Information for Supervisors of Professional paper

PA 8082 is structured as an A/F-basis 3-credit seminar, with students required to make progress on their paper from one week to the next and setting their own goals as appropriate for their projects. Students also provide weekly feedback to peers about interim deliverables related to their papers. In-class time includes reporting on progress and future goals, as well as discussing impediments and possible solutions with the group. It also includes short discussions of readings about writing skills. Grading is based on participation and making regular progress. The instructor not only reviews the weekly progress of participants but also helps them strengthen their ability to give constructive feedback.

PA 8082 may be viewed as a writing support group with weekly deadlines. It is meant to support the professional paper process as determined by the student in consulting with the paper supervisor and committee members. It does not replace or supersede the role of the supervisor, which includes:

• Helping the student focus the paper topic.

• Assisting the student in choosing data for analysis and literatures to review.

• Meeting with the student every 2-3 weeks to address questions that have arisen.

• Communicating with the instructor of PA 8082 if concerns arise.

• Reviewing outlines and paper drafts or sections every few weeks.

• Helping the student achieve a complete draft by about mid-April.

• If appropriate, nominating the student for an award (before about May 1st). The End of Year Award nomination process is organized by Student Services.

• Determining whether a student is ready for a proposed oral date, and if not, postponing the oral.

• Determining whether the student should give a short presentation (~10-15 minutes) in the final oral.

• Participating in a final oral (~1 hour) in which the student and committee discuss any remaining questions or concerns.

• Determining, with other committee members, any final revisions that are required.

• Reviewing and approving final revisions, then signing the cover page to indicate approval.

If the student does not enroll in PA 8082, the supervisor’s role is essential to ensure completion of the professional paper and thus graduation. In the context of PA 8921, the supervisor should, in addition to the responsibilities noted above:

• Determine, with the student, regular deadlines for progress on the paper.

• Meet with the student weekly or bi-weekly to provide support and feedback.

Role of the second committee member:
(and any additional --optional-- committee members)

Committee members play a smaller role in the paper process than the paper supervisor. Committee members will:

• Provide additional expertise related to the topic and/or methods used;

• Help guide the paper topic;

• Provide suggestions for literature to review and/or methods to use;

• Read at least one draft of the paper and provide feedback;

• Read the paper before the oral; and

• Participate in the oral.

Professional papers end with an oral examination including the student, the student’s supervisor, and the other committee member(s). Orals may be in-person or remote. At the end of the oral, committee members agree to (1) pass the paper as-is; or (2) pass it with revisions; or (3) require further work and another oral examination.

The supervisor determines what will happen in the oral. Will it be entirely discussion (questions posed to the student, and discussion around the answers) or will the student make a formal presentation before the discussion? During the oral, committee members decide together what, if any, additional revisions are needed. Professional paper orals are typically one hour, but supervisors should schedule 1.5 hours to allow time for debriefing with the student after the oral. Degree programs may set their own expectations for the oral.

The supervisor approves final revisions after the oral. A final version of the paper must be received by the School by about May 20th for a Spring graduation. (The deadline is about August 20th for summer or about December 20th for fall.) Signatures on the paper’s cover page indicate approval by the supervisor and committee members.