Hi all
The thesis defense is like an examination in some ways. It is different in many ways, however. The chief difference is that the candidate usually knows more about the syllabus than do the examiner(s).
Some questions will be sincere questions: the asker asks because s/he doesn't know and expects that the candidate will be able to rectify this. Students often expect questions to be difficult and attacking, and answer them accordingly. Often the questions will be much simpler than you expect. In a curious relativistic effect, time expands in the mind of the student. A few seconds pause to reflect before answering seems eminently reasonable to the panel, but to the defender it seems like minutes of mute failure. Take your time.
What usually happens is that the examiners have read the work perhaps twice, and looked closely at some parts that interested them the most. These are usually the good bits. They are not out to fail you. It is a lot more complicated to fail you than to pass you.
In general, they feel good about the idea of a new, fresh researcher coming into their area. They have to show that they have read it and they have to give you the opportunity to show that you understand it (you do, of course). And they usually have a genuine interest in the work. Some of them may feel it is necessary to maintain their image as senior scholars and founts of wisdom.
Following your presentation, you are expected to answer questions from faculty and observers. This question period generally lasts about 15 minutes in English. Committee members and observers may ask questions from any area of your thesis work; however, the most common types are as follows:
* Clarifications
* Questions probing your understanding of the issues
* Questions about the validity of your assumptions
* Questions asking you to explain why you took a certain approach
* Questions about what would happen if something were changed
* Questions about the choice of your problematic
* Questions exploring the future use of your thesis
The thesis defense is like an examination in some ways. It is different in many ways, however. The chief difference is that the candidate usually knows more about the syllabus than do the examiner(s).
Some questions will be sincere questions: the asker asks because s/he doesn't know and expects that the candidate will be able to rectify this. Students often expect questions to be difficult and attacking, and answer them accordingly. Often the questions will be much simpler than you expect. In a curious relativistic effect, time expands in the mind of the student. A few seconds pause to reflect before answering seems eminently reasonable to the panel, but to the defender it seems like minutes of mute failure. Take your time.
What usually happens is that the examiners have read the work perhaps twice, and looked closely at some parts that interested them the most. These are usually the good bits. They are not out to fail you. It is a lot more complicated to fail you than to pass you.
In general, they feel good about the idea of a new, fresh researcher coming into their area. They have to show that they have read it and they have to give you the opportunity to show that you understand it (you do, of course). And they usually have a genuine interest in the work. Some of them may feel it is necessary to maintain their image as senior scholars and founts of wisdom.
Following your presentation, you are expected to answer questions from faculty and observers. This question period generally lasts about 15 minutes in English. Committee members and observers may ask questions from any area of your thesis work; however, the most common types are as follows:
* Clarifications
* Questions probing your understanding of the issues
* Questions about the validity of your assumptions
* Questions asking you to explain why you took a certain approach
* Questions about what would happen if something were changed
* Questions about the choice of your problematic
* Questions exploring the future use of your thesis
SEE YOU IN DECEMBER FOR YOUR ORAL PRESENTATION
