Sheri, can you please contact me at information.questions@gmail.com, I have some urgent communication regarding the recent/current situation at your school.

- F.L.

Hi Terry,

You said, "The problem of how much is enough? extends right through the academy to the external examiner. Sometimes even the committee doesn't know the answer!"

This article on preparing doctoral students for the viva, (which we call an oral exam) by J. H. Watts, drives home your point.  Let me say after reading the article, I understand your comment that the oral exam is not a coronation.  Ergo, the inconsistency, mystery, and confusion about the oral exam needs prompt and concerted attention by doctoral educators as Watts argues pleads.  

I like the idea of arranging for a mock oral exam to help doctoral candidates succeed.  All of the work in the doctoral program  winnows into a really important discussion (inquisition) about one document.

Here is a cartoon that expresses the point of excessive grilling in oral exam.

Hi Sheri, I need to contact you urgently regarding the current situation at your school. Please email me at information.questions@gmail.com and do not accept this comment, in other words, do not allow it to appear in your comments section for the public as it has my email address. Thanks.

- F.L.

Hey, that post leaves me feeling foisolh. Kudos to you!
- Letitia