Second reader expectations

Read this if you would like me to serve as a thesis second reader

These notes are intended to manage bilateral expectations. In my experience, explicit expectations on both sides make things more efficient and more productive. Timing can be tight at the end of a student’s time at NPS, so part of the purpose here is to help you plan your thesis workflow schedule.

My approach as second reader is to support you in preparing a written thesis consistent with the expectations of the MAE Department, NPS, and the general engineering science academic community. Normally the second reader is not involved regularly with the research, though all NPS faculty are ready to help any student with domain-specific questions. If the second reader is expected to be a regular contributor to the research effort, it is probably more appropriate to modify the role to that of co-advisor.

What I expect

  • You will review my technical writing notes before developing your final draft, and your draft will be free of the common mistakes addressed there.
  • I will be asked to review a final draft of your complete thesis document only after your advisor has reviewed and signed off on the document.
  • You will give me a minimum of one week’s notice of when to expect your completed draft.
  • You will send me the draft electronically as a PDF. Box or OneDrive is best for large files.
  • I will have at least one week to review the document and get it back to you. I will return it electronically with comments and edits.
  • Addressing the comments and edits can typically happen quickly, but you should plan time to make corrections.
  • I do not need to re-review the draft. I expect you will address all the comments, edits, and questions provided, and will ask for clarification if you need more detail on a specific issue.

What you can expect

  • I will be available for specific questions while you work on your research and your thesis.
  • Once I have advance notice of when to expect your draft, I will block out a few hours to review it within one week — hopefully sooner.
  • I will return your draft with electronic notes. My opinions as second reader are secondary to your primary advisor’s guidance; if our recommendations conflict, follow your advisor.
  • Unless I say otherwise on the returned draft, we do not need to meet to go over the comments. They are intended to stand alone, and I assume you will address them all before submitting the final document.
  • If you have questions about the comments, or other follow-up questions, you can schedule time to work together to finalize the draft.