keep you in touch with your work
3. Group work – RLC writing OR
Lingerers
1. For non – university users… Buy a book and get the website usage for free
2. For anyone who has literature & a story with or without data…. Time to get
published?

20. Avoid this one
1. VERY IMPORTANT – backwards map your summer work
2. 30 day writing challenge, 30 day work-life balance challenge, and 365s -
keep you in touch with your work
3. Group work – RLC writing OR Lingerers