PhD Coursework- Sessions, Learning and Examination

Dear Readers and researchers,

As in this summer vacation 2019, I read for my PhD research, I look back to my last summer vacation, 2018 when I had my extensive  PhD coursework reading and Exam. In this blog I share my learning experiences and research activities I had completed during my PhD coursework at Department of English. Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University,  Bhavnagar (India) during  2017-18. Though I am writing this blog almost after a year, I am writing on the basis of  the documents filed at the department, online records in the form of reporting and communication through e-mail, WhatsApp and Facebook, last years' calendar, my study diary and recalling various events/ activities as coursework left lasting impression on my mind and memory.

1. Importance of Coursework to Orient for PhD Research:- PhD research requires subject knowledge, conceptual clarity of one's  research area, new development and research thrust, research aptitude, appropriate methodology, critical thinking, analytical skills and creative insight of interpretation, which is the very core element in literary research, observation and generalization, well-outlined research plan, access to authentic study-sources, academic writing skills, use of technology, dedication, discipline, hard-work, time-management and co-ordination between scholar-supervisor. PhD Coursework orients the student for the role of a research scholar. The coursework prepares solid foundation upon which to base quality research. The candidate with M.Phil degree are exempted from coursework and can directly undertake the research. As I did not have M.Phil,  I underwent the coursework which matured and prepared me physically, mentally, psychologically, intellectually, academically and technologically for my doctoral research. My coursework was conducted at Department of English, MKBU  and it was such an enriching and illuminating experience for me that I do not have slightest regret about not to pursue M. Phil before PhD. Rather I felt fortunate that I was not exempted from coursework and that I could learn and develop in truest sense.

Duration of Coursework:- I was registered for PhD by Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji, Bhavnagar University under the Supervision of Prof. Dr. Dilip P Barad, Professor and Head, Department of English, MKBU on 23rd June, 2017. My coursework continued in SEM 1 and 2 from 30/06/2017 to 14/05/ 2018.

Coursework during SEM 1 :-( 23/06/2017-22/12/2017)

• In the very first month of PhD registration I prepared and submitted a research paper to SLIET, Punjab which was selected for ISBN publication as a book " Narrative on Disabled: Cinema and Literature". ( There will be separate post on Publication.)
• Searching reading sources  through Google, online Libraries, Amazon/ Flipcart etc.
• Identifying study sources for coursework
• Procuring study sources through University Library as well as through Amazon/ Flipcart on personal capacity. 
• On the basis of searched and identified sources, my guide Prof Barad sir finalized the syllabus for Paper 2 and 3. There were 3 papers -1. Research Methodology and the syllabus is prepared by Uni which is common for all scholars. 2.- Basics of Relevant Subject ( In literary research , here we study theoretical background of our research subject through secondary source reading. 3. - Specialization required for the Purpose to conduct Research.( Here we study primary source of our Literary research). The process of finalizing syllabus had my voice and choice of sources I considered important and wanted to learn. 
• Reading of  primary/ secondary sources and making notes 
• On 18 Dec, 2017 presented a paper in International Conference HEND organized by SSCCM, MKBU, Bhavnagar in association with Jan, Wyzykowski University, Poland ( There will be separate post on conferences participated and papers presented.)
• Also submitted abstract which was accepted  to present a paper in 62nd  All India English Teachers' Conference AIETC at Osmania University , Hyderabad during 18-20 Jan, 2018.
•  On completion of Term 1 submitted Progress Report about research activities undertaken in SEM 1.

Coursework during SEM 2:- 

• Participated and presented a paper in 62nd all India English Teachers' Conference AIETC at Osmania University , Hyderabad during 18-20 Jan, 2018. The participants came from renowned universities from different states of India. It truly  provided academic environment of interaction and sharing platform for new researchers. Research presented and discussed by prominent senior researchers were enlightening for our future research path. 
• Immediately after returning from Hyderabad conference, I just read  through Facebook Post about a National Conference by Global Association of  English Studies at H. M Patel Institute of English Training & Research, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat on 2-3 Feb, 2019 which captured  my attention and interest and with extensive work for a week I could prepare a research paper and submitted to the conference through Absentia as it was difficult to get relieved from my college. Three successive conference papers in DEC, 2017 and Jan-Feb, 2018 boosted my confidence and charged me with energy and aspiration for  my ongoing research work. 

Attending Coursework sessions at Department of English:- 

 coursework session conducted by Prof Dilip Barad sir
18/02/2018

Technical Session by Vaidehi Hariyani
14/04/2018

With the admission of new PhD batch 2018, Coursework teaching and counselling sessions were organized on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from Feb, 2018 onward at Dept. of English at MKBU.  We were 5 research scholars to attend PhD coursework:  Myself. Vaidehi Hariyani,  Mr Vipul  Bhuptani, Mr. Harish Mahuvakar and Mr. Divakar Upadhyay.  Hirva Vora, though she had completed her M.Phil and exempted from Coursework, also attended almost all Coursework sessions.The sessions were conducted by Prof. Dr. Dilip Barad sir and Dr. Gaijan sir. Through e-mail and WhatsApp group we were informed about the schedules well in advance. Barad sir shared blogs for reading content and activities to be done before attending the classes or during the classes. Coursework sessions included- (1) theoretical discussion of Research Methodology,  (2) practical sessions with demonstration and activities to be completed with the use of technology and (3) individual guidance and counselling to each scholar. The highlights of the key-note sessions are as follows, which were very vital for me to develop my basic understanding about Research Methodology and Literary Research:

• On 18/02/2018 we learnt searching online sources, citing the sources as well as in-text citation as per MLA 7 style, checking authenticity of our online sources through Source Educational Evaluation Rubric( SEER). Then followed preparing Table of Content and Indexing for Keywords. All these 5 points were first demonstrated and then we were given tasks to be completed on the spot so that any problem in understanding or using technology can be solved immediately. The entire session was conducted by Prof Barad sir. Here I first time used my Lenovo Yoga 520 convertible laptop I had specially purchased for the purpose of my PhD study.
• On 24-25/02/2018 sessions were conducted by both Prof Barad sir and Dr. Gaijan sir. Dr Gaigan sir discussed fundamentals of research, nature of literary research, research objectives, quality research, ethics in research and research types.The sessions became live with interesting examples and interaction. Barad sir in his session explained us Ontological and Epistemological bases of research and formulating hypothesis,, literature review and its importance, salient characteristics of Literature Review, ideal writing of Literature Review, Plagiarism, how to avoid it and using Plagiarism checker Urkund. We were given the task to be completed by next week,  to online  search secondary sources and write brief literature review on selected  3 articles demonstrating  appropriate trajectory  in our research subject.
• On 3-4/03/2018 were individual counselling sessions with each scholar on Literature Review activity. I had drafted my literature review based  on 3 articles which I  discussed with my PhD guide Prof. Dilip Barad sir.         
• (1) showing historical survey of the perspectives towards disabled in different culture, society and at different times emphasizing age-old discrimination, isolation and deprivation                                                     
• (2) The advancement in science and medicine had treated disability on individual level as personal tragedy, life-long dependence on health care services and non-expert people constructing medical myth about the disabled and shortcomings of Medical Model pointed out by disabled people themselves  and their views and voice to themselves in relationship with society paving way to Social Model of Disability                                      
• (3) Challenges and Limitations of Social Model of Disability Studies and need for Interdisciplinary approaches.  Barad sir appreciated my draft with his comment as " well written with appropriate trajectory". On 4 March there was independent reading at the Department.
• on 10/ 03/ 2018 in his Session Dr. Gaigan sir discussed different methods of research, research plan and salient characteristics of Literary research. Through my question I gained clarity about descriptive and exploratory writing in literary research. Sir also gave us a task to write 3-4 paragraphs on any one character from our primary sources to be completed by next class. 

• On 27/03/2018  as per the schedule, before the students of M.A. at the Department of English I presented my presentations as a part of Internal Test component of coursework. I presented 3 presentations each one in Paper 1 Research Methodology, Paper 2 Basics of Relevant Subject and Paper 3 Specialization required to conduct the Research from 5. p.m. to 6 p.m. At the end of presentation students asked the questions and there was meaningful interaction. They came to know about disability in literature for the first time as academic discipline. Thereafter Prof. Barad sir with his appreciation also gave valuable feedback to direct and motivate my research. The presentations are shared on slideshare.net and also through my very first blog -post. 
• On  02/04/2018 on invitation from Barad sir, I attended PhD viva of  Mr. Arpit Dave  who completed  his PhD under the supervision of Dr. M B Gaijan sir. His PhD subject was Translations on Rigved and his presentation showed his thorough understanding of subject. At the end, I also asked him a question and participated the process of PhD open viva.
• On 14-15/04/2018 there were technical sessions guided by Prof. Barad sir and conducted by Vaidehi Hariyani. There were  demonstration and  practical sessions to create blog and Digital Portfolio on google site. We all PhD scholars were instructed to upload our coursework activities, assignment/presentations, conference and paper publication and other course of research development on our blog and then on Digital Portfolio. Both Vaidehi Hariyani and Hirva Vora gave me personal demonstration and assisted in creating Digital Portfolio. I already had created my Blog in the year 2016 during FDP at my College, GEC Bhavnagar in the technical sessions conducted by Mahesh Jivani sir, Electronics Department, Saurashtra Uni and Prof Barad sir., though I had not used my blog to share or upload any content. 
• On 14/ 05/ 2018    I had guidance session  with my guide Prof Barad sir in which I discussed some difficulties in understanding several concepts and queries regarding Paper 1, 2 and 3. 
• As per the schedule I appeared for internal Test on 19/05/2018 in all 3 papers on same day.  There was Term- end Exam for Paper 1, 2, and 3 on 20-21-22/05/2018 at the Department of English. As I had prepared well for exam with almost 3 weeks profound  reading in summer vacation I wrote papers well. I was writing such descriptive exam after almost three and half years. In the beginning I was feeling exam  anxiety but exam was conducted with such environment at department that anxiety turned into enthusiasm to write exams. 
• On 23/05/2018  I submitted Assignments for Paper 1, 2 and 3. 
• On 9-10 /06/2018  we had guidance session on different evaluation components for Coursework. I was instructed by Prof Barad sir to submit  brief Literature Review writing based on  Model Literature Review Writing content sir had shared with us through mail.  To prepare the table of searched and identified sources was a huge and time consuming task. I almost worked 8-10 hrs for 10 days to prepare Literature Review activity.
• On 22/06/ 2018  with Progress  Report for Term 2 I submitted Literature Review activity to complete Coursework for me. The  brief  Literature  Review Writing will be shared through separate post. 
• On 29/ 06 /2018 MKB University issued the Marksheet of   PhD coursework completion with 79%. It was satisfying moment  for me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
• On 02/07/2018, on instruction by the Department of English, I attended PhD open Viva of Ms. Shagufta Thakor who completed her PhD under the supervision of Dr. M B Gaijan sir on the subject of Autobiographies by eminent Dalit writers. I also asked the question about the effect of social injustice and discrimination on personal relationship as I could relate it with my PhD subject of Disability and Literature.  In the evening I also attended Pre-PhD viva of Ms Namrata Vyas ,the research scholar under Prin. Hetal Mehta Madam in the area of Feminism. She was given several recommendation by Department Research Committee (DRC) to modify her thesis and to strengthen the conclusion to improve the quality of research. Inviting current research scholars at Pre-PhD viva is academically very healthy practice as we can learn to avoid and overcome the mistakes and errors our senior PhD scholars may have done.   
• On 15/07/2018 We had the schedule of Progress Report presentation before DRC. I felt motivated as several of my slides, Conference Participation,  Literature Review activity were shown as Model examples  to the other scholars and I received good feedback and encouragement for my research work.  I shared my coursework presentation on slideshare.net and on blog.                                                                                                                              
•  On 09/08/2018 As a part of NAAC Accreditation of MKBU,  there was a meeting  of University's research scholars with MAAC Peer Team held at University Admin Building at 5. 30  in which various range of questions were asked by committee members.  As a research scholar from Arts Faculty, I  shared my views and experience of pursuing research in   " unexplored area" at Department of English.                                     
•  Though my coursework was over, I still continued to attend the coursework  sessions going on at the Department for the scholars of Batch 2018 as I found these classes very useful  to develop further understanding about my literary research.
• On 22& 25/08/2018 There were sessions by Prof Barad sir on topics from The Art of Literary Research by Richard Altick: The spirit of Scholarship and Scholar's Life. The topics like academic language and Research Plan and Report Draft were also discussed with references from current academic climate in India and worldwide. Thereafter the schedule of internal test, Presentation and Term-end Exam was fixed for batch 2018 scholars.        
•    In this way entire duration of coursework remained very fertile and enlightening for me from starting to learn ABC of research to developing sound clarity about Research Methodology and nature of Literary Research along with reading and  understanding different disability theories and applying them to literature. Despite very busy schedule, my research guide Prof Barad sir always spared time whenever I needed personal guidance. Sir also shared several important reading resources both in Research Methodology as well as in Disability Studies through e-mail and WhatsApp. In the case of inability of in person meeting at the Department, I communicated my queries through mails and also updated sir about my research work and conference participation/ paper publication through mail as well as Facebook.  sir's behaviour is  quite student-friendly as well as always appreciating and encouraging smallest of our research achievements, and we  could always freely contact him whenever we needed necessary guidance. We all the research scholars had sharing and interaction of our ongoing reading and even challenges we were facing. Among us we built very warm and co-operative relations which can contribute to better quality research. I also learned many new things/ platforms regarding use of technology in research as peer-learning from both co-researchers Vaidehi Hariyani and Hirva Vora.          
• "Work a lot during coursework which will direct the course of your research."