Reflect on where you are currently in the process of finishing your first three chapters. 

QUESTION 1: Consider whether you are done with your portfolio and, if not, what plans you have to complete it and schedule your defense.

ANSWER 1: I have been working on my Portfolio (in a Word document) and am working on putting it into a virtual portfolio format. I plan on finishing it by Friday (4-29-23) and will request a Portfolio Defense for some time in May whenever my esteemed committee members can fit me in.

QUESTION 2: Think through what you are currently considering in terms of the timeline for dissertation completion. Given your reflection on the potential unexpected challenges (e.g., storms, COVID), have you altered your planning?

ANSWER 2: No, I am following the slow and steady approach.

Chapter 3 was the most difficult part because it was about designing the dissertation’s research aspect with all the bells and whistles. I had difficulties thinking through all the pieces, how they would fit together, and how they would be structured. I finally submitted it with the final words – TO BE CONTINUED…

Chapters 1 and 2 should be easier because they tell a story of why I want to pursue that direction in my research, what others have done in the past, where we are now relevant to their findings, and what I am trying to discover. Chapter 1 tells why I chose that topic and what I hope to find. Chapter 2 tells the history of all the pieces involved in the dissertation, who did what, what they found out, and where we should go.