How To Do a Proper Thesis

Defense Using the Right

PowerPoint Presentation
PRESENTATION TIPS • JULY 12TH, 2018

Writing a thesis is stressful but preparing an oral defense can be

even more painful.
But it doesn’t have to be, with proper preparation and a good
presentation you will be able to better equip yourself come time to
present your thesis defense.

But what makes a good thesis defense?

A proper presentation helps you with your thesis defense because it

helps you to capture the panels attention and give you cues and
reminders on what to say as well.

It also helps keep your data organized, while visually looking good
and provides a ow structure for the rest of your presentation.

In today’s article we will be giving you The Right PowerPoint

Templates for Your Thesis Defense and a powerful outline
composed of best practices and layouts are speci cally designed to
help you defend your thesis in both written and oral presentation.

On the next segments of this article, we’ll walk you through the most
feasible process on how to ace this kind of presentation.

Let’s dive into the outline of what makes a great thesis defense.

1. Thesis Defense Overview

2. Thesis and Dissertation Distinguished
Similarities
Type of Degree
Purpose
Thesis and Dissertation Distinction Varies on Location
3. Three Most Common Thesis Defense Myths
4. Structure and Slides Content
Title Page
Introduction
Literature Review
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
5. Tips During Your Oral Defense
6. More Quick Tips on How to Present!
Thesis Defense Overview
A thesis defense is composed of two parts – a thesis and a defense.

Thesis, according to Grad School Hub, represents a student’s

collective understanding of his or her program and major.

Universities often include a thesis in every course as one of the nal

requirements to earn a particular graduate or postgraduate degree.

Thesis, however, isn’t just a mere requirement.

It helps the students to grow out of their shell from their respective
discipline and give them the opportunity to present all their ndings
of their study.

Moreover, some people think a thesis is just a long essay but it’s not.
Unlike an essay, a thesis needs to assert something.

This can be considered as one of the most crucial research

documents which a student makes during their academic schooling.

On the other hand, a defense is the presentation of the pieces of

evidence to support and prove your research.

It’s the most essential part of the thesis process.

Your presentation has to be prepared to answer question from

members of the committee and any other panel present, and it’s
your job to convince them and defend your thesis with ample proof.

Prior to presenting you have to carefully determine what

appropriate evidence should be presented before the panel
depending on what thesis you have to defend.

Thesis and Dissertation

Distinguished
A thesis or dissertation is usually required to complete a particular
graduate degree. And these two words are often used
interchangeably by most students when referring to research
studies.

But while being almost similar in format or structure, it’s worth to

note that they have signi cant di erences that set them apart from
each other.

Similarities
The very reason why thesis and dissertation are treated the same is
that these two are both extensive papers. Not just merely long
essays like what others are claiming.
Both of these papers are extensive. Which is why students are given
ample time, usually the entire last semester at the last year of study,
to complete all the requirements and nally acquire their degree.

With regards to structure, both papers are very similar with few
di erences.

Di erences Between Thesis and Dissertation

One of the signi cant di erences of the two is to whom the paper is
assigned. A thesis is usually required for those students earning a
bachelor’s or master’s degree. While a dissertation is for those who
want to obtain a doctorate degree.

However, not all students taking a master’s degree are required to

make a thesis. Prior to their enrollment, they have been given a
choice whether they’ll go for a non-thesis program or with a thesis.

Those who have a plan to escalate their degree to doctorate,

eventually should take the path of with thesis. This is to prepare
themselves for a more extensive dissertation requirement as
doctorate students. Otherwise, they will be only limited to earn a
master’s degree.

Purpose
But above all, the most signi cant di erence between the two
papers is the purpose for which it is written.

A thesis, like what has been mentioned above, is being done by

students obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree and has the
purpose of testing their understanding of the discipline they’re
engaged with.

A thesis is focused on obtaining technical expertise.

On the other hand, a dissertation is made for students to come up

with an original study that hasn’t already been studied by other
researchers.
Thesis and Dissertation Distinction Varies on
Location
USA: In the United States of America, they consider thesis as shorter
than a dissertation. In fact, aside from being a requirement to
graduate in college, a thesis is now also inculcated in master’s
degree programs. And since dissertation is more extensive, the
thesis is treated as preliminary in gaining a doctorate degree.

Europe: The distinction between the two papers is almost opposite

to that of the USA. In Europe, a dissertation is only a broader
research study from a post-graduate program and not the making of
original research. Instead, educational systems in the said continent
treat the doctoral thesis as a more elaborate paper writing.

The di erence between a thesis and a dissertation might not seem

that big, but it’s important that we know what makes them di erent.

Three Most Common Thesis

Defense Myths
If your upcoming defense gives you pressure and uneasiness, it
could be cause you are not sure what to expect. Today we will dispel
three common thesis defense myths that will help you be more
con dent in your presentation.

Myth #1
“Answer all the questions correctly. Otherwise, you’re thesis won’t
get approved.”

You are expected to have a focus on your research.

That being said, you have to study each part of your thesis, every
detail, and even your sources.

You have to study and practice how to e ectively deliver your

presentation.

But don’t overthink to the extent that you’re stressing yourself to

know everything perfectly.

Don’t overstress if can’t answer one of the questions, this doesn’t

necessarily mean the committee won’t approve your thesis.

You should know that research is a continuous study.

So you should expect that your committee will always be able to nd

a gap in your study to ll in the future related researches.

So in times you don’t exactly know the answer, admit it and you’ll
learn as they give their sides or suggestions.

Making up an answer will only displease your committee, so it’s be to

be upfront, honest and transparent.

Myth #2
“The committee is just there to nd holes in your study. They don’t
care about you.”

One of the typical descriptions students have of the committee, is

that they are just there to poke holes in your thesis.

Going in with this perspective makes standing before them a nerve-

wracking experience.

Relax.

They’re not your enemy.

In fact, they are there to help you polish your study.

They might challenge you with di cult suggestions and tricky

questions.
In the end, they will walk you through the process to come up with
better results that won’t only bene t you but also your research.

They care about you and your study, and they’re ultimately there to
make your thesis and the research better.  Seperate yourself from
your work and look at it objectively and don’t take their comments
personal.

Myth #3
“If your thesis defense isn’t successful, you have to start your thesis
all over again”

An unsuccessful defense is one of the worst case fears most

students have.

One thing that you should be aware of is when you aren’t able to
please your committee, you don’t need to start a new thesis again or
go back at square one with your existing paper.

It’s unusual that your committee will ask you to change your topic
and start from scratch again.

The fact that you’ve been permitted to defend your study that
means your research is almost complete.

They might suggest further details or ask you for minor revisions
and that’s normal.

But overall, you need to go into this defense thinking that your
presentation will be successful, otherwise you are already setting
yourself up for failure with the wrong mindset.

Remember that positive thoughts attract positive results.

Looking For A Beautiful Premade Thesis PowerPoint Template?  

Check Our Thesis Templates From SlideModel.com Below

Presentation Structure and Slides

Content
1 – Title Page
This slide should contain the information that is provided on the title
page of your hard copy
 The title of your research paper
Your name
Where you are studying
Name and details of your course
Name of Adviser

2 – Introduction
Your introduction slide should provide the committee an idea of the
following:

What is the topic area that you are investigating?

What are the speci c research questions that you set out to
answer?
Why is this question important to answer?
What were the objectives of your research?

3 – Literature review
It’s not necessary to cover everything that’s currently understood in
the available literature. You may want to present the following:
 Relevant current research that is close to your topic
Di erent theories that may apply to your speci c area of
research
Areas of weakness that are currently highlighted

4 – Methodology
Make sure to touch the factors below within your process:

The type of study you have conducted: qualitative, quantitative,

or mixed
The methods that you chose and why
Details of the population, sampling methods, and other
information
Provide information regarding how you have analyzed the data
that you have collected

5 – Results
This part should give the committee / audience a good
understanding of what you’ve discovered during your research. It
should cover the following:
 An overall description of the data that you collected during your
research
The results of the analysis that you have done on that data
What were the most signi cant ndings from your data

6 – Discussion
Highlight here the meaning of the ndings in relation to your
discipline program and the research that you have done:

What are the major ndings and what do they mean with
regard to your research
How do these ndings relate to what others have found in the
past
How can you explain any unusual or surprising result

7 – Conclusions
You have to end your presentation with a conclusion summarizing
all that you have found within your research. You need to:
 Restate your research questions
Show how your results answer these questions
Show what contribution you have made
State any limitations to the work you have done
Suggest future research
Make any recommendations

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Tips During Your Oral Defense!

Review Your Materials
Even if you already feel con dent with your upcoming presentation,
you still need to review your materials.

You can bring the hard copy of your thesis with you during the
defense, but you don’t want to get lost with your presentation when
you forgot some speci c details and have to scan your papers.

You should know your paper in and out.

Rehearse Your Presentation

It’s not wrong if it will sound like  a script when you speak in your
oral defense. It’s expected and understandable.

You need to practice your presentation especially when there’s a

time restriction given to every presenter.

You only need to prepare enough number of slides that would t

your time limit. A hundred slides aren’t suitable for a 15 to 20-
minute presentation nor 10 slides for an hour of defense.

Your rehearsal will be more e ective if you practice it in front of an

audience.
Note: You will experience a complete silence in the defense room.
You might feel awkward because most of the time, you’re the only
one speaking out loud.  This is completely ne and it’s something
you should practice in rehearsal should you be afraid.

Narrow the Presentation of Ideas

Regarding your slides, you don’t have to include everything that’s in
your paper. You should narrow down your ideas to the main points
and the most important details such as the statistics and ndings.

If the members of your committee think you lack details or they

want to hear a further explanation, they won’t hesitate to ask you.

Prepare for the Unexpected Questions

The panel tends to challenge the presenters usually through some
hard questions.

Its aim is how well do you you have done your research, and how
prepared you are.

But as long as you know the ins and outs of your paper, you
shouldn’t lose your con dence regardless of which questions they
ask.

Just keep in mind that what you’re saying in your oral defense is not
in con ict with what is written on the hardcopy you provided them.

What To Do When You Don’t Know the Answer

If the committee asked you a question and you don’t know the
answer, don’t make up a baseless answer.

Baseless means out of context answers, or something without proof

or backup.

How To Deal With The Nervousness

The committee is expecting you to be nervous. Of course, it’s
normal.

However, one e ect of being nervous is the changes in your

behavior.

There’s a tendency you’ll talk fast that which will make it hard for the
committee to understand you.

It might also cause you to have a mental block.

So try to slow down. Take a deep breath.

Inhale, exhale.  Remember to breath!

It’s OK to pause and it’s ok to take your time, it’s more important that
the committee clearly understand what you are trying to articulate.
 More Quick Tips on How to Present!
Introduce yourself at the beginning
Introduce the title of the presentation
Don’t read your notes if possible
Don’t speak too fast
Put an emphasis on what you’re saying, so you don’t sound like
monotonous
Look at your adviser once in a while for possible signs
Stand on the right of the white screen if you are right-handed so
you can easily refer to the slide without giving your back to the
committee
Face the audience when you talk
Keep an eye contact
Make sure to keep attention to the reactions of the committee
and don’t forget to react in turn

We hoped you enjoyed this article on how to do a proper thesis

defense, and how to best prepare for one using proven tips and
techniques to help you get through this.  If you got value please
remember to share this article.

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Tags: Academics, Degree, Dissertation, Doctorate, Education, Faculty,

Master, PhD, Student, Thesis.
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