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- How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates
How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates
Published on October 12, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on January 3, 2023.
A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.
The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:
Introduction
Literature review.
- Research design
Reference list
While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.
Table of contents
Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, frequently asked questions about research proposals.
Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .
In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.
Research proposal length
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.
One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.
- Example research proposal #1: “A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management”
- Example research proposal #2: “Making Healthy Connections: Mentoring, Monitoring and Measurement”
- Example research proposal #3: “Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use”
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Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
- The proposed title of your project
- Your supervisor’s name
- Your institution and department
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.
Your introduction should:
- Introduce your topic
- Give necessary background and context
- Outline your problem statement and research questions
To guide your introduction , include information about:
- Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
- How much is already known about the topic
- What is missing from this current knowledge
- What new insights your research will contribute
- Why you believe this research is worth doing
As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.
In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:
- Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates
- Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
- Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesize prior scholarship
Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.
To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.
For example, your results might have implications for:
- Improving best practices
- Informing policymaking decisions
- Strengthening a theory or model
- Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
- Creating a basis for future research
Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .
Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.
Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.
Download our research schedule template
If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.
Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:
- Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
- Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
- Source : how did you calculate the amount?
To determine your budget, think about:
- Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
- Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
- Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?
Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .
Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.
I will compare …
A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.
Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.
A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.
A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.
A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.
Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.
Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
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How to write a thesis proposal in 5 simple steps
For grad students, the most important proposal in the world is the thesis proposal. The thesis proposal is an outline of the research work you plan to do in your thesis or dissertation.
It’s a roadmap on which your academic and professional career depends. As with any other type of proposal, the more careful the planning, the better the results you’ll get from your thesis proposal.
Once you have decided on a topic the fun of putting together the thesis proposal itself begins.
Writing the proposal itself is challenging, but with the right templates and strategies, it is entirely doable.
This blog post will explain how to write a preliminary thesis, and how to overcome some of the hurdles most graduate students encounter along the way. And we’ll even provide you with a free proposal template to help you get started.
Step 1: Outlining
Your thesis proposal starts with outlining the materials you’ve gathered. This is very important because the thesis proposal is as much for your benefit as it is your instructor.
If you can carefully outline the parts of the thesis, you can follow the outline in conducting the research to develop the actual project.
What your instructor is likely looking for is evidence in your proposal that you understand the process of data collection. Making it clear that your research will incorporate reviewing and integrating relevant literature is a big part of the proposal.
To do this most effectively, you need to know the structure of a thesis proposal. Here are the steps you’ll take to outline your thesis:
- Create a separate section with your thesis statement at the top of the outline.
- List out the main points you’re going to be making.
- Label your points with Roman Numerals.
- Write out supporting statements underneath the main points.
- Label your supporting statements with letters.
- Continue to add sub-ideas and statements until your ideas are fully fleshed out.
Step 2: Defining a structure
You need to know the common structure of a thesis proposal. The typical parts are as follows:
- Abstract: This is the outline or the summary of your work and research methodology.
- Introduction: An introduction is what sets the stage for the rest of your paper. It puts the rest of your research and ideas in the correct context.
- Existing literature/significant prior research: All of your ideas will be supported with research and other well-known literature. This gives your work credibility, and helps you avoid accusations of plagiarism.
- Thesis or project statement: Your thesis statement is a concise explanation of the argument made in your paper.
- Approach: In this section, you’ll include a brief overview of how you plan to approach the topic and the research method used for your work.
- Potential outcomes: In this section, you’ll outline what you expect to find through your research project.
- Limitations: Every study comes with its own unique limitations or constraints which impact the results. Outline these limitations, and explain how they could impact the findings in your research proposal.
- Contributions to knowledge: This is your opportunity to explain how your work will contribute to your field of study.
- Proposed dissertation chapters: And finally, this section will include an outline of how you plan to write and format your dissertation .
Step 3: Planning your writing
The best way to put together an organized thesis plan is to organize how you will write it before you get started. Many thesis proposals have been rejected simply because the students didn’t plan their writing and instead tried to hack it all together.
If you attempt that, it will show, and the thesis structure is likely to be rejected.
Don’t let that happen to you. Plan the flow of your writing — and stick to the plan!
The usual flow of writing a thesis proposal is as follows:
- Outline: You’ll start by coming up with a detailed description of the major points you’ll be making in your thesis.
- Prepare visuals (any charts or tables): If your thesis includes any visuals, like charts or tables, it can help to prepare these ahead of time. This will help support the arguments made in your thesis.
- Describe methodology: In the methodology chapter, you’ll explain the approach you took while compiling your work. This should explain the validity of your research and add credibility to your work .
- Explanation of data: In this section, you’ll include an overview of the data you uncovered.
- Conclusions drawn from your data: You’ll also include a brief explanation of the conclusions you’re drawing from the data, and how you believe the data supports your thesis .
- Introduction: Again, the introduction sets the stage for the rest of the paper.
- Abstract: Your abstract is a concise summary of the paper.
- References: The reference list is a complete list of the resources you used to create your thesis. This is also known as a literature review, and it shows how your work fits within the larger field of study.
Note that the writing of the thesis proposal does not follow the actual structure of the thesis proposal. Simply put, how can you write an abstract if you do not know what the research actually says?
You have to write out of sequence to be able to create an accurate introduction and abstract.
Step 4: Writing the thesis proposal
Once you’ve planned your writing, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get it done! Thesis proposals are written in formal style, which is what sets them apart from many other types of proposals.
Although the proposal will be in formal style, it is still important to keep it simple — work towards concision while maintaining academic objectivity, leveraging readability.
Step 5: Proofreading your proposal
A thesis proposal is no place for typos or poor readability. If you show your proposal to a fellow student or friend and they have a hard time understanding what you are trying to say, even though they are in your field, you will want to revise.
The best practices for thoroughly proofreading a thesis proposal are as follows:
- Read the proposal to yourself (aloud!) — you’ll spot problems with grammar and sentence structure more easily this way
- Do not proofread it immediately after writing it — give your brain a rest so you can view it objectively
- Consult with colleagues first — have three friends or colleagues that have a deep understanding of the material proofread it first.
- Use multiple spell checkers — this will help you identify any hard-to-spot errors.
- Remember that your future success depends on a successful thesis proposal — make sure it’s error-proof to maximize your odds of acceptance.
5 helpful tips to write a better thesis
If you know how to write a business plan or even how to write a PhD dissertation proposal — then you are very lucky. But in most cases, many people need help.
These 5 tips can help to relieve the pain that is thesis writing.
1. Know the requirements
Review all the requirements for your proposed project with your supervisor before you get started. If he or she defines the length of the final paper, you’ll need to also work out the other requirements of the thesis. Things like font and spaces are likely important too.
For example: There is a big difference between a thesis that is 200 pages with 12 point font versus the same length at 14 point font. One is much easier and one is much harder to read.
2. Constantly check your work
Much of your thesis work will entail editing. As soon as you start your thesis, you’ll realize that the more work you do, the more difficult it is to go back and review it.
Remember that rewriting will take up a huge chunk of time, and that’s okay as this naturally happens with these kinds of projects. Professional writers can easily attest to this. Also, be mindful of developing your own style of writing.
3. Don’t leave questions unanswered
The original purpose of your thesis was to find solutions to a certain problem, wasn’t it?
But even within your research, you will discover that there will always be more questions to be answered. Do not ignore them. Draw additional attention to those questions in your conclusion — it may provide you with a base for separate work.
Remember: If you open up new questions, make every attempt to resolve them.
4. Keep a list of references from the start
A lot of people make the same mistake — not all citations appear in the reference list. Before you submit your thesis, tripple check each and every one of your citations and references.
To make this a lot easier on yourself, start a literature review as soon as you start drafting your thesis.
5. Take advantage of useful apps
There’s a lot that goes into writing a thesis proposal, and you need a way to stay organized and keep track of the various due dates.
Using a Gantt chart or a Kanban board can help you organize the details of your project and manage the various due dates.
And the advantage of using specialized apps is that they prepare you to use professional tools like the Salesforce AppExchange .
Apps like Salesforce can help small businesses streamline and simplify many business processes.
Are you ready to write a thesis proposal?
Is it “that time” for you? Is it time to apply yourself to make your first substantial contribution to research in your field?
The first part of the deal is a rock-solid thesis proposal and we think you’ll be off to a good start with the tips from this how-to.
If you need a little additional guidance, feel free to use our free thesis proposal template . This template lays out the basic outline of how your thesis should look, which will save you valuable time.
Have you written a thesis proposal before? Please share your experiences with us in the comment space below.
Frequently asked questions
What is a thesis proposal.
A thesis proposal is a summary that details an outline of your work. It identifies a problem that you’re researching, clearly states all the questions that will be researched as well as describes the resources and materials you need.
What makes a good thesis?
For graduate students, a thesis proposal is your opportunity to outline a problem and explain the significance of your work. A strong thesis statement should contain the following three elements:
- Specific: You’re probably making multiple points within your dissertation, but your thesis should tie them all together into one specific research question. Your readers should understand the exact point you plan to make in your work.
- Unique: A thesis statement should be unique and include some degree of controversy. You’re not trying to restate what everyone else is saying about that topic — you’re most likely challenging a widely accepted view and inviting discussion and further research.
- Succinct: A thesis statement should be as succinct as possible. You need to find a way to express your point in as few words as possible.
How long does a thesis statement have to be?
A thesis statement sums up the main point made in your work in just one to two sentences. It should be as concise as possible, and provide your readers an introduction to the main argument in just 30 to 40 words.
Originally published May 9, 2014, updated May 27, 2021
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How to Write a Master's Thesis Proposal in
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How to write a master’s thesis proposal is one of the most-asked questions by graduate students. A master's thesis proposal involves a copious amount of data collection, particular presentation ethics, and most importantly, it will become the roadmap to your full thesis. Remember, you must convince your committee that your idea is strong and unique, and that you have done enough legwork to begin with the first few drafts of your final thesis. Your proposal should serve as a foundational blueprint on which you will later build your entire project. To have the perfect thesis proposal, you need to have original ideas, solid information, and proper presentation. While it is a good idea to take assistance from thesis writing services , you still need to personally understand the elements that contribute to a master’s thesis proposal worthy of approval. In this blog, we will discuss the process of writing your master’s thesis proposal and give you tips for making your proposal strong. Stay tuned!
Note : If you want us to help you with your applications, interviews and/or standardized tests, book a free strategy call . If you are a university, business, or student organization representative and want to partner with us, visit our partnerships page .
How to Decide the Goals for Your Master's Thesis?
If you are pursuing a master’s or a PhD , you will be undertaking a major research paper or a thesis. Thus, writing a thesis proposal becomes inevitable. Your major objective for pursuing a master’s degree is to improve your knowledge in your field of study. When you start your degree, you delve deeper into different concepts in your discipline and try to search for answers to all kinds of questions. If you come across a question that no one can answer, you can select that question as your research thesis topic.
A master's thesis proposal will have multiple sections depending on your decided layout. These sections will continuously support your argument and try to convince the reader of your core argument. The structure will also help you arrange the various parts of the paper to have a greater impact on the readers. A paper should always begin with you giving a brief summary of the topic and how you have come across it. The introduction is particularly important because it will give the readers a brief idea about the topic of discussion and win their interest in the matter.
After the summary has been given, slowly you need to progress into the body of the thesis proposal which would explain your argument, research methodology, literary texts that have a relation to the topic, and the conclusion of your study. It would be similar to an essay or a literary review consisting of 3 or 4 parts. The bibliography will be placed at the end of the paper so that people can cross-check your sources.
Let's take a look at the sections most master's thesis proposals should cover. Please note that each university has its own guidelines for how to structure and what to include in a master’s thesis proposal. The outline we provide below is general, so please make sure to follow the exact guidelines provided by your school:
Restate your primary argument and give us a glimpse of what you will include in the main master\u2019s thesis. Leave the reader wanting more. Your research proposal should talk about what research chapters you are trying to undertake in your final thesis. You can also mention the proposed time in which you will complete these chapters. ","label":"Conclusion and proposed chapters","title":"Conclusion and proposed chapters"}]' code='tab1' template='BlogArticle'>
A thesis proposal needs to be convincing enough to get approval. If the information is not enough to satisfy the evaluation committee, it would require revision. Hence, you need to select and follow the right methodology to make your argument convincing. When a research proposal is presented, the reader will determine the validity of your argument by judging the strength of your evidence and conclusions. Therefore, even writige:ng a proposal will require extensive research on your part. You should start writing your thesis proposal by working through the following steps.
Interested in a summary of the points covered below? Check out this infographic:
Exploring your topic in detail
You need to delve deeper into your chosen topic to see if your idea is original. In the process of this exploration, you will find tons of materials that will be supportive of your argument. When choosing your research topic and the problem you want to explore, you should always consider your primary research interest (yes, the one which you had mentioned in your research interest statement during grad school applications) for a better master’s thesis. You have a high probability of performing better in an area that you have always liked as compared to any other research area or topic.
Reviewing the literature
You have to include all the sources from where you have formed your argument and mention them in the thesis proposal. If you neglect to mention important source texts, the reader may consider it to be plagiarism. Furthermore, you want to keep track of all your research because it will be easier to provide references if you know the exact source of each piece of information.
Finding opposing arguments for your study
You should also mention any texts that would counter your argument and try to disprove their claims in the thesis. Make sure to use evidence if you try to disprove the counterarguments you face.
Emphasizing the importance of your research
At the end of the thesis proposal, you need to convince the reader why your proposal is important to your chosen field of study, which would ultimately help you in getting your topic approved. Thus, it is essential to outline the importance of your research thoroughly.
Drafting your proposal
After doing proper research, you should go ahead and draft your proposal. Remember you will not get it right in just one draft, it will take at least 50 attempts to come up with a satisfactory proposal. You should proofread your draft several times and even have a fellow student review it for you before sending it further to your research supervisor.
Getting your proposal evaluated by your supervisor
After you have written sufficient drafts, you need to get your proposal evaluated by your research supervisor. This is necessary to meet the graduate research requirements. It will ensure the clarity and correctness of your proposal. For your supervisor to evaluate your proposal, you should complete the research methodology part along with sufficient proposed work.
Since your supervisor will play a crucial role in your master's research thesis, you must choose a supervisor who can be your ultimate guide in writing your master's thesis. They will be your partner and support system during your study and will help you in eliminating obstacles to achieving your goal.
Choosing the ideal supervisor is a pretty daunting task. Here’s how you can go about the process:
You should approach your professor with an open mind and discuss the potential goals of your research. You should hear what they think and then if you both mutually agree, you can choose them as your supervisor for your master\u2019s thesis. "}]'>
Length of a Master’s Thesis Proposal
The length of a master’s thesis proposal differs from university to university and depends on the discipline of research as well. Usually, you have to include all the above-mentioned sections, and the length is around 8 pages and can go up to 12-15 pages for subjects such as the liberal arts. Universities might also define the number of words in the guidelines for your master’s thesis proposal and you have to adhere to that word limit.
Are you debating between pursuing a Masters or a PhD? This video has details that can help you decide which is best for you:
How to Format a Research Thesis Proposal Correctly?
Now that you know how to write a thesis proposal, you must make it presentable. Although your school might give your specific instructions, you can keep in mind some of the general advice:
- You can use some basic font like Times New Roman and keep the font size to 10 or 12 points.
- The left margin should be 1.5 inches and all other margins should be 1 inch each.
- You should follow double-spacing for your content.
- The first line of paragraphs should be indented 0.5 inches and the paragraphs should be left or center aligned.
Tips to Write a Strong Master's Thesis Proposal
When you are writing your master’s thesis proposal, you should keep these tips in mind to write an excellent master’s thesis proposal with all the correct elements to get approval from the evaluating committee:
Select your research objectives wisely
You should be clear on what you wish to learn from your research. Your learning objectives should stem from your research interests. If you are unsure, refer to your grad school career goals statement to review what you wanted out of grad school in the first place. Then, choose your objectives around it.
Write a clear title
The title of your research proposal should be concise and written in a language that can be understood easily by others. The title should be able to give the reader an idea of your intended research and should be interesting.
Jot down your thoughts, arguments, and evidence
You should always start with a rough outline of your arguments because you will not miss any point in this way. Brainstorm what you want to include in the proposal and then expand those points to complete your proposal. You can decide the major headings with the help of the guidelines provided to you.
Focus on the feasibility and importance
You should consider whether your research is feasible with the available resources. Additionally, your proposal should clearly convey the significance of your research in your field.
Use simple language
Since the evaluation committee can have researchers from different subject areas, it is best to write your proposal in a simple language that is understandable by all.
Stick to the guidelines
Your university will be providing the guidelines for writing your research proposal. You should adhere to those guidelines strictly since your proposal will be primarily evaluated on the basis of those.
Have an impactful opening section
It is a no-brainer that the opening statement of your proposal should be powerful enough to grasp the attention of the readers and get them interested in your research topic. You should be able to convey your interest and enthusiasm in the introductory section.
Peer review prior to submission
Apart from working with your research supervisor, it is essential that you ask some classmates and friends to review your proposal. The comments and suggestions that they give will be valuable in helping you to make the language of your proposal clearer.
You have worked hard to get into grad school and even harder on searching your research topic. Thus, you must be careful while building your thesis proposal so that you have maximum chances of acceptance.
If you're curious how your graduate school education will differ from your undergraduate education, take a look at this video so you know what to expect:
Writing the perfect research proposal might be challenging, but keeping to the basics might make your task easier. In a nutshell, you need to be thorough in your study question. You should conduct sufficient research to gather all relevant materials required to support your argument. After collecting all data, make sure to present it systematically to give a clearer understanding and convince the evaluators to approve your proposal. Lastly, remember to submit your proposal well within the deadline set by your university. Your performance at grad school is essential, especially if you need a graduate degree to gain admission to med school and your thesis contributes to that performance. Thus, start with a suitable research problem, draft a strong proposal, and then begin with your thesis after your proposal is approved.
In your master’s thesis proposal, you should include your research topic and the problem statement being addressed in your research, along with a proposed solution. The proposal should explain the importance and limitations of your research.
The length of a master’s thesis proposal is outlined by the university in the instructions for preparing your master’s thesis proposal.
The time taken to write a master’s thesis proposal depends upon the study which you are undertaking and your discipline of research. It will take a minimum time of three months. The ideal time can be around six months.
You should begin your master’s thesis proposal by writing an introduction to your research topic. You should state your topic clearly and provide some background. Keep notes and rough drafts of your proposal so you can always refer to them when you write the first real draft.
The basic sections that your master’s thesis proposal should cover are the problem statement, research methodology, proposed activities, importance, and the limitations of your research.
A master’s thesis proposal which clearly defines the problem in a straightforward and explains the research methodology in simple words is considered a good thesis proposal.
You can use any classic font for your master’s thesis proposal such as Times New Roman. If you are recommended a specific font in the proposal guidelines by your institution, it would be advisable to stick to that.
The ideal font size for your master’s thesis proposal will be 10 or 12 points.
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Home Blog Presentation Ideas How To Do a Proper Thesis Defense Using the Right PowerPoint Presentation
How To Do a Proper Thesis Defense Using the Right PowerPoint Presentation
Writing a thesis is stressful but preparing an oral defense can be even more painful. But it doesn’t have to be, with proper preparation and a good presentation you will be able to better equip yourself come time to present your thesis defense.
But what makes a good thesis defense?
A proper presentation helps you with your thesis defense because it helps you to capture the panels attention and give you cues and reminders on what to say as well.
It also helps keep your data organized, while visually looking good and provides a flow structure for the rest of your presentation.
In today’s article we will be giving you The Right PowerPoint Templates for Your Thesis Defense and a powerful outline composed of best practices and layouts are specifically designed to help you defend your thesis in both written and oral presentation.
On the next segments of this article, we’ll walk you through the most feasible process on how to ace this kind of presentation.
Let’s dive into the outline of what makes a great thesis defense.
Thesis Defense Overview
Similarities.
- Type of Degree
Thesis and Dissertation Distinction Varies on Location
Three most common thesis defense myths.
- Introduction
- Literature Review
- Methodology
- Tips During Your Oral Defense
More Quick Tips on How to Present!
A thesis defense is composed of two parts – a thesis and a defense.
Thesis, according to Grad School Hub , represents a student’s collective understanding of his or her program and major.
Universities often include a thesis in every course as one of the final requirements to earn a particular graduate or postgraduate degree.
Thesis, however, isn’t just a mere requirement.
It helps the students to grow out of their shell from their respective discipline and give them the opportunity to present all their findings of their study.
Moreover, some people think a thesis is just a long essay but it’s not. Unlike an essay, a thesis needs to assert something.
This can be considered as one of the most crucial research documents which a student makes during their academic schooling .
On the other hand, a defense is the presentation of the pieces of evidence to support and prove your research.
It’s the most essential part of the thesis process.
Your presentation has to be prepared to answer question from members of the committee and any other panel present, and it’s your job to convince them and defend your thesis with ample proof.
Prior to presenting you have to carefully determine what appropriate evidence should be presented before the panel depending on what thesis you have to defend.
Thesis and Dissertation Distinguished
A thesis or dissertation is usually required to complete a particular graduate degree. And these two words are often used interchangeably by most students when referring to research studies.
But while being almost similar in format or structure, it’s worth to note that they have significant differences that set them apart from each other.
The very reason why thesis and dissertation are treated the same is that these two are both extensive papers. Not just merely long essays like what others are claiming.
Both of these papers are extensive. Which is why students are given ample time, usually the entire last semester at the last year of study, to complete all the requirements and finally acquire their degree.
With regards to structure, both papers are very similar with few differences.
Differences Between Thesis and Dissertation
One of the significant differences of the two is to whom the paper is assigned. A thesis is usually required for those students earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree. While a dissertation is for those who want to obtain a doctorate degree.
However, not all students taking a master’s degree are required to make a thesis. Prior to their enrollment, they have been given a choice whether they’ll go for a non-thesis program or with a thesis.
Those who have a plan to escalate their degree to doctorate, eventually should take the path of with thesis. This is to prepare themselves for a more extensive dissertation requirement as doctorate students. Otherwise, they will be only limited to earn a master’s degree.
But above all, the most significant difference between the two papers is the purpose for which it is written.
A thesis, like what has been mentioned above, is being done by students obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree and has the purpose of testing their understanding of the discipline they’re engaged with.
A thesis is focused on obtaining technical expertise.
On the other hand, a dissertation is made for students to come up with an original study that hasn’t already been studied by other researchers.
USA: In the United States of America, they consider thesis as shorter than a dissertation. In fact, aside from being a requirement to graduate in college, a thesis is now also inculcated in master’s degree programs. And since dissertation is more extensive, the thesis is treated as preliminary in gaining a doctorate degree.
Europe: The distinction between the two papers is almost opposite to that of the USA. In Europe, a dissertation is only a broader research study from a post-graduate program and not the making of original research. Instead, educational systems in the said continent treat the doctoral thesis as a more elaborate paper writing.
The difference between a thesis and a dissertation might not seem that big, but it’s important that we know what makes them different.
If your upcoming defense gives you pressure and uneasiness, it could be cause you are not sure what to expect. Today we will dispel three common thesis defense myths that will help you be more confident in your presentation.
“Answer all the questions correctly. Otherwise, you’re thesis won’t get approved.”
You are expected to have a focus on your research.
That being said, you have to study each part of your thesis, every detail, and even your sources.
You have to study and practice how to effectively deliver your presentation.
But don’t overthink to the extent that you’re stressing yourself to know everything perfectly.
Don’t overstress if can’t answer one of the questions, this doesn’t necessarily mean the committee won’t approve your thesis.
You should know that research is a continuous study.
So you should expect that your committee will always be able to find a gap in your study to fill in the future related researches.
So in times you don’t exactly know the answer, admit it and you’ll learn as they give their sides or suggestions.
Making up an answer will only displease your committee, so it’s be to be upfront, honest and transparent.
“The committee is just there to find holes in your study. They don’t care about you.”
One of the typical descriptions students have of the committee, is that they are just there to poke holes in your thesis.
Going in with this perspective makes standing before them a nerve-wracking experience.
They’re not your enemy.
In fact, they are there to help you polish your study.
They might challenge you with difficult suggestions and tricky questions.
In the end, they will walk you through the process to come up with better results that won’t only benefit you but also your research.
They care about you and your study, and they’re ultimately there to make your thesis and the research better. Seperate yourself from your work and look at it objectively and don’t take their comments personal.
“If your thesis defense isn’t successful, you have to start your thesis all over again”
An unsuccessful defense is one of the worst case fears most students have.
One thing that you should be aware of is when you aren’t able to please your committee, you don’t need to start a new thesis again or go back at square one with your existing paper.
It’s unusual that your committee will ask you to change your topic and start from scratch again.
The fact that you’ve been permitted to defend your study that means your research is almost complete.
They might suggest further details or ask you for minor revisions and that’s normal.
But overall, you need to go into this defense thinking that your presentation will be successful, otherwise you are already setting yourself up for failure with the wrong mindset.
Remember that positive thoughts attract positive results.
Thesis Defense Presentation Structure and Slides Content
1 – title page.
This slide should contain the information that is provided on the title page of your hard copy
- The title of your research paper
- Where you are studying
- Name and details of your course
- Name of Adviser
2 – Introduction
Your introduction slide should provide the committee an idea of the following:
- What is the topic area that you are investigating ?
- What are the specific research questions that you set out to answer?
- Why is this question important to answer?
- What were the objectives of your research?
3 – Literature review
It’s not necessary to cover everything that’s currently understood in the available literature. You may want to present the following:
- Relevant current research that is close to your topic
- Different theories that may apply to your specific area of research
- Areas of weakness that are currently highlighted
4 – Methodology
Make sure to touch the factors below within your process:
- The type of study you have conducted: qualitative, quantitative, or mixed
- The methods that you chose and why
- Details of the population, sampling methods, and other information
- Provide information regarding how you have analyzed the data that you have collected
5 – Results
This part should give the committee / audience a good understanding of what you’ve discovered during your research. It should cover the following:
- An overall description of the data that you collected during your research
- The results of the analysis that you have done on that data
- What were the most significant findings from your data
6 – Discussion
Highlight here the meaning of the findings in relation to your discipline program and the research that you have done:
- What are the major findings and what do they mean with regard to your research
- How do these findings relate to what others have found in the past
- How can you explain any unusual or surprising result
7 – Conclusions
You have to end your presentation with a conclusion summarizing all that you have found within your research. You need to:
- Restate your research questions
- Show how your results answer these questions
- Show what contribution you have made
- State any limitations to the work you have done
- Suggest future research
- Make any recommendations
See Also: How to Create a Great Investors Pitch Deck and Close the Deal
Tips During Your Oral Defense!
Review your materials.
Even if you already feel confident with your upcoming presentation, you still need to review your materials.
You can bring the hard copy of your thesis with you during the defense, but you don’t want to get lost with your presentation when you forgot some specific details and have to scan your papers.
You should know your paper in and out.
Rehearse Your Presentation
It’s not wrong if it will sound like a script when you speak in your oral defense. It’s expected and understandable.
You need to practice your presentation especially when there’s a time restriction given to every presenter.
You only need to prepare enough number of slides that would fit your time limit. A hundred slides aren’t suitable for a 15 to 20-minute presentation nor 10 slides for an hour of defense.
Your rehearsal will be more effective if you practice it in front of an audience.
Note: You will experience a complete silence in the defense room. You might feel awkward because most of the time, you’re the only one speaking out loud. This is completely fine and it’s something you should practice in rehearsal should you be afraid.
Narrow the Presentation of Ideas
Regarding your slides, you don’t have to include everything that’s in your paper. You should narrow down your ideas to the main points and the most important details such as the statistics and findings.
If the members of your committee think you lack details or they want to hear a further explanation, they won’t hesitate to ask you.
Prepare for the Unexpected Questions
The panel tends to challenge the presenters usually through some hard questions.
Its aim is how well do you you have done your research, and how prepared you are.
But as long as you know the ins and outs of your paper, you shouldn’t lose your confidence regardless of which questions they ask.
Just keep in mind that what you’re saying in your oral defense is not in conflict with what is written on the hardcopy you provided them.
What To Do When You Don’t Know the Answer
If the committee asked you a question and you don’t know the answer, don’t make up a baseless answer.
Baseless means out of context answers, or something without proof or backup.
How To Deal With The Nervousness
The committee is expecting you to be nervous. Of course, it’s normal.
However, one effect of being nervous is the changes in your behavior.
There’s a tendency you’ll talk fast that which will make it hard for the committee to understand you.
It might also cause you to have a mental block.
So try to slow down. Take a deep breath.
Inhale, exhale. Remember to breath!
It’s OK to pause and it’s ok to take your time, it’s more important that the committee clearly understand what you are trying to articulate.
- Introduce yourself at the beginning
- Introduce the title of the presentation
- Don’t read your notes if possible
- Don’t speak too fast
- Put an emphasis on what you’re saying, so you don’t sound like monotonous
- Look at your adviser once in a while for possible signs
- Stand on the right of the white screen if you are right-handed so you can easily refer to the slide without giving your back to the committee
- Face the audience when you talk
- Keep an eye contact
- Make sure to keep attention to the reactions of the committee and don’t forget to react in turn
We hoped you enjoyed this article on how to do a proper thesis defense, and how to best prepare for one using proven tips and techniques to help you get through this. Hopefully, after your defense, you will be set as the one in your class to deliver an inspiring graduation speech for your peers. If you got value please remember to share this article. We also recommend you read these Thesis Statement Examples for inspiration to create your own professionally.
1. MasterDoc PowerPoint Template
Creating a Thesis presentation should be a straight forward task; based on your thesis document and following the tips described above you have a high level structure already outlined. The MasterDoc PowerPoint template provides professional layouts with texts and image placeholders; so you can create document like slides using your thesis defense as your content. This template is ideal for a highly detailed documents, where visuals and words unite to illustrate one concept per page. The result is an asset that can be read and digested more quickly than either your thesis document or a presentation created for assisting a speech. A document created with the MasterDoc PowerPoint templates is meant to be printed or distributed, read on screen without the accompaniment of a presenter or used in an e-learning platform as pure learning content.
Use This Template
2. Thesis Presentation PowerPoint Template
You had invested a considerable time researching, testing hypothesis and confirming your thesis. Craft your thesis presentation with the same level of detail you applied in your work. Using the Thesis Presentation PowerPoint Template you will focus only in your content and your message. The layouts, images,design and structure will be taken care by the template.
3. Master Thesis PowerPoint Template
The Master Thesis PowerPoint Template is a professional document designed for postgraduate degrees presentations. It provides simple sections that follow the structure and best practices of traditional research thesis presentations. Starting with the introduction to the theory and state of the art scenario; following with hypothesis research and its findings and concluding with the confirmation or negation of the initial thesis statement.
4. Essay Outline PowerPoint Template
Your thesis defense can be accompanied by an essay, that states your thesis and argues about it using several supporting paragraphs. This kind of document is ideal to be an intermediate step between reading assisting to the thesis presentation and reading the complete thesis documentation. It has more information that your thesis defense abstract, but does summarizes the supporting evidence and examples that allows the argument of each idea behind the thesis. You can use the Essay Outline Template to present your Essay outline and create an essay linked to your thesis defense documentation.
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Academics, Degree, Dissertation, Doctorate, Education, Faculty, Master, PhD, Student, Thesis Filed under Presentation Ideas
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36 Responses to “How To Do a Proper Thesis Defense Using the Right PowerPoint Presentation”
Great job! This has made my thesis presentation a whole lot easier.
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Great tips.
i have proposal defense in two days and im so nervous right now! reading this is helpful in some ways thankyou!
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Thanks a million times for your timely guidance. Just preparing to do my PhD Thesis defense.
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IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research. The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements: Title page; Introduction; Literature review; Research design; Reference list
Structuring Your Thesis Defense Presentation. Once you have defined the concept, you will have to move on to the next step: structuring the content of your thesis. A good structure will show that there is a good organization behind the work, but most importantly: it will highlight your content.
The introduction of your thesis proposal must consist of the main argument and a captivating explanation of what you find fascinating about the topic. Create a brief roadmap of what the proposal will outline. Check Out Our Podcast for More Free & Useful Content Go to Podcast What is the Process for Writing a Thesis Proposal?
Your presentation has to be prepared to answer question from members of the committee and any other panel present, and it’s your job to convince them and defend your thesis with ample proof. Prior to presenting you have to carefully determine what appropriate evidence should be presented before the panel depending on what thesis you have to defend.
Title: Microsoft Word - Thesis Proposal Presentations_Outline_STUDENT.docx Created Date: 3/2/2015 3:41:11 PM