The Conclusion and The Defense CSCI 6620 Spring 2014 Thesis Projects: Chapters 11 and 12 CSCI 6620 Spring 2014 Thesis Projects: Chapters 11 and 12

The Conclusion  Refer back to the aim and objectives  Put results in wider context  Analyze strengths and weaknesses  Identify future work  Refer back to the aim and objectives  Put results in wider context  Analyze strengths and weaknesses  Identify future work

Summarize the Results  Results validate the aim  Strong/Certain results affect wider context  Uncertain results identify future work  Results validate the aim  Strong/Certain results affect wider context  Uncertain results identify future work

Identify Wider Context  What can my results be used for?  Who can use my findings, and how?  Have I made a contribution?  Can related areas benefit?  Is the work applied or theoretical?  How does the work compare to other work?  Are my findings in line with other work?  What can my results be used for?  Who can use my findings, and how?  Have I made a contribution?  Can related areas benefit?  Is the work applied or theoretical?  How does the work compare to other work?  Are my findings in line with other work?

Evaluate the Work  To what degree can the results be trusted?  Be honest about strengths and weaknesses.  To what degree can the results be trusted?  Be honest about strengths and weaknesses.

Identify Future Work  Any objectives not satisfied?  What to do if more time available  Do results reveal more questions?  If theoretical results, how to apply  Estimate what is needed to do future work  Any objectives not satisfied?  What to do if more time available  Do results reveal more questions?  If theoretical results, how to apply  Estimate what is needed to do future work

The Defense  The Oral Presentation  Answering questions (defending your work)  The Oral Presentation  Answering questions (defending your work)

Oral Presentation  Include enough detail so audience can understand  Keep within allotted time  Clear, to the point, interesting  Boring is more acceptable than lack of content  Include enough detail so audience can understand  Keep within allotted time  Clear, to the point, interesting  Boring is more acceptable than lack of content

Organization  Decide key points and order  Elaborate on key points  Final defense covers whole project  Preliminary defense focus on problem description, related work and choice of methods  Admit strengths and weaknesses  Decide key points and order  Elaborate on key points  Final defense covers whole project  Preliminary defense focus on problem description, related work and choice of methods  Admit strengths and weaknesses

Sample Organization  Title Page  Outline  Background  Arguments  Aim and Objectives  Approach (2)  Results (2)  Conclusions  Future Work  Title Page  Outline  Background  Arguments  Aim and Objectives  Approach (2)  Results (2)  Conclusions  Future Work

Preparing Slides  Layout  Font size  Orientation  Language  Emphasis  Figures  Number of words  Numbering slides  Headings  Layout  Font size  Orientation  Language  Emphasis  Figures  Number of words  Numbering slides  Headings

Preparing Yourself for the Presentation  Use presentation tool  Develop notes  Practice so you don’t need notes :-)  Use presentation tool  Develop notes  Practice so you don’t need notes :-)

The Presentation  Short intro  Get to aim quickly  Talk to audience  Show slides properly  Explain each slide  Don’t read verbatim  Watch the time  Not too fast or too slow  Use distractions if necessary  Don’t block view  Carefully use pointing device  Short intro  Get to aim quickly  Talk to audience  Show slides properly  Explain each slide  Don’t read verbatim  Watch the time  Not too fast or too slow  Use distractions if necessary  Don’t block view  Carefully use pointing device

Handling Questions  Be clear in your replies  Clarify the question  Do not take criticism personally  Do not avoid a question  Do not brush off a question  Do not retaliate  Be clear in your replies  Clarify the question  Do not take criticism personally  Do not avoid a question  Do not brush off a question  Do not retaliate

Preparing for the Questions  Take the writing of the Future Work section seriously  Take some time off  Have someone else ask you questions  Assess strong and weak points  Pretend you’re the opponent  Take the writing of the Future Work section seriously  Take some time off  Have someone else ask you questions  Assess strong and weak points  Pretend you’re the opponent

Questions an Opponent Asks Thesis Projects Chapter 12 pp Thesis Projects Chapter 12 pp

Problem Statement  Has the author explained the problem that is to be investigated in a clear and understandable way?  Has the author provided convincing arguments for the need to investigate this problem?  Has the author provided convincing arguments that conducting the investigation will lead to the possibility of obtaining a solution, or increasing our understanding of the problem domain?  Has the author explained the problem that is to be investigated in a clear and understandable way?  Has the author provided convincing arguments for the need to investigate this problem?  Has the author provided convincing arguments that conducting the investigation will lead to the possibility of obtaining a solution, or increasing our understanding of the problem domain?

Aims and Objectives  Has the author identified a specific aim to be achieved in the project?  Is the identified aim explained in a clear and understandable way?  Has the author derived a list of specific objectives from the aim?  Are the objectives presented in a clear and structured way?  Do the objectives support the aim, i.e. will fulfilling all the objectives lead to the aim being achieved?  Has the author identified a specific aim to be achieved in the project?  Is the identified aim explained in a clear and understandable way?  Has the author derived a list of specific objectives from the aim?  Are the objectives presented in a clear and structured way?  Do the objectives support the aim, i.e. will fulfilling all the objectives lead to the aim being achieved?

Methods  Has the author clearly identified and explained the methods that could potentially be used in the investigation?  Has the author provided an insightful discussion of advantages and disadvantages of each potential method for the investigation?  Has the author clearly stated which method (or methods) was selected for the investigation?  Has the author provided convincing arguments for the selected method(s)?  Has the author described clearly how the selected method(s) will be applied?  Has the author clearly identified and explained the methods that could potentially be used in the investigation?  Has the author provided an insightful discussion of advantages and disadvantages of each potential method for the investigation?  Has the author clearly stated which method (or methods) was selected for the investigation?  Has the author provided convincing arguments for the selected method(s)?  Has the author described clearly how the selected method(s) will be applied?

Data  Has the author presented the collected data in a clear, understandable, systematic and correct way?  Is the collected data sufficient, given the stated aims and objectives of the project?  Has the author presented the collected data in a clear, understandable, systematic and correct way?  Is the collected data sufficient, given the stated aims and objectives of the project?

Analysis  Has the author made a thorough and systematic analysis of the data obtained?  Is the analysis described in a clear and understandable way?  If the data are quantitative, has the author applied significance tests or other numerical evaluation techniques in a relevant and correct way?  Has the author evaluated the state aims and objectives in the light of the data obtained?  Has the author made a thorough and systematic analysis of the data obtained?  Is the analysis described in a clear and understandable way?  If the data are quantitative, has the author applied significance tests or other numerical evaluation techniques in a relevant and correct way?  Has the author evaluated the state aims and objectives in the light of the data obtained?

Conclusions  Has the author provided conclusions that are relevant, given the state aims and objectives?  If the work contains one or more hypotheses, does the author draw conclusions about whether these hypotheses are supported or falsified by the results?  Has the author provided valid arguments for the stated conclusions?  Has the author provided conclusions that are relevant, given the state aims and objectives?  If the work contains one or more hypotheses, does the author draw conclusions about whether these hypotheses are supported or falsified by the results?  Has the author provided valid arguments for the stated conclusions?

Discussion and future work  Has the author discussed the work in an insightful way, and thereby placed the work into a wider context?  Has the author identified relevant and plausible continuations of the work?  Has the author discussed the work in an insightful way, and thereby placed the work into a wider context?  Has the author identified relevant and plausible continuations of the work?

Overall assessment  Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?  Was the aim of the project reached?  Has the project furthered our understanding of the problem investigated?  Will this work be useful in the future?  Is the report well structured and understandable?  Is the report well written?  Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?  Was the aim of the project reached?  Has the project furthered our understanding of the problem investigated?  Will this work be useful in the future?  Is the report well structured and understandable?  Is the report well written?

Additional Questions  Does the author have a critical viewpoint, i.e. have sources used in the work been critically evaluated by the author?  Have terms of importance to the report been clearly defined?  Is the use of terms and definitions consistent throughout the report?  Is it clear when something is the author’s own work, and when it is someone else’s work?  Does the author have a critical viewpoint, i.e. have sources used in the work been critically evaluated by the author?  Have terms of importance to the report been clearly defined?  Is the use of terms and definitions consistent throughout the report?  Is it clear when something is the author’s own work, and when it is someone else’s work?

Additional Questions (continued)  Have all sources used by the author been clearly identified by use of literature references, and have the references been made in a correct way?  Are you aware of any additional relevant literature on the topic, which has not been used and cited by the author?  Are you aware of any work which closely resembles the work done in the project, but which has not been identified by the author?  Have all sources used by the author been clearly identified by use of literature references, and have the references been made in a correct way?  Are you aware of any additional relevant literature on the topic, which has not been used and cited by the author?  Are you aware of any work which closely resembles the work done in the project, but which has not been identified by the author?