Phase G—Clarification through communication

Goal

"I have clarified the overall progression or argument underlying my research and the written reports I am starting to prepare."

Background

Preparing to communicate about your project does not presuppose that you have finished your planned research. That could continue until the day you submit your final report. Indeed, at the half-way point in the project, you will probably still be refining the direction (Phase A and C) and scope (Phase D and E) of your research. In this phase, which extends for several sessions, you clarify your thinking by preparing to communicate your work-in-progress to others, all the while continuing your research.

Processes

Clarification of the overall structure of your argument
Work-in-progress presentations

• preparing text and visual aids; practicing; delivering; digesting feedback.

Narrative outlining
Exploring your writing preferences to identify strengths and issues to work on.

Overall structure of your argument

In session 8

• Analyze overall structure of argument implicated in previous research project.
• Initial draft of overall structure of your argument or progression of thought.

Work-in-progress presentation

One of the best approaches to clarifying your thinking is to prepare to communicate it to others at a work-in-progress stage and get feedback on your talk.
In session 8

• Draft sequence of visual aids, both to prepare for Work-in-progress presentation and to clarify the structure of your overall argument.

In session 9

• Practice work-in-progress presentation in preparation to give it and to clarify the structure of your overall argument.

In session 10

• Work-in-progress presentation

After session 10

• Digest feedback on Work-in-progress presentation

Building on your work-in-progress presentation, you can start the process of outlining, writing, and revision, all the while continuing your research.
By session 11
Complete a Narrative Outline. Give it a long and descriptive title, not one that is short and cryptic. A descriptive title helps orient your readers as well as keeps you on track as you write. Follow the title by a restatement of your Governing Question and Paragraph Overview. These may need to be revised since your most recent submission. Having all these items at the start of the outline will help you think as you write and help any reader offer well-focused feedback.

Around session 11
Explore your writing preferences and take note of the ways to use knowledge of your preferences.

Follow up

Continue to work on clarifying and refining the overall structure of your argument as you make progress under Phase H, Compelling communication.

All Phases | Next: Phase H--Compelling Communication