Expert Advice On How To Survive Your Thesis Defense

Writing a thesis is no small matter, in most cases, it requires a lot more from the author than simply reading a few texts. One must work independently, devise a plan of action, carry it out, successfully analyze large amounts of data and much more, all with the intention of creating a complete, informative paper on the chosen topic.

After you have completed the arduous task of completing the paper, you may be called upon to defend the entire paper or some aspect of it. This is common so do not be alarmed, with a little panning and preparation, you will be successful in this defense. The following tips will tell you how:

  1. Attend the defense of another researcher
  2. Personal experience in the proceedings involved in an actual defense can greatly assist you in planning your own. Find out the location and times of a current defense and attend it, be prepared to take notes and pay extra attention to details that may apply to your own work. It may also be possible to view past proceedings by finding them online, on a free streaming website.

  3. Avoid troublesome areas when choosing your topic
  4. It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when your diploma may be on the line. Select a topic that you are confident in, preferably one that you have personal experience with. This will allow you to perform at your best on a difficult task and at least make the project an enjoyable one.

  5. Consider the elements of your research that may be questioned and plan for it.
  6. During your research on other defenses, you should have identified the various strategies and question types used by the prosecutors. Use this knowledge to ensure that your paper will never fall short of the criteria that you have witnessed being used.

  7. Have a peer review your paper before submitting.
  8. Having a different set of eyes view your paper can be very valuable as another person would spot things that you may have overlooked due to familiarity with the paper. Have a friend or even an educator review your work in their free time before submitting, use their feed back to improve your thesis.

  9. Seek advice from a professor or board member
  10. Consulting someone with professional experience in thesis defense can be a great asset to you and you should explore this option if you can. You may be able to purchase assistance from an online professional as well.