Frequently Asked Questions in Thesis Defense

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Are you struggling with the daunting task of writing your thesis? If so, you're not alone.

Crafting a
thesis can be one of the most challenging academic endeavors you'll undertake. From conducting
extensive research to organizing your findings into a coherent argument, every step of the process
presents its own set of obstacles.

One of the most common hurdles students face is formulating a clear and compelling thesis
statement. This statement serves as the foundation of your entire paper, guiding your research and
shaping your analysis. Crafting a strong thesis requires careful consideration of your topic, as well as
a deep understanding of the existing literature in your field.

Once you've developed your thesis statement, the real work begins. You'll need to gather and
analyze relevant data, critically evaluate existing research, and develop your own original arguments.
This process can be time-consuming and mentally demanding, requiring a significant investment of
both time and energy.

But perhaps the greatest challenge of all is defending your thesis. The defense is the culmination of
months or even years of hard work, and it can be a nerve-wracking experience. You'll need to present
your findings to a panel of experts in your field, fielding their questions and defending your
conclusions.

Fortunately, you don't have to face these challenges alone. If you're struggling with any aspect of the
thesis writing process, help is available. ⇒ HelpWriting.net ⇔ offers professional thesis writing
services to students at all levels. Our team of experienced writers can help you with everything from
developing your thesis statement to polishing your final draft. With our assistance, you can navigate
the complexities of the thesis writing process with confidence and ease. Don't let the difficulty of
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Summer defenses are not necessarily possible, as faculty members are typically unavailable for thesis
work during the summer months and cannot participate. Substantive information in your thesis
should correspond with your slides. Time Sensitive. Limited Spots Available: We guarantee you'll get
into grad school or you don't pay. Try not to dwell too long on the annoyances of your study, and
consider an area of curiosity; for example, discuss an area that piqued your interest during your
exploration that would have been exciting to pursue but didn't directly benefit your outlined study.
14. How did you relate your study to the existing theories in the literature. When reporting your main
results, make sure you have a handle on how detailed your committee wants you to be. After my
thesis defense, I had to find a way of posing those questions for myself and then setting out to
answer them so I could be better prepared to write something that would be worthy of the
marketplace. After the presentation by the student, the chair opens the floor to the external
examiners to give their comments, ask questions and give feedback to the student on how to improve
the proposal. An MA thesis or undergraduate BFA thesis can also easily follow this format. Learn
More about the 2022 exhibition 2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition: You're on Mute You're on Mute
features the work of 12 graduating master of fine arts students from the School of The Museum of
Fine Arts at Tufts. 2021 MFA Thesis Exhibition: Waiting Room Waiting Room features the work of
eight MFA students. There can be several elements involved but you have to define the parameters
that you have chosen to study. Immediately after the thesis defense, the evaluation panel will decide
whether to approve your paper as submitted or request some changes, or reject it. Then the critique.
My second reader failed to mention two speculative stories that I was deeply invested in. A general
rule is to use about 10 slides for a 20-minute presentation. Also, list down potential questions to
expect from the dissertation committee. The MFA for Poets and Writers champions the creation of
new and important writing, and for over fifty years has been a place for writers to concentrate on
their work and to write their books. The data collection instruments should be part of the proposal
defense. Or are you just “matter of fact” and lifeless in your verbal assertions. Still, each time I
participate in a thesis defense, I try to keep in mind the young writers upon whom we’ll soon confer a
degree. Nevertheless, your defense should fit the introduction, literature review, findings, and more
time structuring the presentation. My readers were welcoming, offered praise, mentioned how I had
grown much in a short time. They were broken down into individual isolated parts for deeper focus.
Therefore, we require that the student submit a list of works along with the defense draft of the
thesis. What’s more, you have to master the content of your paper to ensure a successful defense.
What did you learn from making it work that you have or could apply to other projects. It is meant to
serve as a demonstration of your artistic, aesthetic, and methodological growth over the course of
your MFA study.. You may do this at any time prior to your Thesis Defense. Maybe you’ve worked
hard for years or months, and now that moment for wrapping things up is finally here. Are you
painter? Explain how you create a painting from start to finish. If it is not possible to attend the
event, you can speak to your peers to find out how their meeting went and what questions were
asked. Your final thesis is an official archival record of what you have completed, explored and
accomplished throughout the duration of your MFA program. How to Write Your MFA Thesis in
Fine Art (And Beyond) Ryan Seslow Public Paper Draft I enjoy writing and I find the process to be
fun.
On rare occasions (see Good Standing ), a student may with permission of the MFA director and
thesis chair extend the writing of the thesis beyond the fourth semester. But your thesis defense is
not about being perfect and knowing everything, it's about how you deal with challenging situations.
For example, My study is on the efficacy of equity stocks in the US market. To reply to this, you
should know everything of the research study from chapters someone to the finish. You have to
identify these variables and know their definitions too to ace your defense. In general, handouts can
always save the day when technology fails. Also, list down potential questions to expect from the
dissertation committee. Try to attend a thesis defense of other candidates to know what you can
expect in your session. Get plenty of exercise and sleep in the weeks prior to your defense. How
much weight did you gain during your two years in the program. I realized later she doesn’t write
speculative fiction and so they likely appealed to her less. Specifically, I will show how private
corporations do not always act in the public interest, how privatization could limit the power of the
province and municipalities, and how privatization could lead to a decline in service quality and
efficiency. What training, exactly, do we have in talking about our own work. Did you need info
from databases that require permissions or fees? 5. While you are preparing, you can create a list of
possible questions and try to answer them. For instance, select the defense template, theme, and
structure. The student and his supervisors are then called back in and the determination is spelt out to
them. PDF PREPARING TO DEFEND AND GRADUATE: GRADUATE MILESTONES Students'
time in the MFA program culminates in the defense of their thesis, which will be a book-length
manuscript or a substantial portion of a book-length manuscript. Reflection: What have you learned
over the course of your graduate program. Therefore, for each of them, I had multiple questions. In
research, several variable factors impact your study. Generally you need to condition whether data
was become from primary or secondary source or both. What’s more, you have to master the content
of your paper to ensure a successful defense. Tip: Check with your department or institution as soon
as possible to determine the approved length for a thesis defense. The conceptual framework should
clearly show the dependent and independent variables and their relationships. The calendar on your
mobile device or the computer that you use will work just fine to remind you of these appointments.
Why? Having a classroom or person-to-person(s) platform for discussion allows for the energy of the
body to expose itself. Is it possible that feeling of seemingly fruitless struggle might have made other
kinds of work possible, and if so what and how. FREE Training Webinar: How to make your grad
school application stand out, (and avoid the top 5 mistakes that get most rejected). Your enthusiasm
to resolve this issue becomes your motivation.
Expectations are natural when you set out to explore a topic, especially one you've been dancing
around throughout your academic career. In your answer, you should summarize your research in a
few sentences. The student retakes the proposal by re-writing it (may include change of topic) and
defending it again. One of the scariest aspects of the defense is the possibility of being asked a
question you can't answer. Art is written on, criticized, discussed, and culturally nurtured through
language. Make sure to present your reasoning in an honest but favorable way. 9. What obstacles or
limitations did you encounter while working with your sample. Her collection of lyric essays is Brief
Interviews with the Romantic Past (The Ohio State University Press, 2017). In this post, I discuss
the general format of a proposal defense as well as discuss the most common questions asked and
feedback given to the students by the external examiners. If you were given an MFA re-do, what
changes would you make the second time around. A suitable course of action would be to hold
meditating sessions a couple of times a week. 16. How will your findings contribute to the related
area of knowledge. You can add the details of the study in a separate section for research experience.
In your answer, you have to define the boundaries of your project and define exactly what you are
studying. Wrote “10,000,000” in big characters to emphasize that Parkinson’s affects so many people
(which means changing the style of the slides to convey my message). The supervisor will share the
committee’s decision with you. The medical abilities of chamomile will promote the usage of
ingredients in nature and will encourage the community to plant more herbs and trees. 10. What did
you find in your research. Also, your argument during the presentation ascertains that you understood
your research topic. Questions such as this are simply there to check your reasoning and authority
inside your research area. How is the person, Lee Martin, connected to the writer, Lee Martin? (I
spent my adolescence balanced on the thin line between my mother’s compassion and my father’s
cruelty; it finally struck me that everything I wrote was in some way an attempt to navigate that
boundary) The answers to these questions aren’t always the same. An artistic process becomes
illuminated when ones idiosyncratic, subjective, and. Take a look at this example: My sociology
thesis on “Impact of social media on youngsters” can be of interest to sociology academics, social
media companies, education experts, and parents of youngsters in general. 7. Did your research
questions evolve during the process. You can talk about who may be affected by your research and
the parties who can potentially benefit from the research. Generally you need to condition whether
data was become from primary or secondary source or both. Cancel reply Your email address will not
be published. Your thesis defense presentation should include the focus concept, findings,
recommendation, and conclusion. Thus, you should go about preparing for your thesis defense
questions by taking the following steps. Don’t ask silly or too hard questions because the goal ought
to be to result in the committee people feel because the “boss”. Keep your answers direct, but
elaborate on the research details wherever necessary. Your response to this question can include not
only the basic findings of your work (if you haven't covered this already) but also some personal
surprises you might have found that veered away from your expectations. Therefore, prepare a plan
B by anticipating such eventualities. I love the way I spend a week each May reminded of my own
teachers, who once nudged and challenged and nurtured me up to the point of my own thesis
defense, and then beyond.
The question is simple but requires technical expertise for a better explanation of concepts. Finally,
the committee meets privately to go over the presentation and dissertation. You will get questions
related to what you have mentioned in your research paper. Barbie - Brand Strategy Presentation
Barbie - Brand Strategy Presentation Good Stuff Happens in 1:1 Meetings: Why you need them and
how to do them well Good Stuff Happens in 1:1 Meetings: Why you need them and how to do them
well Introduction to C Programming Language Introduction to C Programming Language The Pixar
Way: 37 Quotes on Developing and Maintaining a Creative Company (fr. Uploading the MFA Thesis
and Completing University Graduation Requirements After successfully completing your defense,
you must upload either your artist’s statement or your full thesis. For instance, if you completed a
thesis in an attempt to explain the constituents of dark matter in the universe and particle
accelerators, you could frame your answer like this: In this research, the different aspects of dark
matter and its detection models have been investigated. After you have finished, the committee
members will ask you questions based not only on your presentation, but also on your written thesis
as they will have read it before your presentation. Check out some of the hardest thesis defense
questions below and read our expert responses. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment,
Rebecca. The ethical considerations of your study should be adequately discussed. A student might
assemble a wide variety of pieces for the body of work, or might present a more singular manuscript
(a novel, a nonfiction book project, etc). In most cases, the committee needs to approve your thesis
for you to graduate from your degree. A lot of transcribing software is free for most mobile devices.
Many researchers identify a need in the field and choose a topic to bridge the gaps that previous
literature has failed to cover. The good news is that there will be plenty of time ahead of your thesis
defense to prepare your slides and practice your presentation alone and in front of friends or family.
Do you find that you speak the same way that you write. Part-time writers in residence may also
serve as fourth committee members. While the duration of your thesis defense might vary as per your
institution's requirements, the major idea is to defend your research. Describe the focus concept of
your thesis in the answer. EduSkills OECD Food Web SlideShare for Ecology Notes Quiz in Canvas
Food Web SlideShare for Ecology Notes Quiz in Canvas AlexandraSwartzwelde Ideotype concept
and climate resilient crop varieties for future- Wheat, Rice. MFA students are required to take six
thesis hours. The student retakes the proposal by re-writing it (may include change of topic) and
defending it again. This question talks about the practical implications of your research. What you
can do to resolve this issue and explore into areas not researched on provides you with the entire
marks allotted for answering this. The committee will discuss your work, pose questions, engage you
in a conversation about your craft, and will possibly review your MFA exam with you. Describe the
focus concept of your thesis in the answer. This outdated association can be especially frustrating to
the point of extreme procrastination. The Artist's Statement In the artist's statement, the student
should both explain what decisions lay behind the assembling of the body of work, and bring the
body of work into a coherent experience for the thesis committee. For additional info on how you
can tackle this specific question Click The Link. The goal is to entice your reader and audience to
feel your convictions and transcend those feelings directly.
The body of work can include writing in various stages of progress and revision, although each piece
should be far enough along that it has a genuine sense of necessity, shape, and promise. These should
be taken after or near completion of all other degree requirements (so after you finish all or most of
your coursework). School, art and political engagement swallow up daily life leaving little time for
much else. EMELDA NAFULA NYONGESA This is a good guideline to post graduate students
(Masters and PhD) CPA:Emelda Nyongesa Hi Emelda. Some modifications to be made to the thesis
are always requested and sent to the student, who will have to make these modifications and proceed
with the final submission of the thesis within a certain time limit: and voila, it’s over, the student- he
has officially completed his master’s or doctorate. Before an artificial intelligence exam, I used this
read-aloud feature to revise while falling asleep. Where do you see your self professionally as an
artist in 3-5 years. Or visit our help site for more information: Welcome to Social Paper (beta). In our
research titled “Effectiveness of Meditation on Reducing the Anxiety Levels of College Students in
the US,” we discovered that students who practiced meditation at least thrice a week were two times
more likely to score better in their exams, owing to the positive impact of meditation. Think about
using some type of remote presentation software. This can even be done via video chat if in person
visits cannot be made. Try meditational breathing right before your defense. Point out how similar
your work is to some and how it contrasts other works of research; both contribute greatly to the
overall body of research. 15. What is the future scope of this study. The length also depends on how
much time is allocated to the presentation and questioning part. I could have wished that, despite her
own lack of attachment to non-realist work is not her cup of tea, she might have taken them on and
offered some commentary on them. If it is not possible to attend the event, you can speak to your
peers to find out how their meeting went and what questions were asked. This is a criteria break
down of the structure of the paper. Provide copy of thesis for all members of your committee at least
three weeks prior to defense. In your answer, you should summarize your research in a few
sentences. Independent variables have values which are not affected by other variables in your study.
You'll explore the broader implications of your practice through aesthetic, social, political, economic,
and scientific considerations. Feel free to share in the comments if you have any other advice for
future students. This form must be signed by all three committee members. The MFA for Poets and
Writers champions the creation of new and important writing, and for over fifty years has been a
place for writers to concentrate on their work and to write their books. There needs to be consistency
in the concepts used throughout the proposal. By the time of your thesis defense, your paper has
already been evaluated. I have attempted to provide an explanation for both of the cases through the
use of models, along with describing the constraints which exist in the current times due to certain
scientific limitations. 4. What is the scope of your study. Getting to know the committee can help
you in preparing better. However, it comes up faster than most learners think. Manifestos are usually
published and placed into the public so that its creator can live up to its statements.
You can request your academic peers to help you out in the practice task. Their areas of expertise can
help you in determining what they might ask. However, you should attempt your very best to
become realistic here. The calendar on your mobile device or the computer that you use will work
just fine to remind you of these appointments. May you find that thing again and again as your
journey continues. Of critical importance is the third member of the committee, who must be an arts
or field-specific professional from outside SMFA at Tufts. July 15, 2018 at 1:38 pm Reply Ryan
Seslow Hi Marilyn. This can even be done via video chat if in person visits cannot be made. This can
act as a starting point for future researchers. Try not to dwell too long on the annoyances of your
study, and consider an area of curiosity; for example, discuss an area that piqued your interest during
your exploration that would have been exciting to pursue but didn't directly benefit your outlined
study. 14. How did you relate your study to the existing theories in the literature. Still, each time I
participate in a thesis defense, I try to keep in mind the young writers upon whom we’ll soon confer
a degree. When conducting research, it is practically not possible to study the entire number of
elements. Handouts can help when technology fails, and an additional clean shirt can save the day if
you have a spill. Note that the scope of your writing while in the program may be broader than the
work in the thesis and that your list is not limited to the genre of your thesis. 2) The books may come
from courses taken during the M.F.A. program (including your Literature and Form and Theory
coursework), outside reading, and suggestions that the thesis director will make. The Artist's
Statement In the artist's statement, the student should both explain what decisions lay behind the
assembling of the body of work, and bring the body of work into a coherent experience for the thesis
committee. If you have a number of population categories, you need to clearly articulate the sampling
techniques for each category. Ensure that your motives are professional, though they can be personal,
denoting your closeness to the project. Regardless of the outcome, your confidence in addressing the
questions presented to you will communicate to your thesis committee members that you know your
stuff. Your choice of research design and methods should be justified. Justify your choice of data
collection and data analysis methods. For example, In my research on “Effectiveness of
Acetaminophen in treating sports induced injuries”, I discovered that administering Acetaminophen
is not very effective for treating joint pains such as the knee. They will all have read your thesis
beforehand, so their questions will relate to your study, topic, methods, data sample, and other
aspects. Try this with a specific project or with the art that you are currently creating. With
connection to the reasons you chose the topic, your results can address the problems your work is
solving. Students should wait until April of their first year to approach faculty regarding thesis
committee membership. Dark matter can also be created in particle accelerators such as the CERN
collider. I love this reminder that writers seldom know in real time who they are becoming and even
masterpieces are the result of fumbling in the dark. At least some portion of the body of work should
be polished, finished writing. I notice how I feel about the topic and this is a key factor as to how
quickly I will get working on as essay, blog post or tutorial. The meeting attendees ask the students
some questions about their work to understand their focus area and field.
Note: At this time, we are not requiring a written examination on the reading list (which some
programs have and we have considered). First of all, be aware that a thesis defense varies from
country to country. Sometimes these details are not included in the thesis, so these details can add
some spice to your defense. 12. What are the recommendations from your study. Questions such as
this are simply there to check your reasoning and authority inside your research area. Upload Read
for free FAQ and support Language (EN) Sign in Skip carousel Carousel Previous Carousel Next
What is Scribd. How did the space itself dictate your choices for installation. Handouts can help
when technology fails, and an additional clean shirt can save the day if you have a spill. Thank you,
Lee. This post expresses (beautifully) what I also hope to do for my students as they step from
graduate school toward the long distance run: life as a writer. I wanted to analyze the formation of a
nationalized, wartime cultural apparatus during the United States' involvement in the war and how
theatre and music transformed the relationship between the government and American citizens. 3.
Why did you choose this particular title for your research. I like my questions to serve as jumping-off
points for self-reflection. Re-read and study your responses to the questions that the artist asked you.
By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy. Your committee will want to know how you
came to the final decision of naming your work. Thirty minutes of practice twice a week can work
wonders in the installation of a new habit. Chairs and second readers ideally are selected before the
end of the second semester; external committee members are typically selected during the third
semester. Being well prepared can help minimize your stress, but do know that your examiners have
seen this many times before and are willing to help, by repeating questions, for example. Therefore,
ensure that you understand the content of your thesis and the questions to expect from the
dissertation panel. Students pursuing the ENR double major may sometimes extend into a fifth
semester in order to satisfy requirements in both programs. MFA students in this situation are
welcome to defend their thesis in the fourth semester and complete ENR coursework in the fifth
semester, if at all possible. That is, what is known and what is unknown that your study will attempt
to address. Why have you selected these specific materials and techniques to communicate your
ideas. The good news is that there will be plenty of time ahead of your thesis defense to prepare your
slides and practice your presentation alone and in front of friends or family. It is the responsibility of
the thesis chair to approve the final body of work before it is sent to the full thesis committee prior to
the student's defense. After the presentation by the student, the chair opens the floor to the external
examiners to give their comments, ask questions and give feedback to the student on how to improve
the proposal. Email final pdf of thesis to the Graduate School and to the department. It
acknowledges that the contemporary moment synthesizes the mainstream and the periphery, theory
and experience, history and future. Also, list down potential questions to expect from the dissertation
committee. Complete the 2-part thesis defense (formal defense and public reading). Scan your
course syllabus to find something that makes you curious. This question talks about the practical
implications of your research. To reply to this, you’ve got to be careful with words since you may
implicate yourself.

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