 How
do I prepare for my oral defense?
The
oral defense is what makes or breaks you. If you are positive and in charge, you
are more likely to enroll your committee. If you are polished and powerful, you
will gain the respect of your committee, and they will be more likely to support
you. If you have good presentation skills, your audience is much more likely to
take you seriously. So if you are afraid of public speaking, practice with a good
coach to prepare for a positive experience. The
golden rule for success at your orals is to practice and polish your presentation
and have good visual aids. Take every opportunity you can find to speak about
your project in front of a group. This kind of practice will quickly improve your
presentation skills. Three
Strategies for Preparing for Your Oral Defense: - Know
your audience.Try to talk to each of your committee members before the meeting
so you know what their concerns are AHEAD OF TIME. It is much easier to prepare
your response ahead of time rather than respond in the moment. Find out from other
students about the kinds of concerns each of your committee members might ask
about.
- Prepare
a script for your presentation. Time yourself so that you will stay to the time
you are allowed. Prepare points to raise during the discussion. Prepare answers
for the questions you expect to get as well as those that you are most afraid
of getting. Prepare and use visual aids. Practice. Practice. Practice.
- Meet
with you chair prior to the orals to review what you should expect and follow
the advice that he or she gives you!
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