Hi there,
Great news! You are now almost at the end of a long and challenging journey. It’s so very, very close.
You never thought this day would arrive, but miraculously, you have completed your dissertation. It’s been vetted by your advisor and the other members of your committee. All that is remaining between you and that highly anticipated doctoral degree is the final defense.
Most university programs require you to orally present and defend your work to a critical committee of internal and external scholars in your field. Although it is ideally a positive experience, it is also rigorous and you will understandably experience some anxiety before the big event.
So, how do you get through this academic grand finale and convince your future peers across the room that you are ready to join them in the ranks of those who have completed the highest level of academic attainment? Several key preparation practices will ensure you move through the process with relative ease. Now is not the time to walk into the room unprepared and hope for the best!
First, it’s invaluable to witness other dissertation defenses – ideally in the same program area at your university. There was a time (pre-pandemic) when many universities opened defenses to the public. Now, however, defenses are primarily conducted online via Zoom. You may need to make special arrangements to view the defense of a peer or friend. If that’s not possible, you can access a range of defenses online. Go to YouTube and narrow your search to both university and subject.
In terms of the platform for your defense, now that more campuses are opening up, you may be given the option to do your defence either on-campus or via Zoom. After coaching many clients to the defense stage over the past year, I’ve noticed that students defending over Zoom generally find the experience less stressful and easier to prepare for. Instead of facing down a formal committee across a room, the Zoom platform allows for a more egalitarian and conversational experience. Plus, you can have extensive notes (for yourself) organized on your desk beside you or on the wall behind the computer – and no one will see them! Even if you don’t need them, having them at the ready does give you a sense of security.
Part of your defense will invariably be a presentation of the key components of your dissertation project, including a summary of each chapter. If you are using Powerpoint as part of the presentation phase of your defence, make certain that it’s well structured and clear. Don’t include too much text on each slide and prepare notes to enrich the slide information – rather than reading verbatim. Make sure your slides are to the point, well composed and visually attractive.
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