How to Survive your Viva by Rowena Murray

There is a good book on viva entitles How to Survive your Viva for those who are waiting for the examination. It's written by Rowena Murray. I am in the middle of reading the book at the moment. It's available in library.nu. However, today I am not able to reach the website at the moment. It's clarify the-state-of-the-art of the examination. My adrenalin runs fast when I read the book. What I learnt was that viva is subjective for everyone. And it is good if we can ask the institution of how the viva is in the particular uni that we're studying. Most importantly, we need to have a lot of practices before the viva examination.

I have submitted the thesis for examination

Alhamdulillah, yesterday (6 Dec. 2011) I submitted my thesis to the Graduate School Office (GSO). I hope to submit it on the 5th but the Dean of the Graduate Studies in the Faculty was entertaining some students. After all, it was already 5 something. I was actually able to submit it in the morning, but when I submitted it to the Graduate Studies in the faculty, the clerk told me that I used a wrong form. There's a new form that I need to fill-in or use. I told her that I was not able to access the postgraduate portal (for at least four days already). She asked me to refer to the IT Unit in the GSO. So I went there again. After I got the form, I need to make another appointment with all my supervisors (supervisory commmitee member). I was only able to have all their signatures at 4 something. The process was not completed yet since I need to have the signature from the Dean of the Graduate Studies studies. I waited for 30 minutes for the signature. However, the clerk told me to get the form tomorrow (i.e. 6 Dec) since the Dean has just got back from a meeting. And at that moment she was entertaining some students.

Hence, on 6 Dec. I got back the form from the office of the Graduate Studies and sent all the copies of the thesis to the GSO. Back home, I noticed that there were some technical problems. For instance, Part C and Part D of my Pre-test was in my Post-test. I did amended this but the sections somehow went to other pages. I also forgot to thanks a friend who helped me with my statistics in my Acknowledgements. I will need to adress this during the examination. I supposed they will notice the former obviously.

I hope to submit the thesis next week

Alhamdullillah. I got the thesis that was already proof read on Saturday. I am now inserting the pages for tables and figures. Also, I need to re-read the pages again just to make sure that everything it is its place. Then only I can print 5 copies of thesis and later submit it. Ya Allah, ease me the way in undergoing this task, Ya Rabb.

My main supervisor is a professor now. Congratulations!

I have sent my thesis to a professional editor

Alhamdulillah, I have finished editing my thesis after I received it from my main supervisor. Yesterday, I sent my thesis to a professional editor whom is a native speaker from UK. Previously, I sent the thesis for editing to a local. Yet, my supervisor still commented that the language that I used was not very proficient. So, I think it is rather good if I can have a native speaker whom is able to edit my thesis this time around.

I was told by my friend; who was formerly a postgraduate std. in Univ of Lancaster, that his supervisor liked the way this fellow edited her thesis. My memo was replied promptly when I asked him the deadline for editing and proofing my thesis. Alhamdullillah, he'll be able to complete doing the tasks within 2 weeks. Here's his charges.

"I charge £8 per 1,000 words, but there are large discounts for theses and dissertations over 5,000 words. A 15,000 word dissertation, for example, would be just £72"

I am determine to submit my thesis...

I received the comments on my writing from my supervisor. He required me to review my research question 6. Other than that, he requested me to send the thesis for professional editing (he meant this and stated clearly in the last page of the thesis). Hence, I am determine to submit my thesis for good...

Gathering views from my other supervisory committee members they commented that I shall proceed with submitting the thesis. I also asked one of the doctor's (a lecturer with phd) in the faculty I'm studying through text. She said, "you should not wait any longer". Coincidentally, I met another doctor from Management Faculty while I was having lunch at one of the cafes in the campus. She too, said the same. Go ahead, submit the thesis as she recommended me to do so. She felt the same and couldn't believed she finally made it till the end. Even on the viva day!

Hence, I'm going to review all the things my supervisor commented. Hope I can get through with this..Allah I seek your bless in easing me to undergo this task. I'm not strong if I have to do this alone, ya Allah.

Meeting with supervisor

Next week on Monday (31 Oct) I'll be meeting my main supervisor. This is the appointment to review all the chapters I submitted to him in April. Not sure what the reviews will be about. At the same time, my external, internal examiners and chair person are already appointed. I can view this in my postgraduate portal. Due to this, I hope that the meeting with my main supervisor will permit me to submit the thesis for viva. I really hope this will happen.

My two other supervisors have sort of read the chapters already. They gave their comments. And based on the comments, there are a few things I amended, added and discarded. One commented on my chapter 3 and 4 (he coaches me on methodology) and the other commented my literature review. When I sent them the chapters (hard copy) I often texts them asking whether or not they have completed reading the chapters.

I submitted Notice of Thesis Submission Form

I submitted Notice of Thesis Submission Form on 6 June 2011. After this form, then only another form Notice for Viva Voce can be submitted. While waiting for the form to be processed by the Postgraduate Office, I am now editing my chapters. One of the committee members whom I consulted regularly required me to change a few things. That is what I'm doing at the moment. I also seek assistance from another committee member to read my Chapter 2. My main supervisor was informed that one of the committee members have checked the chapters (my first draft). He said he would be reading it. When I met him the other day, he said he was quite busy and would do so after he went back from oversea. As far as publication is concerned, I submitted 2 abstracts for conferences in September. And I attempt to submit an article for a book chapter for another conference if my full paper is accepted by the conference committee. Perhaps anyone who is reading this can give me insights into the "best practice of writing for journal paper"?

Another thing, I'll be back to work next week! I applied for extension but the Dean didn't sign my application at that time. Last time the univ. decided that all staff are not eligible for extension, only extreme case would be considered (this applied to those studying abroad). But it was just recently that the Study Leave Unit came out with a guideline for staff applying for extension. I think it's because of the complaints made by some staff studying abroad (they need to work as the univ. didn't support their tuition fees anymore. So I was told but not sure how true it was). It was peculiar in that established universities are able to get at least four months for extension, but not in our univ. Staff exceeded three years of studying needs to come back to work. Due to this, the univ. reviewed the policies; so I believed. And therefore, my previous application was signed by the Dean of the Department this week. The executive staff in my Department required me to report for duty and wait for the result of the Study Leave Unit meeting next month. Sounds chaotic, right? When I thought about it, I guess it's funny and at the same I time, I think the univ. needs to be more concern with their staff's well-being. Expect the Unexpected ;-)

For publication consider these journals:

Malaysian Journal of Learning & Instruction (MJLI)
•Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology
•Malaysian Journal of Mobile Learning
Malaysian Journal of Educational Technology (myJET)

I've completed writing ONE journal article

Yesterday or it was the day before yesterday that I completed writing one journal article. Alhamdulillah, thanks to Him for not because of Him I would still not be able to produce an article. I used research questions 1 until four for the article. And of course, the title of the article was changed to reflect the content of the article.

The other day my friend emailed me about a special issue that is going to be published by an impact factor journal. I think it's a good opportunity if I can write one for it. Its impact factor currently is 0.7 something. I know it is challenging but I need to try.

My next plan of action is to write for a qualitative research article. I like writing interpretive research since I don't have to deal with so many statistical explanations. I am determine to start writing on Monday since today and tomorrow are holidays (weekends). Need break!

When are u going to start writing?

I haven't started to write anything for publication in journals yet. Recently, I went to a workshop organised by the deparment I'm working. The workshop was intended to assist lecturers in producing articles that could be send to high impact factor jorunals. The session was interesting as the the professor was really a prolific writer- he was awarded a full professor before 40! I was not able to attend the full three days workshop. I only attended the second day for the afternoon slot. He required us to produce one article, and from that he would be commenting on the things that need to be changed.

All the articles that were evaluated and reviewed by him, would be published in a special issue, according to him. I hope my attempt to publish one would be realised. I did show him the article I wrote, but it was already presented for a conference. There was some changes that need to done. I can rewrite here and there, but I guess it's much better if I can write on the findings of my actual study. But, I haven't started anything yet. Too busy with so many things due to Labour Day and other commitments. I promise myself I'm going to start writing one as a start tonight. Ya Allah, please assist me on this, for I know I was not strong with all the nitty gritty stuffs around me.

A book written as a dedication to my late mother and father

I have finished writing a book that I specially dedicated to my parents. Besides that, it was dedicated to my mother and father in laws as well. My father in-law passed away recently and I learned many quality things about life from him. For instance, I learned the importance of time (he was a very punctual person). Perhaps due to the training as an officer in the army. He also taught me to recite the Quran every single day as it can always motivates us to work and live a better life. I know very much that this is true.

The idea of writing the book entitles, "Apa Khabar Ayahbonda" (Literal meaning: How are you father and mother?, doesn't sound catchy..couldn't find better words at the moment) was initiated out of the loss that I felt when my mother and father passed away last year due to cancer. She has been suffering from intestine cancer for almost one year or so. But, she didn't notice it until she was admitted to the hospital one day. The doctor in the Kuantan Specialist Hospital told that part of her intestine needed to be removed. After it was removed, we thought that she would be fine. It was not long after that she complained that she could not defecate like usual. I remembered that morning she said she was very ill and couldn't get up to perform subuh prayer. I thought it was because she didn't take anything the night before. She was really in pain, i still remembered her face. I quickly sent her to the panel clinic. After a check-up was done, the doctor gave some medicine. She was quite okay. I send her to my brother's house as she and my father were staying at his house (we couldn't let both of them stayed in their house because it was quite far from the neighbours). I thought she would be okay after I left her. I requested her to take bath but she said she just want to sleep for a while. She mentioned that she could see smoke surrounding the bedroom before I left her. I said to her that she was just too tired and requested her to have some sleep. I didn't know that was the last time I talked to her. She died a week before I delivered my youngest.

Following the same year; to be exact after six months my mother died, my father died due to bone cancer. It was so sudden because there was no sign that he was ill. He was a healthy man. He could still do heavy gardening. This story will continue because as for now I have to prepare afternoon tea. My sister in-law and her family have just arrived.

I have this poem dedicated to them in the book I wrote:

Untukmu Ayahbonda

Ayahbonda,

Pengorbanan ayahbonda tiada terperi,
Aku dididik dan diasuh setiap hari,
Untuk menjadi seorang yang punyai pekerti tinggi,
Ku sanjung ayahbonda diatas pengorbanan ini.

Ayahbonda,

Jasa ayahbonda sudah terbukti,
Walaupun ayahbonda tiada di sisi kini,
Akan ku kenang setiap ilmu yang diberi,
Agar ianya menjadi panduan diri.

Ayahbonda,

Andai diriku pernah menghiris hati ayahbonda,
Lantaran diriku terlalu menurut nafsu kata,
Pun begitu tiada sedikit pun kata cela dari ayahbonda,
Jauh sekali ungkapan kata-kata nista.


Ayahbonda,

Ku mohon ampun atas kesalahan yang kulakukan,
Moga pahala pengorbanan ayahbonda di berkati oleh yang Maha Esa,
Bagi segenap titik peluh yang ayahbonda curahkan,
Diriku ini memanjatkan doa agar ayahbonda sentiasa dibawah rahmat Tuhan yang Esa.

Applying for extension

I guess I need to apply for extension for at least four months. Yet, I'm not sure whether or not I can wait only for viva after that four months have completed. Anyway, it's better to apply rather than not. One of my friends who is studying in the same university and faculty with me applied, but hers was rejected. The reason being she is doing her phd in the local university. I think she was not lucky. Pity also that she haven't presented her proposal yet. As she is a very tough woman, she receives the news calmly and tell me that it is all her fault of not being able to present her proposal before she will be reporting for duty.

I'm not sure of my luck though some of my other friends told me it will be a waste-less effort to try for something you sure you'll not be able to get. However, I believe, if you don't try, you never know. For whatever thing that will come, if I am not destined for extension, there sure be other ways that I can graduate. For the thing that I start, I have to make it to a point where I can say, "I'm done now!"..with careful planning and strategies, I know I'll get there. Above all, God knows when that time is for me.

Very useful free link for E Books

Hi all,

Link to this website http://library.nu/ for materials that you may want to read or have further information of things that you're not clear with. I find that the link is very useful. Some of the books are very latest. Not to mention books from prominent authors in your field are also here. Share this with others as well...let all of us benefit from it. Remember that "knowledge is everywhere, when we benefit, others need to benefit as well"

I've sent the first draft of my thesis

Alhamdullilah. I've already sent all the chapters to my supervisory committee members although I noticed some typo-errors here and there (ouch!!). I hope my main supervisor is happy with the content of the thesis. It took me quite sometime to write all the chapters. I did the collection of data, analysis of data and writing data all in six months. I pray to Allah that my endeavor is easy and smooth. My hubby helped me in compiling all the chapters. It was not a day work when it comes to paging, preparing Table of Contents, converting document from Words to PDF. Concerning converting Words to PDF, I learned that chapters, appendices and other doc. for thesis can be combined to make a complete thesis. I didn't know how to do this before (I am not IT savvy, but like technology).

On the day of submitting the draft, my husband and the kids stayed in the hotel since we didn't want to troublesome our in-laws staying in KL and Ulu Kelang. Luckily, the internet service in the hotel is free. The breakfast was not bad either. I guess this is made common in other hotels as well (wireless internet service). Right after the thesis was printed and bound, we headed home. The weather was very cloudy. So, we only stopped at my sister in law's house to perform solat qasr (maghrib and insya'). And of course, dinner that was pre-ordered. Her house is near to food stores, and hence, we ordered food for dinner.

What I can say is that, I feel bless that my attempt to send the first draft is realised although I'm not sure of the responses. I really hope, again, that my draft is accepted..and I'll make changes if they require me to do so. I received a sms from my friends telling me that her friend took a year for editing stuffs after her submission of the first draft thesis. I hope mine is easier and smoother.

Back to square one

I'm done writing Chapter 5. I guess I've described what I need to describe in the chapter. In the chapter, I guessed I've justified the findings of my study that I described in Chapter 4. Also, I relate them (findings) with that of findings from previous studies. It was a challenging task and required critical analysis to write one sentence to another. Now, I'm back to square one. In other words, at this stage, I need to check back all the chapters I wrote last time. First, I need to check Literature Review because I know there are so many things/ points to be edited. More importantly this chapter is not only about summarising but I also need to do "some critical assessment of material". Another "adventure" (***!!???) is in the making (*-*)

Writing Implication

What does implication for a study mean? I need to think of the implications of my study base on the findings I gathered. It has to be along these lines:

Implication of research 1

"If you are including a Conclusions/Implications section in your dissertation make sure you really present conclusions and implications. Often the writer uses the conclusions/implications section to merely restate the research findings. Don't waste my time. I've already read the findings and now, at the Conclusion/Implication section, I want you to help me understand what it all means. This is a key section of the dissertation and is sometimes best done after you've had a few days to step away from your research and allow yourself to put your research into perspective. If you do this you will no doubt be able to draw a variety of insights that help link your research to other areas. I usually think of conclusions/implications as the "So what" statements. In other words, what are the key ideas that we can draw from your study to apply to my areas of concern".

Source: http://www.learnerassociates.net/dissthes/#27

Implications of Research 2

1. what new knowledge will the proposed project produce that we do not already know?
2. why is it worth knowing, what are the major implications?

Implications of Research 3

It answers the question of how the research findings may impact on the topic and the field.

Phrases that might be helpful to support findings

While writing chapter 5, I find it difficult to produce sentences that 'sound' academic. Due to this, I analysed few theses to help me find the 'right' expressions to support my findings. Some of the phrases that I gathered from the theses were typed below. Hope this helps.

General Phrases
o the fact that in this study different kinds of contextual clues were relied on
lends support for constructionist hypothesis (Graesser, Singer & Trabasso, 1994) which claims that ...
o The finding supported a few studies for instance ...
o The above finding supported Nation’s and Scholfield’s...
o Moreover, the advantage of a dictionary was corroborated in a study of 293 Japanese EFL university students by Luppescu and Day (1993)...
o Such a finding about how the students approach learning L2 vocabulary supported Sanaoui’s (1995)...
o Some encouraging findings on this issue could be found in some 1960s research.
o Kachroo (1962) finds that ...
o Crothers and Suppes (1967) discover ..
o Similarly, Lado, Baldwin and Lobo (1967) present...
o Tinkham (1993), like many other researchers, finds that..
o Still in an interesting experiment by Nagy, McClure, and Mir (1997) state...
o There are a few studies which could be referred to clarify the situation. A thought could be given to a study done by Pillai (2004)...
o To understand such a phenomenon, a study done by Nation and Coady (1988) should be scrutinized...
o Several studies proved that rehearsal has some benefits to students’ vocabulary learning. Teh (2004) studied three conditions...
o This view was supported by research done by Wang et al (1993)...
o Similar results can be found in Seibert (1927, 1930)...
o Their progress was parallel with the one discussed by Henriksen (1999)...
o In conclusion, it could be safely proclaimed that the students’ breadth of vocabulary knowledge did develop although slow ...
o The findings above initiate some discussions ...
o This is similar to White (2008)’s finding but contrary to Gilligan (1989)...
o This finding was also consistent in this study ...
o This study confirmed the findings of the study carried ...
o The knowing events identified in this study were similar to the studies of ...
o The data in this study was similar to the data collected by ...
o This assumption is in common with Perry’s ...
o This organisational learning process support the theory provided by ….and concurred the study by ...
o The Malaysian aviation industry met Senge’s framework of learning in the five key disciplines ...
o The industry learning process agrees with Dogson (1993)...
o The…conforms to the organisational learning mechanism as discussed by Arvin...
o The process was also similar ...
o The findings from the study resembles findings from Minerva’s (2003) study...
o The study contradicts Hoang findings but concurred with the study conducted by

Implications for Theory or Practice

The acquisition process can also be explained by Bandura’s (1986) Social Learning Theory....
The research contributed to the study by ...on the …
The study addresses the literature gaps left by organisation learning practitioners in Duncan and Weiss (1989)...
In terms of theoretical implications, the study has provided ...
The findings of the study to a certain extent concurred with the formal learning model of Marsick

Writing Chapter 5

I started writing Chapter 5 since yesterday. In this chapter, I need to match the finding of my study with previous studies. It was a slow process for me because I need to find findings that can support my finding to all the research questions and hypotheses I have in my study. Moreover, if my finding contradict to previous studies, it therefore requires me to state why such happens. In this chapter, relevant theories need to also be discussed. This is another challenge. One analogy best fit to explain my situation is like I'm walking in the bushes. Slowly and carefully. In the end, I know I need to get out from there...

The spirit of writing needs to be consistent for I need to review Chapter 1-3 after I've done with Chapter 5. For that, I hope that Allah can keep my motivation alive because at the moment they are too many challenges. For the past 2 weeks I didn't send my youngest to the kindy because of ear problem. I send my eldest back and forth to school, wake-up all the kids, iron my husband's attire every morning, take the two kids to bath, then send again the eldest to KAFA. Due to this busy schedule, I remembered that I forgot to lock the door of my house one day. So these days writing was not really comfortable for me. However, I cannot give that as an excuse. Anyway, back to the story about my youngest staying at home, as a consequence of that, I often cook..this leads to another thing- a cooking blog. Errmm..if you're interested to look at the recipes I cooked these days, check this link http://maklangrecipesgalore.blogspot.com/...