Having completed the investigation a research student must submit the thesis with the obtained results for preliminary evaluation to get the permission for the preliminary defense (predefence). He has to submit the thesis, even if he thinks that one of the chapters needs one more draft or some other refinement. However, it is impossible to make the thesis text perfect in a finite time. A research student should be aware of the fact that each thesis contains things that could have been done better.
The experts who are seriously doing research in just that area must competently assess the thesis quality. Inevitably, they will notice some typos or other faults that need correcting. Nevertheless, their task is not only to show how thoroughly they have read the work and found some examples of improvements. They evaluate the relevance of the thesis subject and content to its title and the discipline, as well as the degree of the authors personal participation in obtaining research results, the degree of validity of the scientific findings, and the authors propositions and conclusions. The experts focus their attention on the practical value of the thesis, and, if satisfied, they recommend the dissertation for defense. If not, and the experts notice some outright errors, they may challenge it.
The preliminary defense looks like the Thesis Oral Examination in English speaking countries. The purpose of the oral defense is threefold. First, it provides the opportunity for academic conversation among peers. The research student is expected to provide authoritative insight into previously uncharted or contested issues; hence, he should be well prepared to present information persuasively and articulately. Secondly, the predefense allows the candidate student to formulate and disseminate his research findings and to contribute to the enhancement of knowledge within his field. Answering questions, the postgraduate proves his deep awareness of how he carried out the research. Finally, the predefense signals the closure of the research doctoral programme.
If the thesis fits a specific field and specialties within it, the members of the specialized Dissertation Council make the next stage of the preliminary evaluation. Currently there are two Dissertation Councils at Siberian State University of Railway Engineering. Dissertation Council 218.012.01 accepts theses for defense for the degree of Candidate of Science in Design and Engineering of Motor roads, underground railways, aerodromes, bridges and transport tunnels. Dissertation Council 218.012.06 accepts theses for defense for the degree of Candidate of Science in Economics in the following two specialties: Economics in Transport Industry and National Economy Management.
The Dissertation Council once again considers the thesis quality, as well as its completeness, and authors publications presented the thesis. If satisfied, and a candidate for a degree submits a reference demonstrating the importance of the obtained results provided by the leading organization, the Dissertation Council appoints two official opponents, who must write a reference on the thesis and participate in person in the defense process.
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The defense of the thesis, which is undertaken in public, implies a scientific debate. A candidate for a degree should be mentally prepared to come out of a sticky situation. He explains the thesis subject and the research relevance, reports the obtained data and results, proves the degree of validity of the scientific findings and the proposed hypothesis, emphasizes propositions, conclusions and the points for further investigation, answers the questions and defend the originality of his ideas.
Having completed the procedure of thesis defense, the members of the Dissertation Council start the next procedure of voting on whether or not to confer the Candidate of Science degree. The voting is made by secret ballot, and if the result is positive, the Dissertation Council must submit the applicants documents to the Higher Certification Commission within thirty days.
Exercise 4.2.1
The process of thesis writing includes looking through the first drafts of thesis chapters and paying attention to accuracy and brevity. Complement this pattern with your experience of writing scientific text.
A thesis is a long piece of writing which is based on ones own research. Research students perform different experiments and other scientific procedures to test their hypotheses or make a discovery. The obtained data must be described in scientific journals or in collected papers and articles.
Writing scientific articles, papers and thesis chapters requires some particular skills. Three strategies used in the writing of scientific texts free writing, generative writing and structured writing are often undervalued, underused and underdeveloped.
I have realized that scientific writing is a difficult art for me, and it takes a while to learn this art because my scientific adviser (research supervisor) often covers my texts with his suggestions and comments. To build my confidence in writing and become proficient in my area of science I have read the clearly explained, explicit theses. Currently they are stored in a digital form as pdf files on a server of many universities.
Before I submit a draft to my adviser, I try to make the text clear and a little formal, check for grammatical failings, and run a spell check so that make the thesis easier to read. I use short, simple phrases and words though I also use some lengthy technical words when they are necessary. On the other hand, when the idea is complicated I have to use complicated sentences. I submit only thoroughly revised versions, so that my research supervisor does not waste time correcting my grammar, spelling and poor constructions.
Each comment of my adviser tells me a way in which I can improve the text and make my work much better. My adviser is deeply convinced that writing is the activity that should be developed throughout the whole research process. He decorates my text with his scribbles teaching me to present information and arguments as a series of numbered points. He also warns me against misusing scientific terms or using absolute statements like always and never in science writing, and demands each claim to be supported by evidence.
I try to avoid of long and awkward paragraphs and sometimes I have to rewrite some parts of the text to make it clear what I did. I pay due attention to the appearance but first I improve the content. Finally, my text becomes a connected and convincing argument. Additionally, I develop a host of skills in problem solving, balancing priorities, time management, writing scientific papers in a clear professional style and presenting them.
Exercise 4.2.2
