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Most doctoral students are terrified of the dissertation defence– and rightly so! The dissertation defence is one of the most important moments that doctoral students will ever experience in their life. In this blog, we will discuss how to excel at PhD dissertation defence and list down some tips to help you prepare for a successful oral defence.
Understanding the Dissertation Defence: An Overview of the Purpose and Process
Dissertation defence or thesis defence is an opportunity provided to researchers in which they can defend their research study to the academic professionals who are in charge of evaluating their academic work. The student will share and demonstrate to the academic professional that they have done work of sufficient quality to receive the doctoral degree and is able to speak to it in an open forum.
What Are The Expectations of Committee Members?
For a doctoral student, choosing the dissertation committee is one of the most important decisions. However, to put together your dissertation committee you need to understand what you should expect from committee members.
The basic function of your dissertation committee is to guide you through the whole dissertation writing process from proposal to revising your research. Moreover, the purpose of committee members is to act as mentors who will provide constructive feedback on your writing and research in order to help you make it perfect before submission.
How to Choose Members for the Dissertation Committee?
- Avoid going for popular and eminent faculty members
- Ask your senior for feedback on the people you have shortlisted maybe they have worked with them and can help you in making a decision
- Choose someone approachable whenever you need them
- Choose someone you know very well
- Members of your committee can become your future mentor and co-authors, so choose them wisely while keeping your future in mind.
Who Attends The Dissertation Defence?
The dissertation defence is attended by the doctoral student and their dissertation committee members. Committee members can be physically present or they can also opt for attending it via conference call if the logistics of attendance make it difficult to schedule their presence.
Any interested members of the academic or professional community are welcome to attend dissertation defences. Individuals who are not part of the official committee will not be allowed to participate in any other parts of the defence other than the presenting and questioning portions.
The doctoral candidate can invite personal guests, however, they should get approval from the committee ahead of time.
Preparing for the Oral Defence: Essential Steps to Get Ready for the Big Day
Use the tips outlined below to prepare for your dissertation defence and pass with flying colours:
Understand the Defence Format
An important step in preparing for the dissertation defence is to make sure that you clearly understand what will happen during it and what will happen afterwards. The format for dissertation defence varies among countries and universities. One of the biggest mistakes doctoral students make is that they assume what the defence will be like while they haven’t attended one at all before (if you get an opportunity to attend a defence session please do so, it will help you greatly) or read the doctoral regulations carefully. Ask your supervisor about what to expect as well as read the regulations carefully to understand the process.
Outline the Parts You Will Present
Carefully read your research and make an outline of the main and supporting points. introduce your project in the opening sentence, the question your research is based on, the methods you have used to acquire data and the results that you achieved. Also, remember to include how your results are significant to the field of study.
Talk to Colleagues Who Have Successfully Defended Their Dissertations
Using this approach, you can discover the defence’s dynamics and how your country or university conducts its defence sessions. When the time comes for you to defend your dissertation, the experiences of others may make you feel more at ease.
Anticipating and Addressing Potential Questions
As stated previously, each university has a different way of handling the dissertation defence process. It is also important to remember that your dissertation is unique and your defence of it will be unique too. You will get asked questions that you won’t expect, maybe you will be asked to answer questions that you haven’t anticipated at all.
Therefore, it’s crucial that you take some time to consider the questions that your committee can pose and lay out how you might respond to any issues they might bring up. Consider the primary elements you want to cover in your response to the question, just as you would when preparing the introduction.
Practise, Practise and PRACTISE!
As you prepare for the dissertation defence, don’t just write what you plan to say during your presentation. Stand in front of the mirror and practise out loud to get comfortable with the flow of ideas. Practising like this can help you feel less anxious in front of the committee and you may be able to anticipate how others will respond to your thoughts.
Exude Professionalism and Confidence
You have spent hours and months on this dissertation, no one knows the content better than you. You should keep this in mind when speaking in front of the committee. We understand that it is normal to feel nervous and anxious when presenting in front of a highly-credential committee, but they are not as well-versed as you are in your topic. Be sure to speak in a manner that is understandable, formal and professional. Try not to be too specific to your field or use terminology that is only relevant to your field.
Important Do’s and Don’ts of the Oral Defence
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Concentrate on the main points of your dissertation | Don’t read from your notes |
| Try to spend equal time on each section when presenting | Don’t use field-specific terminologies a lot |
| Be prepared to clarify your statement and for unexpected questions as well | Don’t focus too much on one part |
| Think carefully before answering or addressing any questions or issues the committee may ask | Don’t try to tell every detail |
| Stay completely honest while answering questions | Don’t speak too fast. |
Remember that no one knows your dissertation as well as you do, so use that to your advantage and try not to be nervous. Good luck!
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