My defense was in a children’s library at CMU’s English department with my committee members. My friend Giggy was able to attend too. It went well. The questions were good. One of the questions almost stumped me. 
And now I don’t remember what the question was, I think I blocked it.
I was asked about my “evolution” as a writer during this process. There were lots of good things said. Let’s see, I was able to explain why I decided not to use quotation marks (a journalism thing). Because although I use dialog in this memoir, I don’t use any quotation marks because most of the dialog is reconstructed from my memory. And as a journalist, it felt wrong to place quotation marks around something I absolutely couldn’t prove was said exactly that way. I also talked about the ways I verified information in my memoir (interviewing siblings and other family members, using printed documents, old journals etc.)
We also talked about my biggest struggle — verb tenses. This was something I screwed up (in my rough drafts), as well as something I played with deliberately. I intentionally wrote some of the scenes as if they were happening right now. Some of the things I used in my memoir I had written a long time ago as part of writing prompts and/or journal entries. Some parts I wrote right after it happened and sometimes I wrote about things that had happened years ago.
I was asked which was my favorite sections, and which part I would most like to read aloud.
The feedback and comments I received were wonderful. All in all, a very good defense. My chair called it a “reflective celebration.”
They asked questions about my writing process, and when it was all over, signed off on my thesis. :0)
And then my committee chair took me out to Big Apple Bagel for a coffee and muffin, which is where he and I had been meeting all along to exchange stuff and discuss my thesis. So it was special.
After I left Big Apple Bagel, I headed over to Staples, made the last necessary changes (a few typos and I needed to write a brief introduction to my annotated bibliography), and when I was done, I had a copy of my thesis printed off at Staples. I. took that over to the grad department and turned in my thesis.
Now, the grad office has about two weeks to review my thesis to make sure it meets their requirements (the requirements for formatting, etc. are something like 36 pages long). I don’t anticipate any problems. When they OK it, the dean of the grad department signs off, and it is OK’d for binding. I have to have at least two copies bound (one copy goes in the college library).
So, barring any major issues with the grad department, I have successfully completed my degree!
I tell you it is anti-climatic. The actual degree won’t be issued until August because that’s the next cycle, and there is no graduation ceremony in August. If I want to participate in a graduation ceremony, I’d have to wait until December’s ceremony. I told my husband we aren’t waiting, we can have the graduation party in June.
And even though I’m “done,” I’m not done. I have to remind my professor to submit my grade for my thesis credit hours. He said he thinks I’ll have to come back down to Mt. Pleasant for that and meet with him and the department dean. He told me he thinks it is a credit/no credit grade.
I’ve applied for graduation. My chair received the results of my application Friday. So what I need to do now is the following:
- Have my thesis grade/credit submitted by my professor.
- Once the grad department approves my thesis, I need to have it bound.
- That’s it!
And now I get to enjoy my summer vacation.
Oh wait, I’m teaching this summer. The next semester starts June 6.
And now I get to enjoy my week off. Yes, I know there are technically 12 days between now and June 6, but I need to prepare my course materials so they are ready and waiting for my students. 
Thanks for playing.
