DCS 505 Being a Thesis / Project Advisor

Introduction Have you helped someone prepare documents for publication? Do you think you are ready? What kind of preparation do you need to help someone? What kind of help with they need? 2

Techniques for Mentoring and Evaluating First steps: – Thesis writers – prepare thesis statement – Projects – Activity After Action Report OR other appropriate report format 3

Outline Make outline early – keeps them on track – OR make Table of Contents Use DCS 503 as a resource Concentrate on the body of the work – Prefatory and supplemental material do later Encourage students to do one task on outline, then move to next task. – Breaks project into manageable bites – Gives a sense of progress 4

Review and Conference Print out – mark content issues and suggestions Conference with learner – Face-to-face is best – Telephone works – Use “Track Changes,” make copy for learner 5

Editing Editing is salesmanship for the ideas Easier to read Concentrates attention on the substance of the document Use the Editing Checklist 6

Mentoring and Evaluating vs. Editing Mentoring and Evaluating – Give good advice, honest evaluation – Help correct design if needed – Ask important questions Are these expected results? Is this germane to the topic? Can this be added or eliminated from report? Is this conclusion logical? Editing – Check grammar, spelling, punctuation, layout – Provides best presentation for ideas – Ask for help if needed – Use editing checklist – Paper is a credit to author and council 7

Advisor’s Responsibility Assist the candidate to complete the thesis / report and the DCS Offer help at start, middle and end – Getting started is critical Explicit help in writing it up if needed – Needs to look good But – we don’t do it for them 8

Demonstrate How a Thesis / Report Progressed Show a first draft and a final product Show how the paper progressed Discuss the questions you asked Discuss the mentoring process Show how you used the editing checklist 9

Review Resources After Action Report Thesis Evaluation Checklist Checklist for Editing Thesis / Project Reports “Language of Scouting” 10

Assistance if Desired If you need assistance in mentoring, resources are available to help Editing exercises are available if desired Stay in contact with ________ regarding your candidates’ progress 11

Questions OR Comments? 12