{"id":9190,"date":"2024-05-06T13:19:33","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T17:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/?page_id=9190"},"modified":"2026-02-18T16:30:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T21:30:36","slug":"grad-advising-resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/grad-advising-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Advising Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Preliminary Exams (PE) Question Repository [VT RW Program]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This page is set up so that with each refresh, a preliminary exams question will appear for you to review, analyze, and practice with. The questions repository is a growing database including more than forty actual questions from exams completed since 2019. Each question includes a [notation] identifying the sub-list it was associated with (Foundations, Rhetoric in Society, or Studies in Writing and Communication). Some questions may include specific references to readings that happen <em>not<\/em> to be a part of your readings lists; in such cases, for practice, adapt the question so that, by way of substitution, it refers instead to a question from your list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#dadada\"><strong>Practice Question<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div id=\"q85664\" class=\"quotes-llama-widget-random widget-text wp_widget_plugin_box\"><span class=\"quotes-llama-widget-more\">Drawing on at least four texts from your reading lists, identify and explain two developments in contemporary rhetorical theory that distinguish it from classical rhetorical theory. This might mean identifying an issue in contemporary theory that doesn\u2019t have a precedent in classical theory, and\/or it might mean identifying the ways in which an issue in classical theory has been uniquely developed in contemporary theory. In your response, you should also comment on the usefulness of these developments in rhetoric and writing studies, explaining, for instance, how they allow scholars to ask questions or conduct studies that wouldn\u2019t be possible within the frameworks offered by classical rhetorical theory. [Foundations]<\/span><span class=\"quotes-llama-widget-author\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#dadada\">Refresh your browser for a new question.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Reminders about PEs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A written exam response to one question should be approximately 3,000 words.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to the RW Handbook, written responses to the three exam questions should total about 8,000-10,000 words, or 32-40 pages of writing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scope of the literature review should be about 5,000-8,000 words, or 20-32 pages of writing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exams consist of four questions: two from Foundations (choose one), one from Rhetoric in Society, and one from Studies in Writing and Communication. During the oral exam, you may be asked about the Foundations question you opted not to answer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You will receive your set of questions for the written exam when you turn in the completed literature review. The literature review is based on the specialized reading list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consult the Rhetoric &amp; Writing Handbook for specific policies applicable to the exam process. The Common Date is announced by the RW Director in late summer; the date typically corresponds with Fall Break.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Additional Materials<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/16WikvzbS2N0kGh8Skq3ZuQ-MOLk3bR4It15wjJcwHBQ\/edit?usp=sharing\">Outcomes Questions for CCR Students (Louise Phelps)<\/a><br>Generative questions for research design. Suggested use: Develop informal responses to as many questions as possible over 1-2 hours, then discuss.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Every<\/em> Dissertation Guidance (Collin Brooke)<br>Suggestions relating to process, scale-switching, and sign-posting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1EXZbmSaEZ8aTbTSZ9YulcVh4yveL3g1jFXE8bea7mJc\/edit?usp=sharing\">Questions for Interviews and Job Visits (Derek Mueller)<\/a><br>A set of questions for search committees and\/or administrators in the context of writing programs. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Software<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Software applications are endlessly coming and going; the following leads may be helpful for exploring and deciding upon an appropriate application for a QDA-based study. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>*<a href=\"https:\/\/atlasti.com\/\">Atlas.ti<\/a><br>Robust; thick AI integration; provides use cases for interviews, survey, focus groups, lit reviews, and user research; outstanding tutorials and <a href=\"https:\/\/atlasti.com\/guides\">research guides<\/a>; acquired in 2024 by Lumivero, a Denver-based company<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/delvetool.com\/\">Delve<\/a><br>Minimalist interface, AI integration, small, New York-based company<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maxqda.com\/\">MaxQDA<\/a><br>Suite of visualization tools; comprehensive features (learning curve); AI integration with Tailwind<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>*<a href=\"https:\/\/lumivero.com\/products\/nvivo\/\">NVivo<\/a><br>Claims to be #1 QDA software for 30 years; qualitative and mixed methods studies; industry partners; product from Lumivero; robust training materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many researchers settle into a preference, a go-to application whose affinity may be sourced by the type of research they do, familiarity and fluency with the software, or affordability, including institutional or programmatic support. How, then, should you choose one if you do not already have a preference? Ask around. Talk with your faculty advisor(s), or with people in your field who have recently published QDA-based research. Try it out. After reading about the features, read or watch a tutorial. Download or activate a free trial. Devote an hour or 90 minutes to clicking through a simulation. This will inform your decision as you gain a feeling for the interface and the applications features. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Preliminary Exams (PE) Question Repository [VT RW Program] This page is set up so that with each refresh, a preliminary exams question will appear for you to review, analyze, and practice with. The questions repository is a growing database including more than forty actual questions from exams completed since 2019. Each question includes a [notation]&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9190","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Advising Resources - Earth Wide Moth<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/grad-advising-resources\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Advising Resources - Earth Wide Moth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Preliminary Exams (PE) Question Repository [VT RW Program] This page is set up so that with each refresh, a preliminary exams question will appear for you to review, analyze, and practice with. The questions repository is a growing database including more than forty actual questions from exams completed since 2019. Each question includes a [notation]...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/grad-advising-resources\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Earth Wide Moth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/derek.mueller\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-18T21:30:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/grad-advising-resources\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/grad-advising-resources\\\/\",\"name\":\"Advising Resources - Earth Wide Moth\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-05-06T17:19:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-18T21:30:36+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/grad-advising-resources\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/grad-advising-resources\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/grad-advising-resources\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Advising Resources\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Earth Wide Moth\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/66fc5e80a62f53057760790b1cfeb24b\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/66fc5e80a62f53057760790b1cfeb24b\",\"name\":\"Derek Mueller\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/cropped-bmartwork.png?fit=1220%2C480\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/cropped-bmartwork.png?fit=1220%2C480\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/cropped-bmartwork.png?fit=1220%2C480\",\"width\":1220,\"height\":480,\"caption\":\"Derek Mueller\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.earthwidemoth.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/cropped-bmartwork.png?fit=1220%2C480\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.derekmueller.net\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/derek.mueller\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/dereknmueller\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/dnmueller\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Advising Resources - Earth Wide Moth","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/grad-advising-resources\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Advising Resources - Earth Wide Moth","og_description":"Preliminary Exams (PE) Question Repository [VT RW Program] This page is set up so that with each refresh, a preliminary exams question will appear for you to review, analyze, and practice with. 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You will read about rhetorical, critical, and functional qualities of digital writing while also\u00a0doing\u00a0digital writing first-hand. A guiding motif,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"A circular pizza topped with magical symbols, marinara, and curiosities.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Beast_Surprise_Me_Toppings-232x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7898,"url":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/gallery\/","url_meta":{"origin":9190,"position":1},"title":"Illustrations","author":"Derek Mueller","date":"April 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"In March 2020 and ever since, I have devoted more time to learning illustration by practicing more regularly. I credit many of the invitational setups for this practice to Procreate on an iPad and to a crumpled paper background layer, which adds unexpected shading and an air of imperfection. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9190"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10552,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9190\/revisions\/10552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthwidemoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}