Tis the season to write abstracts

 For my dissertation, I think I’d like to (examine, explore, analyze, interrogate, etc) the (phenomenon, question, practice, etc.) of (state your “object," here.)

 (An example: "For my dissertation, I'd like to examine the phenomenon of Latinas in the United States who blog.")


(An example: “Although Media Studies scholars have been writing about bloggers for some time now, Latina bloggers are a relatively new phenomenon, and deserve further study in their own right.”)


 I’ve been interested in my topic (since we began class, for a few years now, all my life, yesterday.) To tell the truth, I have (a great deal, none, some) personal experience with the issues I’m bringing up here, experience which I (may, will not, not sure) bring up in the course of this project.
 
 (An example: "Although I am Latina myself, I only became interested in Latina studies two years ago, and in Latinas who blog (I am one) only recently. Although I know I draw on my contacts in the blogging world I cannot say yet how much personal information I will use for this project.")
 

  Out of all the many directions one could take this topic, I’m particularly interested in (detailing, considering, exploring, etc) the issue (s) of (one or two particular features of your object/question goes here.)
 
 (An example: "Of the many directions one could take this topic, I’m particularly interested in considering how and in what contexts Latinas switch from English to Spanish in their writing. What do these switches signify for those who engage in them, and for those reading them? How do these switches work as part of a larger performance of Latin blogger identity and community, online? ")
 

 To think about my material in greater depth, I refer to (name a writer, here)’s work on (name a topic, here) and (name a writer, here)’s work on (name a topic, here.) 


 (An example: "To think about my material in greater depth, I refer to Gloria Anzaldua's work on border cultures as well as Cherri Moraga's work on authenticity and Latina voice.
 

(An example: "Although Anzaluda’s work remains critical for anyone studying Latina identity, her thoughts need updating to remain relevant to time dominated by Internet communications. Likewise, I believe the addition of internet links and non-Latin voices on Latina blogs might complicate Moraga’s observations about Latina authenticity through writing.")

From initial analysis and reading, my hypothesis around this topic is as follows: (state your hypothesis here)
 
(An example: "Literature on Latina self-expression indicates that more than other cultural groups, Latinas use writing to represent both their lived and imagined identities. I believe that Latina bloggers will likewise straddle these two categories of identity (lived and imagined), and also perhaps add a third category, which I tentatively call ‘digital Latina identity.” )
 

 To test this hypothesis, I plan to (look, listen, attend, talk to) the following (performances, documents, people, etc.)

9. Explain your methodology
 

Methodologically, I plan to (explain your methodology, here.) The sorts of questions I will be asking as I conduct my research are as follows: (name your questions, here.)
 
An example: My methodological plan is as follows: First, I will be conducting a semiotic analysis of the colors, fonts and images on these sites. Second, I’ll be conducting a discourse analysis of the blogs, focusing specifically on discussions that have taken place in the following venues:

·       “What is Latina anyway” (Discussion on  Verdadero begun  2/30/09)
·       “We’re not all Sexpots” (Discussion on Real Latina begun 1/15/09)
  “Anyone else here love their Abuela?” (Discussion on TL begun 10/3/09)


Example: "The primary question of my semiotic analyses will be: What sorts of visual cues do each of these sites have in common, and what sorts of images do bloggers chose to indicate that their site has a Latina identity? The primary question of my discourse analysis is, “At what times and for what reasons do users on Latina blogs switch from English to Spanish? How do these switches function as tactical strategies of identity and community making in the Latina community, and how are they interpreted by those who find Latina sites through the greater internet?"
 

FINALLY, THIS DOESN’T GO IN THE ABSTRACT, BUT:
 

  Although I’m generally enthusiastic about the subject matter I’ve chosen for my final paper/project, I still have a number of lingering questions about how to proceed in order to turn in a strong final product. My questions are: (state your questions). Here are the steps I’m am going to try to take to address those questions (state your steps.)


    (For example, "Although I’m generally enthusiastic about the subject matter I’ve chosen for my final paper/project, I still have a number of lingering questions about how to proceed in order to turn in a strong final product. My questions are: is a mere textual analysis of English/Spanish use sufficient to make claims about Latina blogger identity? What if I coupled textual analysis of blogs with ethnographic interviews of bloggers themselves? To address these questions, I am going see what Terri thinks. I'm also going to ask her for resources on the practice of interviewing on the internet.")
 

 
 
Final Abstract Template
 
Tentative Title: (title, here)
Name: (your name here)
 
This dissertation (examines, explores, analyzes, interrogates, etc) the (phenomenon, practice, event, etc.) of (your “object” goes here.) As a research topic, mine is a timely one for the fields of Media Studies and Cultural Studies because: (state your reason here.) My personal relationship to this material is  (state your personal relationship here.) Elements of this of this research that are of particular interest to me are:  (detail one or two questions/observations/etc, here.) Throughout this project, I rely on a number of critical frames, including the work of  (writer) on (subject); (writer) on (subject); and (writer) on (subject.) While I find (writer #1)’s observations regarding (subject) to be important when considering my topic, I think these observations need to be (broadened, altered, updated, etc.) for the following reasons: ­­­­­­­­­­­________________ (state reasons here.) Likewise, (stick writer #2’s thoughts that are important but need to be added to or altered in light of your research project. ) Given what has been written around this topic so far and my preliminary thoughts on the matter, my working hypothesis is (state your hypothesis here.) I plan to test this hypothesis by (explain precisely what materials you will be looking at, here.) Using (name your methodology here), I’ll be posing questions such as: (name one or two questions you’ll be asking as you look at your materials.)