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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">Recognizing that this is a busy time for most of us, I acknowledge the timing of this research invitation is not ideal, but I’m hopeful this might interest some of you. I’m happy to accommodate your schedule if you are willing to participate
in a focus group highlighting graduate student perspectives on doctoral examinations in our field.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">I am a PhD candidate at Purdue University conducting dissertation research on doctoral exams in rhetoric and composition and technical and professional communication as they relate to professionalization and disciplinarity. As part
of this project, I am interested in listening to experiences of PhD students who have completed their doctoral exams, which for the purposes of this study are defined as the exams PhD students take prior to candidacy (e.g. comprehensive, preliminary, qualifying,
field). To that end, I am recruiting participants to take part in focus groups conducted via zoom.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="color:black">Participation in this study is voluntary.</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">Each 60-minute focus group will be comprised of current PhD students who have completed their exams. To promote a more equitable space for discussion that attends to all standpoints, these focus groups will use brave spaces ground
rules (Arao and Clemens, 2013) and a progressive stack approach to speaking order if more than one participant wishes to speak at a time.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color:#404040">Participation is voluntary, reported results
will be de-identified, and you are free to leave the study at any time.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040">If you are a) at least 18 years old, b) a PhD student or candidate in rhetoric and composition, technical and professional writing, or a related field and c) you have completed your doctoral exams, you are invited to participate
in a zoom-based focus group with 3-4 graduate students from other institutions. If you use the Qualtrics form (linked below) to indicate that you are willing to participate in this research and you will be contacted to schedule a focus group meeting. Participants
will receive a list of discussion questions before the 60-minute Zoom meeting. </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040">Link to recruitment form:</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4NOg9eTThYLCur4"><span style="color:#954F72">https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4NOg9eTThYLCur4</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040">For questions, or if you would like additional information to assist you in reaching a decision about participation, please feel free to contact me at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:murph355@purdue.edu"><span style="color:#954F72">murph355@purdue.edu</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:#404040"> </span></span><span style="color:#404040">or
my dissertation advisor, Dr. Michael Salvo, at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:salvo@purdue.edu"><span style="color:#954F72">salvo@purdue.edu</span></a>.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040;background:white"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">This study, titled “Doctoral Exams and Disciplinarity in Rhetoric and Composition – Interviews and Focus Groups”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color:#404040;background:white">has been reviewed by Purdue
University's Institutional Research Board (IRB# 2021-340). If you have questions, they can be reached at (765)-494-5942 or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:irb@purdue.edu"><span style="color:#954F72;background:white">irb@purdue.edu</span></a></span><span style="color:#404040;background:white">.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040;background:white"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040;background:white">Thank you for your time and consideration in participating in this research.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040;background:white">Sincerely,</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040">Ryan Michael Murphy</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:murph355@purdue.edu"><span style="color:#954F72">murph355@purdue.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#404040">PI/Advisor: Michael Salvo</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:salvo@purdue.edu"><span style="color:#954F72">salvo@purdue.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif;color:black">----------</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:Optima;color:#203864">Ryan Michael Murphy</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif;color:black">PhD candidate in Rhetoric & Composition</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif;color:black">Purdue University | Department of English<br>
<a href="mailto:murph355@purdue.edu">murph355@purdue.edu</a></span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif;color:black"><a href="https://ryanmurphy.org/">ryanmurphy.org</a></span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif;color:black">Pronouns: he/him/his</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif;color:black">----------</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">Reference:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Arao, B., & Clemens, K. (2013). From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice. In L. M. Landreman (Ed.),<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The
Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections from Social Justice Educators</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(First edition, pp. 135–150). Stylus Publishing, LLC ; ACPA.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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