Stage 5: Establishing a Dissertation Committee

Why is this stage important?

Creating a formal dissertation team moves the dissertation project ahead, and will help you develop areas of interest and expertise. To begin the formation of a dissertation committee:

• review department specific guidelines regarding dissertation committee make up
• seek out a dissertation advisor who can be a compatible ally and an on-task advisor
• initiate dialogue with individuals who might serve on the committee

Overall, dissertation committee members will:

• represent a range of expertise related to a writer's interests and methodological choices
• advise a student throughout the process
• comment on written materials from proposal stage through conclusion of dissertation work

Keep in mind this caveat from a number of resources: shaping your committee need not be driven only by the idea of amassing content experts; rather, consider shaping a committee that includes faculty who will support you in a variety of different ways

1. "Questions to Ask to Help Select an Advisor" will help you consider when to ask for help, what sort of help/response is likely to be most helpful for you, and how to shape roles of committee members

Step 2: Work with your dissertation committee chair to set up your committee

1. take time to come to a clear understanding of why you are selecting each person; how, why & when to interact with the committee throughout the process; and special roles you might need members to take on – for example, maybe one committee member will be "a support editor" who monitors style, formatting and professional standards
2. For a discussion of these points see guidelines at Gallaudet University.

1. For guidance on asking for and obtaining feedback, see two Claremont Graduate University resources
1. "Working with Your Committee"
2. "Obtaining Feedback"

1. "Assuming some independence" as a researcher, writer, and graduate student is part of preparation for professional work in academe. For a host of great ideas, see two resources:
1. "Your Topic, Your Advisor & Your Committee: Making them Work for You"
2. "How to Be a Good Graduate Student"

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