apa itu thesis defense

What is a Thesis Defense?

Reviewed by David Krug David Krug is a seasoned expert with 20 years in educational technology (EdTech). His career spans the pivotal years of technology integration in education, where he has played a key role in advancing student-centric learning solutions. David's expertise lies in marrying technological innovation with pedagogical effectiveness, making him a valuable asset in transforming educational experiences. As an advisor for enrollment startups, David provides strategic guidance, helping these companies navigate the complexities of the education sector. His insights are crucial in developing impactful and sustainable enrollment strategies.

Updated: March 17, 2024 , Reading time: 21 minutes

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Going into college, students may need to make a lot of decisions. First-year students may have to deal with choosing their degree programs and moving into their dormitories. With the evolving educational system in the U.S., many schools are retrofitting their curriculums and offering more academic options.

Most universities are leaning toward holistic development and incorporating diversity into their programs. With this, according to the U.S. Census Bureau , there’s an upward trend in the number of college graduates in the country every year. 

In terms of academic programs, there are different fields to choose from, including architecture, communications, and business. In addition to the various fields, there are also several majors to choose from, such as computer engineering, public health, and graphic design. Most programs are designed for classroom learning and experiential learning.  

College students may also take up minors that complement their major, or it may be from a different field, such as one that fits their interests or may help them with their future careers. Some minors may include urban planning, creative writing , or different cultural studies. Aside from this, students may also have to choose between a two-year or four-year undergraduate program. 

Undergraduate Programs

After high school, students may either earn a bachelor’s degree or opt for an associate degree. The two degrees vary primarily by the duration of the academic program. Bachelor’s programs typically take four years to finish.

In fact, according to a report , 41% of students earning a bachelor’s degree finish it within four years. This requires the student to finish 120 credit hours, providing a broad education based on various subjects and an academic major. 

Basic subjects, such as history, social sciences, and mathematics are usually covered within the program’s first half. Students are exposed to subjects dealing with their chosen major, like business or engineering majors, towards the second half.

Bachelor’s degree programs may be divided into Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). B.S. degrees usually deal with mathematical sciences, while B.A. degrees may include social sciences and fine arts.

On the other hand, associate degrees are earned by taking up 60 credit hours, which usually takes two years to finish. Most community colleges and state universities offer this degree program. If you’re planning to finish an associate degree, you must complete a program consisting of different subjects under general education, a concentration in a particular field, and different electives based on your interests.

What is a Thesis?

Most bachelor’s degree programs include a thesis during the student’s last year in college or senior year. In most programs, a thesis is primarily designed to ensure students understand their field or major. It serves as a culmination of what they have covered in their curriculum. Students are generally required to think critically about the work they do and answer open-ended questions.

A good thesis may aim to provide solutions to problems from different fields backed by reliable data. It may come in different forms, such as exploratory thesis, development project, and production.

A development project may aim to create or enhance existing standard practices or working methods. This may involve suggesting improvements to maximize certain parameters. For example, students may study the effects of automating businesses to improve their productivity. 

On the other hand, the production thesis involves creating new products or formulating new tools. This may be practiced in advertising or business marketing, where students may be asked to produce marketing tools or new products. 

Lastly, an exploratory thesis may deal with either a development thesis or production. It may involve evaluating certain procedures qualitatively or quantitatively. Additionally, the method may involve the exploration and testing of theoretical ideas. In this type of thesis, students often gather the data to be used in the thesis independently.

Who Needs a Thesis?

Thesis writing isn’t always necessary for completing academic programs. It usually depends on the course track and whether or not making a thesis fits the subject taken. Nowadays, many schools offer both a thesis route and a non-thesis one to fit their students’ preferences. 

For the non-thesis track, students are given the option to take more classes instead of completing a thesis. It also applies to students seeking additional subjects within their field. Alternatively, you can either conduct research or complete supervised fieldwork rather than writing a thesis. 

Students earning an undergraduate degree in a certain field and major may present a topic related to their major. There are many majors to choose from. Some majors requiring a thesis include Philosophy, Business Administration, and Literature. A variety of subtopics may be selected for research and investigation.

For example, a civil engineering student taking up a major in structural design may present a thesis about the effects of an earthquake on the building’s structural safety. In the same way, English majors may tackle topics related to different authors and literary works across different genres.

Business majors may present different proposals to improve production procedures or test out strategies to increase sales turnout.

Thesis Process

Writing a thesis paper is usually the final requirement before graduation. If you’re in your senior year, this is vital in ensuring a diploma. Thesis writing takes a long process and involves a lot of patience since it may involve tedious work such as data collection and research. Here are the different phases involved in creating a thesis: 

Establishing the Thesis Problem 

This also involves knowing your topic and creating the thesis title. By reading current research or theories on your topic, you may check if there is a research problem to be solved. It’s best to formulate a clear research question that identifies all the relevant issues. It’s also best to find a faculty advisor with ample knowledge of the subject you’ll be tackling.

Build a strong working relationship with your chosen advisor from whom you’ll be getting insights. Ask for their teaching schedule so you’ll know when to approach them for consultation. 

Creating a Plan

Some thesis advisers require a project plan at the start. This is to ensure that there’s a proper procedure and thought process followed from research to defense. If you’re struggling with creating a plan, you may start with an outline of your proposal. Then you may slowly build up your research per section. It’s important to know where to find your sources and what topics to research. 

Doing your Research

Students are required to read related literature and previous projects related to your topic. This may help in being more familiar with the subject matter and in establishing your methodology. Setting up the project often takes up a substantial portion of research time for most students.

Writing the Thesis Paper

This doesn’t just involve writing the final output. Thesis writing is done from the start of the project to establishing the research of the topic and gathering needed data. Another important aspect of a thesis paper is the analysis of the result of the experiment and how it can solve the problem stated at the start of the thesis.

Lastly, conclusions and recommendations are crucial in completing a thesis paper. It’s important to relate the conclusion to the statement problem. Then, you may draw recommendations from the conclusion.  

Editing and Submission

After creating your final output, the advisor usually goes over the paperwork and recommends edits to improve the flow and data tabulation. Seek guidance and be open to criticism ! This is important in polishing certain sections of the thesis paper. Certain guidelines may also be set to keep all the reports uniform.

It’s important to follow the prescribed guidelines such as the font size, font style, and cover page. After all the editing is done, most departments require several formal printed copies of the manuscript for submission to the panel.

Defending the Thesis

Students defending their undergraduate thesis usually present their study, along with the results and how they came up with it. If you’re presenting data, prepare illustrations and graphs to organize them and show correlations efficiently. It is advisable to keep your presentation concise based on the limited discussion time given to you.  

To draft an effective presentation, you may start by discussing the background of the study and its problem statement. Then, you may show how you could gather the data needed to solve or support your study’s objectives.

After presenting the methodology, you may present the results effectively by creating graphs and charts. The final part of the presentation would be your study’s conclusion.

The thesis defense is usually presented to a panel consisting of different faculty members knowledgeable about the subject. Following the presentation, the panel will be asking a series of questions that are relevant to the write-up.

Some questions may tackle the research methodology and the significance of the study. That is why it pays to be ready and possess exceptional knowledge of the thesis paper. 

Common Parts of a Thesis

Introduction

With the introduction, it’s important to give a clear overview of what the paper will be about. Aside from stating the subject, this section is also a good start to introducing the purpose of the study and its intended audience.

It’s also the part where you can establish the boundaries for the study, which may help you focus more on getting focal results. Background information is also best discussed in this section. 

Problem Statement

When dealing with the problem statement, it’s important to be specific with the subject and its terms. This is so you can focus on a particular problem and avoid investigating a broad range of problems associated with a topic. This may lead to unmanageable methodologies, and chances are, you’re proposal may be rejected. 

The key is to have a topic that you’re interested in and find a specific problem or subtopic that you want to delve more into. Aside from specifically stating the problem, this section may include a short description of how to solve it. It may also include a summary of the proposal’s purpose and scope.

Literature Review

The literature review may come in a separate section or as part of the introduction. Either way, it’s best to find various sources related to the topic and problem. It’s best to include different sides of the subject and organize them in a structured layout. 

Methodology

This section includes how data is gathered and how it will be analyzed. You may also describe how you chose the research design and formulated the methods. Don’t forget to include the description of each procedure so readers may understand them more.

You may also include certain limitations to the method applied. This may show the readers that you are aware of your constraints and have taken the necessary steps to manage them.

Results and Discussion

This section outlines the results after following the methods in the previous section. Most of the data in the research may be found in this section, and its analysis may be found in the discussion. You may use different graphs and tables to show the data in a more organized manner.

The discussion section shows the interpretation of the illustrations and the correlation of the results to the questions at the start of the thesis. It’s best to cite references while discussing the results, adding more credibility and scientific backing to the claims.

It’s best to summarize the important information obtained in the conclusion since some readers may go to this section right away. To effectively write your conclusion, it’s important to relate the results of your experiment or research to the objective and problem of the study.

You may enumerate and summarize the results when relating them to the study’s objectives. Be sure to include recommendations on improving data-gathering methods and suggest other areas that other researchers may focus on. 

Recommendations

You may also add a section containing recommendations that are related to your topic. This may include suggesting further studies or diving into a similar subtopic to support different claims. It’s important to write this section with the target audience in mind. You may separate each recommendation according to its appropriate audience. 

Citing your sources is an important element in an effective thesis paper. You may organize all your references in one section, alphabetically, to keep them in order. This may help the readers read on research topics and may make your statements more credible.

Footnotes are also beneficial but having a section listing all your sources will make the paper more organized.

Tips for Writing Your Thesis

Writing a thesis paper comes in different parts. In every section, you may face different challenges and hardships. With this, here are some tips to consider when writing your thesis: 

• Simplify and explain the ideas. – You may need to write in a way that a person with little to no idea of the subject can understand the paper. That’s why it’s important to define the terms used in the study in a clear manner. It’s recommended that you provide a section where abbreviations and their meanings may be shown and discussed. 
• Think creatively . – You may need to think out of the box, especially when devising your research methodology. It’s also best to look for different ways to present your data effectively. Brainstorm for different sources and ideas that may be used to improve the overall thesis paper. 
• Go for relevant information. – Don’t just add sources to bulk up the report. It’s important to filter your literature and only use the ones that add value to your study. Avoid repetitive studies or sources that support the same ideas. 
• Choose a good topic. – If you have trouble choosing a topic, consider how passionate you are about the subject. If you’re genuinely interested in a topic, chances are you may be more motivated to do research and find solutions to solve problems related to that field. 
• Close loose ends. – One of the things to consider when writing your conclusion is answering the problem statement. Any loose ends may bring in more questions, especially during the thesis defense. Address unanswered questions by recommending them in future research or a different thesis approach to the same field. 
• Rewrite until you’re satisfied with the outcome. – You may be given ample time to finish your thesis, so it’s best not to rush things. Take your time in drafting every section of the paper. If necessary, write drafts and have them checked by your advisor from time to time. In most cases, you may be given a set schedule to consult with your advisors.
• Be organized. – Starting with an outline may help you stay on track. It may also help you know which areas need to be done next. Aside from this, it’s best to organize your files, such as the gathered data and literature review articles, in a document folder so it may be easy for you to find them. Having disorganized files may cost you more time and leave out important files. 

How to Improve Your Thesis Defense Presentation

Going into a thesis defense can be both challenging and stressful. It’s important to consider it as an opportunity to share your knowledge and understanding of the research. Be sure to discuss your topic and results with your panel in great detail and reconsider simply throwing in arguments for the sake of it. Your presentation will also play a pivotal role during a thesis defense. 

It’s best to look for simple presentation templates since the panel may be distracted by full graphics. Make sure that the colors used in your slides are easy on the eyes and keep the animation minimal. You may prepare a clear presentation structure that starts with a title and a brief introduction to the study. Your introduction may include the field of the topic and its relevance.

Keep it short, as you might need more time to discuss the latter sections of the report. You may include highlights from literature related to the study, followed by the research methodology. 

Aside from showing relevant information, such as its sample population and type of study, make sure to enumerate the steps taken clearly. You may use bullets to create an organized methodology presentation. Also, be sure to include why you chose the specific methodology and how your data was analyzed. 

The next part of your presentation will include the results of your experiment or survey. It’s important to highlight the important data and results . Improve your presentation by showing the collected information in graphs or illustrations such as bar graphs or pie charts.

When presenting data through graphs, make sure to use contradicting colors that may emphasize differences and label them accordingly to avoid any confusion.

In the discussion section, present only the significant findings and how it is relevant to your topic. Make sure that the conclusions are concise and answer the problem statements of the study. You may include the limitations of the study, along with your suggestions, through the recommendations section. You may end your presentation by sharing your conclusion and recommendation. 

Ace your Oral Defense 

Defending your thesis is the last step of your thesis and probably the most nerve-wracking too. Your oral defense may make or break your entire thesis journey, so it’s best to exert effort on acing it. With this, here are some tips to take control of your thesis defense: 

Start with an introduction.

It’s best not to jump into the report right away. Take your time in introducing yourself or your groupmates if you’re working in pairs or threes. You may also acknowledge the members of the panel. This also gives you some time to ease into your place and prepare for the presentation. However, it’s best to make your introductions quick since you may be given a limited time to present.

Calm your nerves.

Getting nervous before a presentation is normal. However, you shouldn’t let it get the best of you and everything you have worked hard for. Being nervous while presenting may lead to you talking fast, which may confuse the panel. It may even cause you to forget and miss the report’s important highlights.

It’s best to take a deep breath and take your time going over the presentation. It’s also alright to pause before answering any question from the panel. This allows you to think and articulate your answer more clearly.

Prepare beforehand.

It’s important to go over the report several times and review the results to understand them fully. Aside from understanding the thesis paper, find time to prepare for the presentation used for the oral defense. Knowing its flow and highlights may help you maintain your confidence during the presentation.

Be sure to practice and prepare what you’ll be saying. Despite sounding scripted, preparing a script may help you finish the presentation within the given time constraint. 

Formulate possible questions. 

One way to effectively prepare for an oral defense is to anticipate the panel’s questions. Take time to think about possible questions and scenarios that may be raised. Take time to list them down and research each one. This may also give you additional insight into your subject that you have missed previously. Understand the questions and formulate your answers in advance.

Keep it short but concise. 

Most students are given a short time to present their thesis. If you’re presenting your thesis, it’s integral only to include the main points and important information. You may include relevant results and organize them through graphs or tables.

Avoid adding unnecessary animations that may take time and go straight to the point in terms of presentations. You may save time by following PowerPoint templates designed for presenting studies. 

Be confident.

Be confident , or at least try to pretend until you finish the whole defense. It’s important to maintain eye contact, especially with the panel. Appearing timid may show that you’re not prepared or knowledgeable of your topic.

Additionally, it’s important to talk clearly and emphasize certain words, which may help you avoid sounding monotonous. You may create an outline and prepare handy notes that you can check from time to time. 

Questions Frequently Asked During Thesis Defense

Answering questions is part of every thesis defense. After sharing your thesis presentation, the panel will be asking various questions to clarify certain areas of the study. To evaluate your understanding of the topic, you may be asked to expound on the different methods applied to the research.

It’s important to be aware of the usual questions so you can prepare in advance. Here are some of the possible questions to be asked in a thesis defense: 

• What’s the significance of the study? Although this may be included in the thesis already, the panel frequently asks to check if you know the importance of your thesis by heart. It’s best to answer why you did the study and how it will contribute to your chosen field or society.
• What are the limitations of the study? – This is rather tricky since panel members might be testing you if there are things that you failed to address or acknowledge. It’s best to go over your thesis and raise your recommendations when answering this. 
• Briefly share with us your study. – You may face this request even after summarizing your thesis report into a twenty-minute presentation. The panelists may be testing you to see if you can explain the thesis more concisely. This will measure how you understand the entire study. An outline of the study will come in handy to answer this.
• Why did you choose this topic? – With this question, you may share your reasons for choosing a certain topic. In addition, you may also highlight the study’s impact as one of the deciding factors. 
• What are the problems that you have encountered? – You may share the problems that you have encountered. However, it’s best to pair them with the solutions that you came up with to solve them. 
• Can you share any significant data? – This may either mean that you’ve shown too much data for them to notice the significant ones or simply to test if you know what data is important to support your results and discussion. It’s important to prepare for this question since this may lead to more follow-up queries. 
• If you had a chance to change anything in your research, what would you do differently? – This question is usually asked towards the end of the defense. You may use your recommendations to answer this. Most of the panelists may ask this to challenge you to think critically of the topic and look at the study’s bigger picture. 

What Happens After the Thesis Defense?

After presenting your thesis through an oral defense, the panel will deliberate on the results and produce amendments to the study. Some may be given a passing mark wherein there are no changes to be made. This takes you a step closer to graduation. However, there are times when panelists may suggest certain revisions to the thesis paper. 

These revisions vary from major to minor amendments. Sometimes, the student will need to redo an oral defense to present the changes to their study. Some revisions may be as small as changing some literature reviews or as big as restructuring the methodology and gathering the data again.

Failure marks are also possible but very rare since there is usually no limit to the revisions to be made. It may take longer than usual to finish the entire thesis process.

The Takeaway

Different undergraduate degrees come with various requirements. One of which is creating a thesis paper. Bachelor’s degree programs typically involve a thesis in the student’s final year of college. It’s a culmination of what the student has covered throughout their course or major.

A thesis paper comprises different sections, such as its introduction, methodology, and conclusion. Each section supports the established main topic and the study’s problem statement.

If you’re finished with editing and submitting your thesis paper, the last part of the process is presenting your study in front of a panel through a thesis defense. This is vital for teachers to understand how you worked with the thesis. It may also help them assess if you’re knowledgeable enough about the topic covered. 

During the thesis defense, it’s best to show a short presentation to allow time for some questions from the panel. In terms of presenting data, be sure to organize them through charts and graphs and label them accordingly. Use slides that are simple and visually pleasing.

When presenting, it’s recommended to come prepared and be confident when addressing the panel. The panel may not expect you to know everything, but they will most definitely watch how you conduct yourself during the thesis defense.

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Pertanyaan yang Sering Diajukan di Theses Defense

Theses atau dalam bahasa Indonesia disebut sebagai skripsi memang sesuatu yang sepertinya ditakuti oleh para mahasiswa tingkat akhir. Meskipun proses pembuatan thesis sudah selesai, namun tidak berarti mahasiswa sudah dapat bertenang hati.

Justru masa kritis sebenarnya muncul ketika dosen pembimbing sudah menyetujui Skripsi tersebut. Yaitu ujian skripsi atau Theses Defense . Dalam artikel ini akan dibahas tips cara menjawab pertanyaan yang sering diajukan di theses defense dalam bahasa inggris.

1. In few sentences, can you tell us what your study is all about? (Dalam beberapa kalimat, bisakah anda memberitahukan kepada kami tentang apa yang anda teliti?)

Jika anda benar-benar membuat thesis itu sendiri, anda sharusnya dapat dengan mudah menjawab pertanyaan ini. Untuk dapat menjawab pertanyaan ini, anda harus sangat mengerti setiap detail dari skripsi atau thesis yang sudah anda buat. Anda bisa menjawabnya berdasarkan rangkuman yang sudah anda buat menjadi abstrak. Jadi, jika abstrak yang anda buat sudah sangat baik, tentu pertanyaan ini adalah pertanyaan yang sangat mudah.

2. What is your motivation for this study? (Apa motivasi anda untuk penelitian ini?)

Dalam menjawab pertanyaan ini, anda harus benar -benar berhati-hati. Dengan pertanyaan ini, banyak yang salah memahami dan menjawabnya dengan permasalahan yang diangkat dalam thesis ini. Padahal, untuk menjawab pertanyaan ini anda harus memperlihatkan latar belakang dari munculnya masalah tersebut sehingga memotivasi anda untuk melakukan penelitian ini.

3. What is the significance of your study? (Apa manfaat dari penelitianmu?)

Pertanyaan ini sebenarnya sangat mudah, namun banyak yang tidak dapat menjawabnya karena tidak begitu memahami maksud dari para penguji. Dalam menjawab pertanyaan ini, anda harus menonjolkan manfaat dari penelitian yang sudah anda lakukan bagi pemerintah, mahasiswa lain serta bagi perkembang di dunia kemasyarakatan. Dengan begitu maka penguji akan melihat kesungguhan anda dalam mengerjakan skripsi anda.

4. What limitations did you encounter? (Apa batasan yang anda terapkan?)

Pertanyaan ini mudah namun menjebak. Banyak dari peserta yang jatuh pada pertanyaan ini. Saat bertanya, mungkin penguji terdengar sangat bersimpati, namun sebenarnya mereka mencari kelemahan dari penelitian yang anda lakukan. Untuk menjawabnya , jangan memberikan batasan dari penelitian karena akan menimbulkan anggapan bahwa ada bias di penelitian anda. Sebisa mungkin jawabah dengan batasan-batasan studi atau teori yang ada.

5. What are your findings? (Apa yang kamu dapat dari penelitianmu?)

Hal ini mudah namun, sering para peserta menjawab dengan ragu dan bertele-tele. Dalam menjawab pertanyaan ini, anda sebaiknya mrangkum hasil yang anda dapatkan dan menyampaikannya dengan tenang, percaya diri dan dalam bahasa baku yang formal, padat dan jelas. Dengan begitu akan menunjukkan bahwa anda benar-benar melakukan penelitian tersebut dan menemukan hasil seperti yang anda sampaiakan.

6. What methods or sampling technique did you employ? (Metode atau pengambilan sampel apa yang kamu gunakan?)

Untuk menjawab pertanyaan ini, anda harus benar-benar memahami bab III pada skripsi anda. Anda harus mengerti segala hal tentang metode penelitian yang anda gunakan. Serta mengerti sampel, bagaimana menentukannya serta berapa jumlahnya. Dengan mengetahui hal-hal tersebut anda akan mendapat nilai tambah dalam siding skripsi.

7. Why choose this method? (Mengapa memilih metode penelitian tersebut?)

Untuk menjawab pertanyaan ini, pertama yang harus anda lakukan adalah memahami tentang metode yang anda gunakan. Ketahui semua hal tentang metode ini, mulai dari kelebihan dari metode ini hingga kelemahannya. Dengan begitu, and bisa menghubungkan kelemahan dan kelebihan tersebut terhadap topic atau study yang anda lakukan. Buatlah alasan yang cukup ilmiah sehingga penguji tidak menganggap anda hanya ikut-ikutan saja dalam memilih metode penelitian.

8. Based on your findings what are your recommendations? (Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang anda dapat, apa rekomendasi anda?)

Rekomendasi disini berarti rekomendasi tentang adanya penelitian selanjutnya sebagai tindak lanjut dari penelitian yang telah anda lakukan. Untuk menjawab pertanyaan ini anda harus mampu menunjukkan hasil yang anda dapat dan apa yang belum anda temukan dalam penelitian ini untuk dapat diteliti oleh orang lain di waktu yang akan datang, karena hal itu mungkin saja berhubungan dengan batasan dan ruang lingkup dari penelitian yang anda lakukan.

9. How can be your research put into practice? (Bagaimana penelitian anda dapat dipraktikkan?)

Bagi mahasiswa ilmu computer atau jurusan terapan lainnya mungkin akn mudah menjawab pertanyaan ini. Namun, bagi mahasiswa jurusan lain seperti politik, hukum atau pemerintahan akan sedikit sulit. Untuk itu, anda harus menjawabnya dengan menghubungkan hal-hal umum yang terjadi disekitar anda.

10. What would you change if you were to conduct the study again? (Apa yang akan kamu rubah jika kamu mengulangi penelitian ini lagi?)

Pertanyaan ini juga merupakan salah satu pertanyaan menjebak yang bertujuan untuk mencari celah dan kelemahan dari penelitian anda. Jangan terlalu terpancing, dan anda bisa menjawabnya dengan tidak ingin merubah apapun, karena anda sudah melakukan penelitian sesuai dengan metode, ruang lingkup dan batasan yang telah ditentukan.

11. What is your measurement instrument? (Apa instrument pengukuran yang anda gunakan?)

Pada pertanyaan ini, anda harus dapat menjawab dengan baik apakah anda menggunakan questioner, atau anda menggunakan interview. Dan apakah and langsung mendapatkanya dengan melakukan survey secara langsung atau dengan bantuan pihak lain.

12. What are your research variables? (Apa variable penelitian anda?)

Pertanyaan ini akan sangat menunjukkan apakah anda tahu apa yang telah anda kerjakan atau tidak. Anda harus menjawab pertanyaan ini dengan sangat baik. Anda harus mampu membedakan variable apa saja yang ada pada penelitian anda dan definisi dari masing masing-masing variable.

13. How would you relate your findings to existing theories on the study? (Bagaimana kamu menghubungkan penemuanmu dengan teori yang telah ada tentang penelitianmu?)

Dalam menjawab pertanyaan ini, anda harus mengetahui dengan benar teori–teori yang telah ada dan dapat menghubungkannya. Akan lebih baik jika anda bisa mengatakan bagaimana pendapat anda tentang teori tersebut,apakan anda setuju atau tidak.

Pertanyaan–pertanyaan diatas adalah pertanyaan yang sering muncul dan menjebak.

Artikel Lainnya

Indonesian Word Index: A . B . C . D . E . F . G . H . I . J . K . L . M . N . O . P . Q . R . S . T . U . V . W . X . Y . Z

• Masters/Doctoral Resources

What is a Thesis Defense?

• February 28, 2023

Home Educators Blog

There are many benefits of completing a master’s degree program , including increased salary and career advancements, so it’s no surprise that millions of Americans apply for graduate school every year. One of the first questions they might ask is, “what are the requirements to complete a graduate program?” Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question. Some schools require a GRE test, some a practicum, some a thesis defense, etc.

The requirements vary depending on the specific school and the type of degree you want to pursue, so you’ll want to investigate that prior to applying for a program. For many students, a thesis defense is one of the more nerve-racking requisites, but it doesn’t have to be! For one thing, it’s not a requirement for all programs. And for another, there are many ways to ensure you are prepared so that you feel confident. Read on to find out how to best navigate a thesis defense and be successful in your program!

A  thesis defense  is an oral presentation and discussion of a thesis study. The thesis study is the sum of all the knowledge a person learns throughout their master’s degree program. Not all master’s programs require a thesis defense, however, and we’ll discuss that later on in this article. The purpose of the defense is so the graduate student can show the academic community that they understand, and have completed, a sufficient amount of work in order to earn their degree.

Does Every Grad Program Have a Thesis Defense?

The short answer here is no. All doctoral programs require a thesis defense, but not all master’s degree programs do. Most graduate education programs do not require a thesis, but you should check with your university to determine their specific requirements before applying for a program. Each school is different, and some might require a thesis defense for a program that others do not. Some schools will exempt students from a thesis if they complete a capstone or research project. Other schools might prefer supervised field experience in lieu of a thesis.

What Does a Thesis Defense Look Like?

A thesis defense should not look like an aggressive line of questioning; the purpose is for you to share and discuss your knowledge and experience regarding a specific subject. Yes, the academic committee will ask questions, but with accurate preparation they should be questions that you feel comfortable answering. The committee just wants to ensure that you’re an expert in your field. The questions are typically open-ended and require critical-thinking skills to answer.

How to Prepare for a Thesis Defense

Defending a thesis probably sounds scary, but the good news is, you’ll have a ton of time to prepare. The university wants you to do well, so they will give you plenty of notice prior to a date being set for the defense. It should never be a surprise, and you shouldn’t feel rushed. Think of it like a job interview; brainstorm the questions you might be asked, and then practice answering them. Practice, practice, practice; the more you prepare, the less nervous you’ll feel. Don’t think of it as an exam as much as a chance to share your knowledge about a subject with other educators. It should come across as a meaningful conversation between colleagues, not like an interrogation.

My Experience with a Thesis Defense

I did not have to write and defend a thesis in order to obtain my M.A. in Educational Administration . The university I attended instead required me to complete a specific number of supervised field experience hours. One of my instructors had me create and run a professional learning community (PLC) with my colleagues at the school where I worked once a week for 6 weeks. My colleagues came to the PLC with issues and problems regarding education that they wanted to discuss, and I facilitated the discussions. It was a great opportunity for us to brainstorm solutions to common problems, and to bond together as educators.

I also spent time shadowing principals in two of the high schools in my district. It was interesting to see how each school is run and how the principal handles their problems based on the needs of their school. There were some similarities, and yet the demographics of both schools were so different that it was impossible to approach the position with a “cookie-cutter” attitude. Each principal needed to adapt to meet the needs of their staff and students and watching them do this helped my critical thinking skills tremendously.

I don’t believe I would have been as prepared to take on the role of an administrator if I had spent hours researching in a library trying to write a thesis as opposed to having these real experiences. And that’s one of the reasons I chose the program. I wanted to be as prepared as possible for my future career, and they understood that and designed their program in a practical manner.

I would advise any future graduate student to do some research into any universities they’re thinking about attending. It’s easy to just focus on cost per credit and the time commitment, but you’ll be happier if you choose a school whose mission statement and values reflect your own.

Teachers never stop learning; check out our available graduate degree programs  to hone your skills and promote lifelong learning and academic excellence.

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How to prepare an excellent thesis defense

What is a thesis defense?

How long is a thesis defense, what happens at a thesis defense, your presentation, questions from the committee, 6 tips to help you prepare for your thesis defense, 1. anticipate questions and prepare for them, 2. dress for success, 3. ask for help, as needed, 4. have a backup plan, 5. prepare for the possibility that you might not know an answer, 6. de-stress before, during, and after, frequently asked questions about preparing an excellent thesis defense, related articles.

If you're about to complete, or have ever completed a graduate degree, you have most likely come across the term "thesis defense." In many countries, to finish a graduate degree, you have to write a thesis .

A thesis is a large paper, or multi-chapter work, based on a topic relating to your field of study.

Once you hand in your thesis, you will be assigned a date to defend your work. Your thesis defense meeting usually consists of you and a committee of two or more professors working in your program. It may also include other people, like professionals from other colleges or those who are working in your field.

During your thesis defense, you will be asked questions about your work. The main purpose of your thesis defense is for the committee to make sure that you actually understand your field and focus area.

The questions are usually open-ended and require the student to think critically about their work. By the time of your thesis defense, your paper has already been evaluated. The questions asked are not designed so that you actually have to aggressively "defend" your work; often, your thesis defense is more of a formality required so that you can get your degree.

• Check with your department about requirements and timing.
• Re-read your thesis.
• Anticipate questions and prepare for them.
• Create a back-up plan to deal with technology hiccups.
• Plan de-stressing activities both before, and after, your defense.

How long your oral thesis defense is depends largely on the institution and requirements of your degree. It is best to consult your department or institution about this. In general, a thesis defense may take only 20 minutes, but it may also take two hours or more. The length also depends on how much time is allocated to the presentation and questioning part.

Tip: Check with your department or institution as soon as possible to determine the approved length for a thesis defense.

First of all, be aware that a thesis defense varies from country to country. This is just a general overview, but a thesis defense can take many different formats. Some are closed, others are public defenses. Some take place with two committee members, some with more examiners.

The same goes for the length of your thesis defense, as mentioned above. The most important first step for you is to clarify with your department what the structure of your thesis defense will look like. In general, your thesis defense will include:

• your presentation of around 20-30 minutes
• questions from the committee
• questions from the audience (if the defense is public and the department allows it)

You might have to give a presentation, often with Powerpoint, Google slides, or Keynote slides. Make sure to prepare an appropriate amount of slides. A general rule is to use about 10 slides for a 20-minute presentation.

But that also depends on your specific topic and the way you present. 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.

Tip: Practice delivering your thesis presentation in front of family, friends, or colleagues.

You can prepare your slides by using information from your thesis' first chapter (the overview of your thesis) as a framework or outline. Substantive information in your thesis should correspond with your slides.

Make sure your slides are of good quality— both in terms of the integrity of the information and the appearance. If you need more help with how to prepare your presentation slides, both the ASQ Higher Education Brief and James Hayton have good guidelines on the topic.

The committee will ask questions about your work after you finish your presentation. The questions will most likely be about the core content of your thesis, such as what you learned from the study you conducted. They may also ask you to summarize certain findings and to discuss how your work will contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

Tip: Read your entire thesis in preparation of the questions, so you have a refreshed perspective on your work.

While you are preparing, you can create a list of possible questions and try to answer them. You can foresee many of the questions you will get by simply spending some time rereading your thesis.

Here are a few tips on how to prepare for your thesis defense:

You can absolutely prepare for most of the questions you will be asked. Read through your thesis and while you're reading it, create a list of possible questions. In addition, since you will know who will be on the committee, look at the academic expertise of the committee members. In what areas would they most likely be focused?

If possible, sit at other thesis defenses with these committee members to get a feel for how they ask and what they ask. As a graduate student, you should generally be adept at anticipating test questions, so use this advantage to gather as much information as possible before your thesis defense meeting.

Your thesis defense is a formal event, often the entire department or university is invited to participate. It signals a critical rite of passage for graduate students and faculty who have supported them throughout a long and challenging process.

While most universities don't have specific rules on how to dress for that event, do regard it with dignity and respect. This one might be a no-brainer, but know that you should dress as if you were on a job interview or delivering a paper at a conference.

It might help you deal with your stress before your thesis defense to entrust someone with the smaller but important responsibilities of your defense well ahead of schedule. This trusted person could be responsible for:

• preparing the room of the day of defense
• setting up equipment for the presentation
• preparing and distributing handouts

Technology is unpredictable. Life is too. There are no guarantees that your Powerpoint presentation will work at all or look the way it is supposed to on the big screen. We've all been there. Make sure to have a plan B for these situations. Handouts can help when technology fails, and an additional clean shirt can save the day if you have a spill.

One of the scariest aspects of the defense is the possibility of being asked a question you can't answer. While you can prepare for some questions, you can never know exactly what the committee will ask.

There will always be gaps in your knowledge. But your thesis defense is not about being perfect and knowing everything, it's about how you deal with challenging situations. You are not expected to know everything.

James Hayton writes on his blog that examiners will sometimes even ask questions they don't know the answer to, out of curiosity, or because they want to see how you think. While it is ok sometimes to just say "I don't know", he advises to try something like "I don't know, but I would think [...] because of x and y, but you would need to do [...] in order to find out.” This shows that you have the ability to think as an academic.

You will be nervous. But your examiners will expect you to be nervous. 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. Dora Farkas at finishyourthesis.com notes that it’s a myth that thesis committees are out to get you.

Two common symptoms of being nervous are talking really fast and nervous laughs. Try to slow yourself down and take a deep breath. Remember what feels like hours to you are just a few seconds in real life.

• Try meditational breathing right before your defense.
• Get plenty of exercise and sleep in the weeks prior to your defense.
• Have your clothes or other items you need ready to go the night before.
• During your defense, allow yourself to process each question before answering.
• Go to dinner with friends and family, or to a fun activity like mini-golf, after your defense.

Allow yourself to process each question, respond to it, and stop talking once you have responded. While a smile can often help dissolve a difficult situation, remember that nervous laughs can be irritating for your audience.

We all make mistakes and your thesis defense will not be perfect. However, careful preparation, mindfulness, and confidence can help you feel less stressful both before, and during, your defense.

Finally, consider planning something fun that you can look forward to after your defense.

It is completely normal to be nervous. 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 if needed. Slow yourself down, and take a deep breath.

Your thesis defense is not about being perfect and knowing everything, it's about how you deal with challenging situations. James Hayton writes on his blog that it is ok sometimes to just say "I don't know", but he advises to try something like "I don't know, but I would think [...] because of x and y, you would need to do [...] in order to find out".

Your Powerpoint presentation can get stuck or not look the way it is supposed to do on the big screen. It can happen and your supervisors know it. In general, handouts can always save the day when technology fails.

• Dress for success.
• Ask for help setting up.
• Have a backup plan (in case technology fails you).
• Deal with your nerves.

Tips For a Successful Thesis Defense, Your Examiner Will Compliment You

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6 frequently asked thesis defense questions students must know.

One thing that college students fear the most: a thesis defense. All the worry and anxiety from doing the thesis research to whether they will pass the thesis defense. For those who will do their thesis defense, this article will spill out some of the most frequently asked thesis defense questions so that you can be more confident during the defense. Ready?

Why Does a Thesis Need to Exist?

I, too, asked this question with frustration. Why should there be a thesis? According to an article by Global Statistics, when students write a thesis, graduate, and publish it on the university’s journal website, they are considered to have contributed to academia. Then, students who pass the thesis defense will be tested (thesis defense).

When tested, students’ scientific work is accounted for, and if they successfully pass the thesis defense, they are considered competent in their scientific field. Writing scientific papers also encourages students to think critically and solve scientific problems.

Also read: The Benefits of Non-Academic Activities for Students. 

6 Frequently Asked Thesis Defense Questions

To be more confident during the thesis defense, here are some questions often asked in a thesis defense and tips for answering them.

1. What is the scientific problem of your research? What is the problem?

The first, most important, and most annoying. Every student preparing and conducting their thesis research will constantly hear this question.

Why is it important that there is an issue to be raised in a thesis? In general, the purpose of research is to answer existing problems. If there’s no problem, why waste time and energy on research? Your research must have significance. It should also be remembered that not all problems can or should be researched, especially questions or problems that can be answered with a “Yes or No.” Why? Yes or No answers do not advance our knowledge.

“One of the first tasks in defining a detailed research topic is finding questions, unresolved controversies, gaps in knowledge or unanswered needs in the chosen subject. This quest requires an awareness of current issues in the subject and an inquisitive, inquiring mind. While you will find that the world is full of unresolved questions and problems, not all of these are suitable subjects for research.” (read more here )

Scientific problems are one of the most basic things you must prepare for before conducting research. If there is no scientific problem, it could be that you may have chosen the wrong thesis topic. Knowing the problem you want to raise will also help you develop research questions and background. Therefore, you must diligently discuss your scientific research problems with your lecturer or thesis advisor.

2. What is your research gap? What is your research novelty?

The second question is just as crucial as the first. When determining a research topic, you must ensure that your research has a novelty. Your research must be able to fill in something lacking, or that does not yet exist in the world of research; that is what is called a research gap.

When your examiner asks this question, you should be able to briefly explain existing research on the topic you are raising (literature reviews) and how your research findings can provide new information and complement previous research. Ensure that your thesis topic and findings are not found in other research (an exact copy). Similarities in research concepts or methods are fine, but ensure that your research provides something new.

3. Why are you bringing up this topic? Why choose that title?

Don’t be confused or surprised if, during the thesis defense, your examiner asks, “what is the title of your thesis?” it’s not that your examiner can’t read; the goal is to see if you know the title of your own thesis and to test further whether the title of your thesis is the same as the contents of your thesis. Not a few students had to change their thesis title because it did not describe the contents of their research post-thesis defense.

4. Why do you use the theory, method, or research subject?

In the world of research, there are many theories and research methods. You must be able to answer and argue why the theory and methods you use in your research are suitable for your research. How does this theory support your research? Why quantitative and not qualitative? Etc. You should also be able to explain why you chose your research subject. Why Gen Z? Why Tangerang? Etc.

5. What did you find from your research?

You must be able to answer the findings of your thesis briefly and to the point. You can share the core findings of your research. Make sure that the findings match your research question or research hypothesis. You can also share unique findings outside of your research question. Therefore, make sure that you really master your research.

6. What can your research contribute? What is the significance of the research?

This question is in line with the second and fifth questions. In essence, your research must benefit society, and your research should help eliminate existing problems.

Also read: Types of Study Programs at UMN.

Here are some frequently asked thesis questions and tips for answering them. A thesis defense is scary, but as long as you constantly discuss with your thesis advisor, diligently read other research, and are serious about working on your research, you will be able to answer all the thesis defense questions well! Cheers to everyone who’s doing their thesis!

• Global Statistics
• UK Sage Pub-Walliman

By Levina Chrestella Theodora | UMN News Service

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan program studi  Informatika |  Sistem Informasi  |  Teknik Komputer  |  Teknik Elektro  |  Teknik Fisika  |  Akuntansi  |  Manajemen |  Komunikasi Strategis  |  Jurnalistik  |  Desain Komunikasi Visual  |  Film dan Animasi  |  Arsitektur  |  D3 Perhotelan  , di  Universitas Multimedia Nusantara .  www.umn.ac.id

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What is the thesis defence or presentation?

How to do your thesis defence, what kind of questions do you get, how should you defend your thesis 6 tips, defending university vs. hbo thesis defence, what if you failed your thesis defence, are you sure you are submitting the best version of your thesis.

Finally, the time has come: your thesis is finished. You have put the last words down on paper and it is now time to defend or present your thesis. An exciting moment! Your defence or presentation often counts towards your final grade. That is why good preparation is very important. Read our tips here to ensure that you successfully defend or present your thesis.

For many hbo and university study programs, you have to defend your thesis in front of and/or present it to people. Who exactly your audience is differs per study program. In any case, your thesis supervisor and second reader will be present. Sometimes you can also invite people yourself,for example the supervisor from your internship company, proud family members, or friends.

During the defence you will answer critical questions about your research, the method used or the results. You will also present your research and findings.

There are also courses where a thesis defence is not necessary, but a research presentation is. In that case, you will not be asked any critical questions, but you will provide a brief summary of, among other things, the reason for your thesis, the research question, the research method, the results, and the conclusion.

If you are going to defend your thesis, including the presentation of your research, your thesis defence should be structured as follows.

1. Present your research

First, you will present your complete research to the public in an understandable way. You often briefly discuss the different parts of your thesis. In addition to your speech, preferably use a visual presentation, such as a PowerPoint. This will help the reader to follow your story and stay engaged while you present.

You usually present your research in the following order:

• What prompted your research (or the problem for which you were looking for a solution)?
• What is your main question?
• What are your possible sub-questions and/or hypotheses?
• What method did you use to answer your research question?
• What are the main results of your research?
• What conclusions do you draw based on those results?
• How do you interpret those results (the discussion)?
• What are your possible recommendations based on your research results?
• What are the limitations of your research? What are any suggestions for further research?
• What have you learned from writing your thesis?

Please note: not every thesis defence requires a presentation of your research. Sometimes a presentation is necessary, but you have to keep it very concise. Check with your thesis supervisor what your specific requirements are.

The presentation of your research should take, on average, about 10-20 minutes. It can be shorter or longer depending on the study program.

2. Answering critical questions

Then comes the most nerve-wracking part of your thesis defence: answering your supervisor’s and second reader’s critical questions. With these questions, they check whether you fully understand the topic and your research.

As nerve-wracking as it is, answer the questions calmly and trust that you know your thesis well enough to be able to answer it. Don't know the answer to a question? Then ask if you can come back to it later. There is nothing wrong with that!

It usually takes about 15-30 minutes to answer the questions. But,, there are also shorter defences. It differs depending on the study program.

3. The result: your grade

You and the audience must leave the room for five minutes. Your supervisor and second reader will use that time to discuss your thesis defence, and your thesis itself. When you return after a few minutes, you will receive your grade. Thus, you will immediately know whether you passed or failed.

Incidentally, there are courses where you will only be informed of the grade later, for example, a week after the defence and/or presentation. Then you have to wait in suspense for a while.

The critical questions are intended to check to what extent you have knowledge of your topic and to see whether your research is well structured or not.

The critical questions can be about the subject of your thesis, your results, or the research design. Consider, for example, these kinds of questions:

• Is your sample representative of the target group you wanted to research?
• Why did you choose that one specific sub-question?
• What does your research add to existing literature?
• Why did you choose this research method?
• How can you show that your research is reliable and/or valid?
•  What are the limitations of your research?
• Could solution X also be a solution to your problem?
• Why did you decide to cite source Y or theory Z in particular?
• If you were to do the research again, what would you do differently?
• Why do or do not your results match with previous research?
• How could you solve the limitations in your research next time?

Good preparation is half the work when defending your thesis. We are happy to give you 6 helpful tips to ensure the defence and presentation run smoothly.

1. Bring your printed paper with you. Then you can always reach for your thesis if someone asks a detailed question about a certain part.

2. Do not read your script, instead memorize the presentation as much as possible. Practice your presentation once with an audience, so that you can be sure that your story is easy for others to follow and that you do not go over the time limit.

3. Use one or at most two slides per part of your thesis (so for example one results slide, one slide for your conclusion, etc.). Otherwise, you will quickly run out of time or your audience will get lost because of the many slides.

4. Limit yourself to the big picture. Only discuss the most important aspects of each section. For example, stick to the results that matter most and don't go into every detail in your results chapter.

5. Read your thesis again in advance, so that you have its contents clear in your mind.

6. Be confident. Stand up straight, keep your back straight and your shoulders back. Speak loud and clear, and avoid fidgeting with your hands. This is how your story comes out at its best.

It is also smart to think in advance which questions may be asked. Knowing that will help you prepare possible answers to those questions.

You defend your thesis both when you study at university and when you follow a higher vocational education programme. However, the requirements differ per study program. Some study programs do not require a defence and/or presentation at all.

Hbo programs are more vocationally oriented; university courses are more scientifically oriented. That is why you will probably be asked more practical questions when defending your thesis at hbo, for example about how feasible your advice is or what you have learned from the internship. If you are going to defend a thesis at the university, you can expect more theoretical or methodological questions, for example about method choices or the sources you used.

The defence of your thesis is almost always compulsory at hbo; a thesis defence does not always occur at university. You will also occasionally see that you only need to present your thesis after receiving your grade.

Unfortunately, the fact that you are allowed to present your thesis does not mean that you are immediately granted a passing grade. This is indeed the case with some study programmes, where you are only allowed to defend a thesis if you have at least a passing grade. In the case of study programs that do not apply this rule, it is in principle possible that you will still hear that you have not passed during your thesis defence. This doesn't mean it was your defence that was not sufficient, as maybe your thesis alone was not up to standard.

If you have not passed your thesis, it is important to talk to your graduation supervisor or examiner as soon as possible. Discuss together why your thesis has not been approved and what your options are. You can often improve your thesis based on the feedback. On the assessment form, you can also read where your thesis currently scores an unsatisfactory mark. After this conversation, you can implement the points for improvement and resubmit your thesis, after which you will hopefully pass.

A good thesis defence starts with a thesis that is rock solid. In other words: a thesis without language errors, with the right structure and with a clear thread. We are happy to help you ensure that your thesis meets all these points. The editors of AthenaCheck check theses on all these matters, and they will be happy to check yours for you too!.

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What is a thesis defense and how does it work?

James davis.

A thesis defense can be quite daunting, but if you know what it is, how it’s structured and how to prepare, you’ll have a good shot at acing it. This article is designed for students considering a PhD and want to learn more about what it entails, but could also be of assistance to current PhDs coming up on their own defense. 

So what is a thesis defense?

A thesis defense is basically a twenty-minute to an hour-long presentation, where you demonstrate knowledge of not only your own work but your field as a whole. This could mean authors that have come before you, to colleagues who’ve written on similar topics. You’ll be presenting in front of a ‘thesis committee’, which is usually a panel of professors. This panel can be decided in a number of ways, depending on the university. Institutions like ANU don’t even do a thesis defense, whereas others like VU allow you to nominate candidates to examine your work, which is then ultimately decided upon by your supervisor . Some universities even let you hand-pick the whole committee! So it’s worth checking which style your university employs. 

When does a thesis defense occur?

Generally, after your thesis has been submitted. They can’t talk about your thesis if you haven’t got one after all! In cases where a thesis defense is secondary or non-existent, your thesis is presented to two or more qualified evaluators, who then make the bulk of their judgement on the work. Not on your rhetoric! This should come as a relief if public speaking isn’t your forte. Even so, it’s worth practising up! It can’t hurt to make a solid impression. You’re a subject matter expert after all. 

How do you succeed in a thesis defense?

No matter who’s evaluating you or what discipline you’re in, there are some general guidelines to follow. We recommend bolstering these by getting your supervisor’s advice and/ or the experiences of your peers. 

• Do your prep work. You may have written your thesis, but you need to know it like the back of your hand to defend it adequately. It also pays to know exactly where the weaknesses are so you can address them. 
• You’re not required to argue your case or anything as the name may imply. You’ll just be asked questions, so be as informed as possible about your work and iron out any objections and preempt uncomfortable questions with prepared answers.
• Practice possible questions ahead of time. This entails coming up with questions you might like to know if you were in the committee’s position. You can even get a friend to help and practice it like you would a job interview. If not, just practice answering while you’re in the car, with all emphasis or annunciation you intend. 
• Practice speaking in front of a mirror. Notice your body language and whether or not you appear nervous, or have distracting habits like scratching your chin too much or swaying side-to-side. These might seem silly, but you’d be surprised how common these unconscious behaviours are! Practising in front of a mirror can help you associate how you appear to others with the way you’re feeling and adjust. 

That’s about the gist of it! Remember: this is basically a formality. Going into your thesis defense doesn’t need to be daunting, as they’ve already made their decision. Just do your best to appear relaxed and comfortable. Let prep work carry you through and you’ll walk out with ‘Dr’ appended to your name!

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