THE PRACTICUM AND
THE MASTER'S PAPER.
April 11, 2014
Should you
1.
2.
3.
4.
Wait until you have a
practicum to decide on a
topic?
Identify a topic before you look
for a practicum?
Ask your Academic Adviser for
a topic?
Ask your Field Supervisor for a
topic?
Does a host organization
1.
2.
3.
4.
Have to provide you with
access to a desk and a
computer?
Need to identify a Field
Supervisor?
Have to agree to fill out two
evaluations of the student?
All of the above.
Once a host organization
offers you practicum, the first
thing you should do is
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ask them for what your salary
will be.
Begin to secure your visa.
Ask them to provide a terms of
reference.
Apply for CPT if you are from
the United States.
The Terms of Reference
should be written by
1.
2.
3.
4.
Your Academic Advisor
You, the student
The Practicum Coordinator
The Host Organization
Practicum students are
required to hand in your
proposal packet by
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
May 12, 2014
July 11, 2014
The last day of the semester
August 28, 2014
A week after they secure a
practicum
Which of the following does not
describe a terms of reference?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
It describes the job and the
conditions
It specifies the hours and
dates of the practicum
It cannot change during the
practicum
It identifies a field supervisor
and her or his contact info
It is used to write the proposal
A case study format
1.
2.
3.
4.
Must be quantitative.
Cannot be quantitative.
Is used when there is much
control over the events.
Is used when the focus is on
contemporary phenomena
within a real life context.
In a case study, evidence is
not usually gathered through
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Documents.
Archival records.
Interviews.
Participant-observation.
Experiments.
Direct observation.
A literature review
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is also known as a annotated
bibliography.
Should be organized by author.
Surveys popular literature such as
newspapers, magazines and “grey”
literature relevant to a specific issue and
provides summaries of each article.
Discusses relevant published information
in a particular subject area and
summarizes and synthesizes points
relevant to the topic(s) providing a critical
and comparative discussion of each
work.
The Proposal does not include
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Proof of health insurance.
The Master’s Second Year
Proposal Approval Sheet.
The Proposal.
The Terms of Reference.
A signed and witnessed
Release and Waiver form.
What is the Relationship
between the Practicum and
the Paper?
1.
2.
3.
4.
The paper does not need to be
based on the practicum.
Students are expected to do a
separate research project.
Students are not supposed to
write the paper during the
hours practicum.
All of the above.
Case Study

Focuses on a defined unit of
study with limited scope
(organizational, geographical,
social, environmental,
programmatic, strategic, etc.).
Case Study


Describes and critically examines the
background, context, and existing
situation of the problem or issue
within the unit of study
Looks at the effectiveness of
responses, strategies, or
management measures in place, if
any, to address the problem or issue.
Case Study


Interprets the results or findings
of the analysis
To reach conclusions that are
underpinned by scientific and
indigenous knowledge and
informed observation.
Case Study


Produces recommendations, best
practices and/or lessons learned to
improve development management
of the problem or issue being
examined.
These recommendations must derive
logically from the conclusions
(results) and may be applied to or
replicated in similar settings or a
larger arena (scaled up).
Support for writing the paper






Academic Advisor
Practicum Coordinator
Other Heller Faculty
Research Librarians
Field Supervisor
Editing support
Think early
 Talk to you tutors, friends

Deadlines for drafts

Suggested dates on p. 1

Work with your advisor


Students should check in with their
Academic Adviser at least once a
month
If not completed by April 6, 2015
 graduation will probably be
delayed
Formal Structure of the
Masters Paper





Cover sheet with the title
Table of contents with page
numbers
Abstract (200-250 words)
Executive summary 1-2 pages
Acknowledgements


Editorial assistance
Abbreviations
Formal Structure of the
Masters Paper

Introduction
The Development Problem
 The Case Study
 Contribution to the Development
Field




Background and Problem
Statement
Methods
Literature Review
Formal Structure of the
Masters Paper




Findings and Substantive
Discussion
Conclusions and Implications
Tables and other Appendices
References

APA Format
Handbook

Formatting Requirements


p. 38
Style Guide
Examples of APA citation
 p. 41


Cover page
Annex IV p. 54
 Option to refrain from publishing

Correct answers to the quiz





1) 2
5) 1
9) 5
12) 3
2) 2
6) 2
10) 4
3) 4
7) 3
11)1
4) 3
8) 4
If you have any questions about
the answers, don’t hesitate to
contact me. KR