• –Read over your thesis/project at least twice before your presentation. Do any minor corrections/edits in pencil.

• –Test Run with an Audience: Use a Test Audience or family or friends to help with style and delivery. Try to talk out the main points of your thesis/project  with  different people and see if what you’re saying is clear to them, if you’re leaving anything out that is central to your thesis, if you come across as organized, intelligent, and informed about your topic.)

• –Visualize the presentation situation.

• –Consider anxious/nervous/panicked thoughts: Almost everyone experiences some level of nervousness or anxiety about Public Speaking. The worst thing you can do is pretending it doesn’t exist. Recognize and accept that you will be nervous on the day of your defense and plan ahead.

• –The day/night before: What are you wearing? Academic Business Casual. Whatever you’d feel more comfortable wearing as an instructor of a college course. Suits and dresses are not necessary. You are not attending a wedding.

• –Hydrate: Plan on bringing WATER to your defense. Have two bottles ready. You will be speaking a lot.

• –Relax/Focus: Employ some Relaxation/Meditation techniques. Do deep breathing, stretching, and calming exercises to relax and soothe any last-minute anxieties; Spend the evening doing something relaxing. Keep everything very familiar, comfortable, reliable, predictable. Stick to routines. Avoid alcohol and drugs. Drink plenty of water and get a lot of sleep.

Things to Remember

• –YOU are the expert in the room on this subject. Now is your time to shine.
• –Consider this is an informed discussion with your colleagues.
• –Do not be arrogant, defensive, dismissive, submissive, or self-deprecating. Stay friendly, professional, appreciative, and confident.
• –Maintain good body language.  Keep eye contact. Eyes can say a lot about one’s level of confidence.
• –Do not take critiques, as judgments of you as a human being. Take them as helpful suggestions that will improve your work as a scholar.

• –Rely on the knowledge you have about your own topic to handle questions, but also think broad and actively.
• –Questions are often used as a jumping-off point to get you talking. Don’t be afraid to elaborate on answers and demonstrate your knowledge of the subject. But be careful that you don’t ramble.
• –Remember: there are questions/points beyond the scope of your research, and you are allowed to acknowledge that. There are also things you aren’t necessarily qualified to answer. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
• –Understand the question before you answer.
• –Multi-Part Questions: Answer them one part at a time.
• –Rephrase/repeat questions if necessary for clarification
• –Involve everyone. Answer the question, acknowledging the entire committee.
• –If you don’t know, don’t pretend that you do. Know early on that you might not have all the answers to all the questions right now.
• –Take time to gather your thoughts. Don’t rush! Pausing is a sign that you are reflecting on questions.
• –Have fun! You are discussing a subject you’ve lived with for several months and now it’s your time to show off what you know. Enjoy chatting about your project with an interested audience.

• –Thank the Committee.
• –Make plans to do something fun but relaxing with friends after your defense. You will want to celebrate your achievement, and at least unwind after the experience.

Good Luck!