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“Congratulations, Dr. (Your Name)”
These words can be music to the ears of a research scholar at the end of their master’s dissertation defense presentation. All those years of hard work (and the occasional partying) on an A-list university campus boil down to you earning the title of a doctorate. Your blood, sweat and tears (mostly tears) invested in the doctoral subject of your choice just to hear the committee assign you that title rest on one (not so) simple thing: your dissertation defense.
However, to ensure that you, indeed, achieve your goal of earning that title, you have to ace your dissertation defense. You want to impress the committee. You want to ignite their minds. And more so, you want to be prepared for all the hard-hitting questions they are going to pose when you click through your dissertation defense presentation slides and explain what all you grasped in your years of research at the university.
Nerve-wracking may be an understatement, wouldn’t it?
Accomplishing that PhD with a well-presented dissertation defense can be an uphill battle for those who get the jitters while facing an audience. Plus, anticipation of top-level questions from experts in your field can leave you hot under the collar. You want to ace that dissertation defense, no matter what.
Fear not! This blog will break it down for you. Read on to find out how to make your master's or PhD thesis dissertation defense an outstanding medium to charm the thesis committee with ease.
The preparation
Now, before the dissertation defense, you have to prepare for it well in advance. Just organize your thoughts and prepare your thesis in a well-structured manner before you hand it over to the thesis committee. When you have studied a particular topic at length, you are able to devise a strategy for presenting it to the experts as well. Doctoral research gives you extensive knowledge about a topic which you can see yourself working with in your future prospects. Mostly university programs are inclined to the analyzing how the research has been fruitful with your endeavors. Here, you must note some important points to prepare well.
Know thy audience
When you have your dissertation defense to prepare, it bodes well for you if you try to get to know your audience, i.e. the members of the thesis committee. Before you make the final submission to the committee chair, make a checklist of what all you have included in the dissertation report. In fact, submit the report at least a month in advance so that the chair is ready to capture what your point of contention will be. You do not have to just brush things off with the normal two-week-prior submission. You have to give yourself a chance to prepare for what the committee members can ask you as per their expertise.
While you can ask your adviser or guide to take in the subject, it will also work well if you meet the chair in person for advice on the general thought process of the committee members. So instead of going into the meeting room unarmed, you will have a bit of a groundwork laid for yourself. It is all in the mind, but it is also all in a bit of a control.
Watch, ask and learn
Your research adviser or guide is your biggest asset when it comes to earning that doctoral degree. Since a dissertation is based on what you have explored and found out during the university course based on an original research, you can get the best advice from your guide. Ask them what kind of presentation methodology you need to adhere to. You can also take reference from the university’s scholar resources.
More so, since the dissertation defense presentations are open in most of the universities, you can attend these to get an idea of the procedure involved. Watch closely how the committee dwells on the key aspect of a scholar’s research. Also, see how the scholar handles the questions, the tough ones. Is that a straight “No I don’t know.” or something refined like “I speculate that…”? Ask the previous scholars who have presented their dissertation in front of the committee members you have. The more similar the subject, the better your chances of nailing that presentation.
Accustom yourself
Yes. Everybody has thrown this one at you before an exam (or a date). Practice makes perfect. When we talk of laying the groundwork, it involves booking the meeting room and the committee members’ schedule for your final dissertation defense well in advance to avoid any lapses. University research experts and thesis committee members have busy schedules around which you need to plan your dissertation defense. Planning in advance can keep you from having the last-minute anxieties.
- A secret to giving an outstanding dissertation defense presentation is to present in front of your colleagues or friends. It will be a bonus if this practice audience is a mix of scholars from your field and different fields as well. The idea is to influence the minds of the listeners as analogous to those of the committee members. Use notes and feedback from this audience to plan out what you will say on the day of the presentation.
- Another secret to being well-prepared is to keep the chosen committee members in loop with your research process after you have submitted a dissertation proposal. You can ask them for reviews and incorporate the changes they suggest. These changes can then give you an indication on what could be the basis of the questions the committee will ask. Since the experts are aligned to pose such questions as interest their mind for exploration, you can keep a track of the reviews you have subjected your dissertation to. If the committee members suggest some major changes and you make them, keeping them in the loop will help avoid any last-minute surprises, and therefore, blunders.
- Since university doctoral research has to be published online and even distributed as written text, it is important to take some guidance from your adviser and teachers about formatting standards. It makes it easy if you get it formatted well enough before submitting the manuscript to the committee members for final notes and revision suggestions. Each institute may have their own standards for devising a dissertation manuscript. So know the process to avoid careless mistakes. Your research matters not only to you, but to the university as well.
- Ask your adviser how much time is allotted to each part of your dissertation defense presentation. This way you can plan as much material as you should for your presentation. Time slots will keep you structured throughout your presentation. You can focus on the key issues and give time to each topic as per the structure as follows.
Make your presentation right
Your dissertation defense presentation is your masterpiece. It can sway the committee members in your favor. Designing a good dissertation ppt presentation that implores the audience to say that much-wanted YES is an art. Once you get the basics right, you will start off with a bang. The basic setup which you should employ while putting together your presentation is as follows:
#1 Title
The very first slide of the presentation is going to be your title slide. It should include the name of your thesis and your name. Mention the university’s name in a prominent manner as well. A catchy title slide can keep your audience visually stimulated before the presentation.
#2 Introduction
You have a well-defined slot within which you introduce the subject of your doctoral research. You have to cover broad points by focusing on the pain point first. You can take an example of how that pain point is leading to an issue that needs attention. The introduction has to enlist what objectives your research has tried to achieve to address these pain points. Here the key point is to show that you have tried to solve a problem with your research. You can give the scope of the research too. Starting off with an anecdote may also help get the committee members interested in your topic up front. Make sure you include these points in your introduction slide.
#3 Literature review
Often one of the common mistakes that scholars do while dissertation defense is getting too much into the literature review. If you have studied and included the findings of a particular research to support your thesis, you do not have to dwell on it. Simply create a crisp outline of the research literature that relates to your thesis. You can include how the literature is relevant or brings out any weak points that you may have addressed in your research.
#4 Methodology
You have covered the what of your thesis. On this slide, you will cover the how of it. On this slide, you need to explain what you did to address the pain points listed in the introduction. Did you conduct a survey of a considerable sample size to apply your research to? What were the subjects of the survey categorized into? How did you organize and process the data? This slide (or slides) can show the committee members the tools at your disposal and how you used them to support your claims.
#5 Findings
You used the collected data in every decipherable manner you could. But what you found through processing and extrapolating that data as per your thesis goes on this slide. You can use simple infographics to draw comparison or to highlight the specific results that you want the committee members to take note of. The trick here is to make the information as captivating yet concise as possible. Make sure you put the spotlight on the findings that address the pain points or at least enhance the committee’s discretion regarding your thesis.
#6 Deliberation
On this slide for discussion, you have to enlighten the committee on how the findings have a bearing on your research. What it means for the issues that you listed as worthy of being addressed? You can elaborate how using your findings you have come up with some innovative solution to a problem.
#7 Conclusion
You have started well. So end well too. On the conclusion slide, just keep it short and sweet on how your research addresses the scope of the subject. You can also impress the committee with giving how your processed data can serve as the foundation stone of many more research projects in your field (if there is any).
Do’s
- Know your subject inside out. Take time to review what your thesis proposal tries to encompass. Enlist all the possible questions that you have found out to be of the committee’s interest.
- Also, enlist the questions that you fear the committee may ask. These are trick questions for which you should have an answer ready.
- You have to organize your thesis precisely. Take your time arranging your thoughts well.
- Take a closer look at the already published manuscripts to have an idea of what content to dabble with while preparing for your dissertation defense.
- Prepare handouts in accordance with your presentation. You can take printouts of the presentation slides and put them together so that the committee can follow along.
- A quick proofread of all the material you prepare or print won’t hurt either.
Don’ts
- Do not fret or be nervous about the presentation.
- Do not clutter the presentation slides with content. Just keep it crisp enough so that the committee stays engaged with you while taking cues from the slides or handouts.
- Do not forget to analyze the accuracy of the data sets and the projections. Your findings are your foundation. Accuracy and precision are key.
The dissertation defense
Had a good night sleep the day before the defense presentation? Good! Because a relaxed mind is paramount for an effective dissertation defense. The meeting is nothing short of a mental roller coaster. Before the presentation, hand out the printed slides to the committee so that they can follow along. During the dissertation defense, the committee will ask you questions on topics that pique their interest. So be ready to not lose focus no matter what.
Generally, the questions will mostly come at the discussion phase of the presentation so you must have a cohesive idea of how your research connects the dots. Mostly these questions will be based on why your dissertation matters, and how does it support future researches. The committee will also deliberate on the relevance of your findings to your career trajectory, besides any scope of future contributions. Here it is crucial that you have such information on your fingertips (although don’t fret if you do not know the answer at the ready).
Do’s
- Know your material inside out.
- Check the meeting room arrangements an hour before the defense.
- Greet the committee members. Make eye contact with each of them.
- The committee is not there to torture you. They just want to examine the significance of your project for the university.
- Give handouts to the panel before starting the presentation so that any incoherence can be avoided.
- Pause before explaining each meticulous point of interest. Often the pressure gets the best of the most skilled orators too.
- Always, and always, take notes when the committee asks questions.
Don’ts
- Do not overburden your mind with data. Just know enough of important figures and you are good to go.
- Avoid getting distracted by the presentation. Just keep small notes to help the committee stay up to speed.
- Do not fall into the trap of “umm and uhhhh” during questioning. It is okay if you do not know the answer. Do not turn it into a fumbled description. You can try saying something encouraging like “I have not explored that asset to that extent, but would like to add that…” This shows your drive to learn and communicate well.
- Do not panic if there is a glitch in your presentation or a power outage. Conduct the dissertation defense with confidence. That is what handouts are for.
- Steer clear of speaking hurriedly to answer a question. Time slots can be a concern but the more you stay focused and calm, the easier you are able to handle the occasional bumps in the road.
For remote presentation
Incidentally, Covid-19 has changed the way academic presentations are conducted, though remote presentations were a thing in the past. In instances where you have to present your dissertation defense from a remote location, you must ensure proper testing of the video output that the committee members can see. Ask a friend to check it. Better yet, practice with an audience. Internet lapses can throw you off your track. So make sure you have checked each and every provision for the meeting. Last-minute obscurity of the slides may not be a good head start.
Now, for some people, employing the cyberspace to present their dissertation defense may not be ideal. Also, dissertation committee members may take part from different countries, so you have to be prepared. Make sure you email them the handouts or rather short notes so that it is easy for them to understand. Keep in touch with them digitally as and when feasible. The more you prepare in advance, the better.
After the presentation
If you have followed the steps given above, chances are that the committee has had a consensus on awarding you that YES based on your dissertation defense presentation. You have indeed earned that by being an expert in your field. But what to do after the presentation?
First and foremost, you have to officially thank all the committee members for their time and guidance. Take notes on whatever the members advise you regarding your research. Rather solicit feedback after you are done with the dissertation defense. You can also ask them to email their suggestions to you. It will help pave the way to your future courses of action. Be on the same page with your committee chairperson for what to do next. If the committee has deliberated on suggesting some revisions, you can incorporate them in your final manuscript.
Also since your research has been scrutinized well according to the university standards, you must get on with making copies of your manuscript once approved and signed by the committee members. Later on you can submit it to the university database in the library. You can also submit the final revised manuscript to your colleagues.
And then what? It is time to celebrate, of course. Circumstances and university guidelines permitting, you can have a nice celebratory function with the committee members and your family and friends to mark an important milestone in your career.
Ace that dissertation defense with these PPT templates
Since so much rests on your presentation before the committee, it is imperative that you make a mark with a well-designed presentation. You want to make a good impression with your dissertation defense. So, do it with bespoke professionally-designed dissertation defense PowerPoint presentation templates listed here. Read the highlights and choose the template that will speak for you.
Template 1
As discussed above, your dissertation defense has to be your instrument of research during your master’s or PhD course. And good professional design in this template is the element you can harness. Plus the biggest beneficial factor is that you get to edit the slides in it as per your wish. In fact, when you prepare your key notes, you can just put them on the slides and present it with ease.
Template 2
We understand that every university may have a different requirement when it comes to presenting a well-researched thesis dissertation defense. So we have curated simple template designs that fulfill your needs. Take advantage of this completely editable deck to organize your thoughts and dissertation material to impress the thesis community from the get go. No matter what topic you have chosen to secure a master’s degree in, you will never go wrong with this template. Present with conviction. Present with confidence.
Template 3
Meticulous is the mantra when presenting your dissertation defense with passion. It is your subject of expertise. So you must make a good impression when preparing your presentation. Take notes regarding the key points you have gotten in guidance from your adviser. Use this template with attractive infographic slides to put forward your points with credence.
Template 4
When you need that zeal to support your dissertation defense, you have to present with well-represented facts and figures. This template offers fully editable design that you can mould as per your convenience. If you have fallen short of time, use this template to get bespoke design that amalgamates seamlessly with your dissertation defense content. This comes handy especially when you want the committee’s focus to be on your findings. That way, they will get straight to the point and ask questions that your research an answer.
Template 5
Sure you have got some time on your hands to prepare a dissertation defense. But why spend hours and hours on figuring out the design and theme of your presentation? Do it quick with this uniform and comprehensive dissertation defense presentation template that will represent your thoughts in a much organized manner. The best part about this template is that it will come in handy in situations of time crunch when preparing for the defense has consumed much of your schedule. Smart work can make the dream work too.
Template 6
Another template that will be a blessing for your readiness is this one. Herein you get a simple design that will structure your dissertation defense as per the university standards of professionalism. Usually, simplifying concepts for your audience takes a lot of studying and research, which may not leave you much time to prepare a cohesive presentation. The solution lies in this template. Just place your text onto the slides wherever applicable and remove the stuff you do not need. Present and win.
Template 7
Some universities give preference to a more vibrant dissertation defense presentation. While the design requirement stays professional, a simple white theme with a smart color pattern can also magnetize the committee’s focus to your presentation. The more the retention of focus, the better are the chances of the committee understanding your subject and giving better feedback. You can leverage this recipe to success with the following template. Just edit in minutes and present with caliber.
Template 8
If you want to project your ideas of research with an offbeat theme, try this template. The colors are easy on the eye and you can easily ace your dissertation defense. Plus the data charts for your findings can be used with easy to understand description. You must check with your university guidelines on drafting a presentation though. If it sticks by the rules, you have your perfect presentation at the ready.
Template 9
Speaking of themes that appeal to the eye, this template has what it takes to get you that YES. No beating around the bush. Just cutting straight to the point, the template follows a procedural approach with design. Point after point, you can capture the essence of your PhD thesis in a structured manner. You can also rearrange the elements on the lucid slide to fit your requirements. Once you edit the slides, you can take printouts to give to your thesis committee for easy understanding.
Template 10
Explaining the pain points that your research is addressing takes a lot of well-structured analysis. Thereafter, aligning these points to a PowerPoint presentation that you have to make from scratch is not an easy task. Time is of the essence. And so is this thesis presentation ppt template. Edit the required text in 5 minutes with this efficient and user-friendly design. Believe in yourself and present an exquisite dissertation defense.
Template 11
The more you fidget about your presentation, the less confidence you will have. So you must concentrate on getting yourself better prepared instead of rummaging through old-school templates. Time management gets simplified when you use this template. With catchy design and highlights, this template will fit well with the professional dimensions of your dissertation defense. Get it now and get started with a bang.
Template 12
Talk of starting with a bang! To a layman, a dissertation defense may seem like an extremely scientific discussion full of jargon. But in reality it is a tool for a researcher to break down the most complex concepts and put a spotlight on their utility and admissibility through the lens of experts in the field. To tell your story the right way, use this professionally-designed template. This will be useful in those situations where you have a larger audience than just the committee.
Template 13
You know what can help you hit the bull’s eye? A good infographic. And this template has it, and much more. In fact, the infographics and icons follow a common theme to give your dissertation defense that professional edge. Just make sure you remove the dummy text wherever needed and input the text you have summarized in the abstract of your thesis. You can also use the data charts in the slides that follow to convince the committee members regarding your finding.
Template 14
Often students of master’s program ignore the importance of presenting a crisp methodology for their research in front of the thesis committee. With this template, you can use a timeline infographic to trace the projection of your research. Explain the methodology with crisp information for your audience. The template also has the bibliography slide to mention the sources of your data and project collateral. You can download the completely editable presentation and use it to sway the committee in your favor without a doubt.
Template 15
A key precaution that you ought to take while designing the perfect dissertation defense presentation is not to clutter the slides with too much text. Just keep everything crisp. In fact, to get the committee members more engaged with your slides and the corresponding handouts, use this template with minimal text. Just resize the font so that it is legible on the projection board. Clearer text with simple imagery can drive home the point that you came prepared with convincing figures.
Template 16
Icons sure are better than boring bullet points. They also add to the readability of your presentation. With this template, you can leverage an exceptional form of visual communication. You can keep as many icons as you like as per the cohesive theme that the template is designed on. Moreover, quicker presentation preparation will give you time to focus on organizing your thoughts for the dissertation defense. You can also tabulate your findings in the consecutive slides to give the committee more clarity.
Template 17
Definitive research warrants a well-structured dissertation defense. Elaborate your thoughts and ideas with this template. With this template you can offer in-depth analysis about your thesis while keeping the presentation well within the time frame as stipulated by the university guidelines. Make sure you are using the data charts and infographics the right way to represent the corresponding information. You can practice the presentation with ease through this template.
Template 18
It is all in what appeals to the eye; and in your case, the committee’s eyes. Each committee member can pose tricky questions about your study. Why is it relevant? What could be an alternative approach? Explain all that with simple points on this template that has visually appealing theme that grabs attention in an instant. You can make do without the extra slides at the back if you want to keep the presentation short. Just make sure you highlight each point of interest on every suitable slide.
Template 19
Since your thesis can catapult your prospects to successful heights, you might need a presentation that can make an impact even after you have gotten the approval of the committee and got your research published. For example, with the help of this template, you will have something that you can use for a business research proposal as well. Your dissertation proposal will be your USP for potential recruiters as well. So having this precisely designed and well-structured template will help you get the opportunity and projects you want.
Template 20
When it comes to a business setup, researchers are expected to come up with new ideas and proposals. Research is needed for sales expansion, marketing strategy and business growth. So when you get into that professional ecosystem, you must leverage your learning in the master’s program to devise well-structured research proposals as well. This template will help you put together every element of your research and project your vision for the company in an appealing manner. Present and convince the stakeholders within minutes.
Template 21
The best part about fully customizable slides in our collection is that we make it a point to elevate your presentation quotient with our designs. As far as a dissertation defense is concerned, you can easily achieve flexibility during the Q&A with the committee by keeping it short and sweet with this template. Mostly the committee is interested in how you handle the questions related to future implications of your research. You can include the points you are absolutely confident about in this template, so that the committee’s attention stays focused on these ideas. Edit this template as per your liking and let it speak for yourself.
Template 22
Every year, scholars after scholars submit their thesis and perform to their highest capacities in dissertation defense to get that coveted doctorate. Since universities expect them to adhere to the most significant levels of professionalism and structure, it is important for them to be outstanding. And outstanding comes from an outstanding template like this. It is the perfect blend of icons, visual appeal and flow. Use this template to present the most complex concepts in a simple manner.
So in conclusion, your dissertation defense has to go just perfectly for you to accomplish your academic and professional goals. And perfect comes from a perfect presentation. Follow this guide and choose from any of the listed templates to express your thoughts. If you need a little boost to that seat of success, let our design team handle the ride. Cheers to your bright future!
