Oral presentations: the final step in completing the Honors Thesis requirement
Presentations are made during the seventh week of fall and spring semesters and with rare exceptions on an ad hoc basis during summers. They are always open to the public. Your thesis advisor and thesis reviewer must be present, along with one Honors-chosen reviewer from the WSU academic community.
Timing
Each presentation is assigned a 1-hour time slot ...
- your presentation should take 20 minutes
- set aside another 30 minutes for questions from the audience, especially for your thesis advisor and the two reviewers who have read your thesis before the presentation. These reviewers will be prepared with questions for you.
- expect to step outside the room for five or ten minutes while your thesis is discussed. You will be invited to return to the room and told whether you have passed.
Trial Run
To be sure things will run smoothly during your thesis oral presentation in the Honors College, contact the Honors main office (Honors Hall 130) well before your designated time and make arrangements for a "trial run" in advance of your scheduled presentation.
Tips for Success
- Dress professionally.
- Practice what you are going to say and how you're going to say it.
- Time your presentation to take 20 minutes or less.
- Avoid reading your talk and maintain eye contact with your audience.
- Adopt a composed demeanor. Sarcasm and jokes can detract from a presentation.
- Use terms that your audience can understand. Use analogies to explain difficult concepts.
- Prepare effective visuals with suitable font sizes and minimal text.
- Draw from the Introduction and Discussion sections of your thesis at the beginning of your presentation.
- Summarize the major findings of your research at the end of your talk.
- Be prepared to discuss how your study could be improved or expanded.
- End on a positive note!
- During the Q&A session, ask for clarification if a question is unclear. Your advisor will be present to assist you, but it is your responsibility to field the questions.
NOTE: A Thesis Evaluation Rubric is available in the Forms and Examples section of this Web site for your information..