1. Universal Oral Defense PowerPoint Working Group
Tammy Root
Nancy Rea
Magdeline Aagard
Jan Garfield
Karla Phlypo
Joan Hahn
Janice Long

2. PhD Dissertation Proposal Oral Defense Slide Template
The information presented here is recommended guidance only.
Work in conjunction with your committee on the slides; committee members may have suggestions other than those presented here.

3. Notes about the Oral Defense
Recommendation for time:
The oral defense PowerPoint presentation should be around 20 – 40 minutes in length followed by the committee Q & A portion. The entire defense should not exceed two hours.
The oral defense will be with the Student, Chair, and 2nd Committee member (the URR is not expected to attend)
In the event of an emergency and your member cannot attend, the oral can proceed with just the chair. The member will review the archived recording of the presentation later and provide a vote.
Student to proof and edit slides
Use same font and background on each slide

4. Notes about the Oral Defense
Do not overuse color because color can be distracting
Refer to the Dissertation Checklist for guidance when completing the various components of your presentation at:
Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
Stay within time limit
Know your stuff

5. Notes about the Oral Defense
Check for professional appearance, flow, and unity throughout the presentation
Do not read your slides to the committee
Discuss the main points using your slides as a guide
Use graphics pertinent to the topic – see examples on next few slides. . .
Academic Skills for Powerpoint

6. Graphic Suggestion
Consider adding a related photo, graphic, or using SmartArt enhance your presentation
Journal & Reflection

8. Graphic Suggestion Power Points should have minimal verbiage
5 short bullet points max, or two short sentences
Discuss and briefly elaborate using your notes
Key Points
Max 5 Short Pts.
Max 2 Sentences

9. What happens during the oral defense?
You will be on the phone with your committee (send your slides to the committee before your oral defense)
First, you will present your slides
Next, your committee will ask you questions about your study
The entire process takes between 1-2 hours

10. What happens during the oral defense?
The committee will vote:
Accepted as presented
Accepted but requires minor revisions under supervision of chair
Not accepted--requires major revisions, with committee review but no additional oral
Not accepted--requires major revisions, with committee review and another oral

11. Now, let’s take a look at a proposal oral defense template
Now, let’s take a look at a proposal oral defense template. Be sure to remove all slides up to this point and begin your slide show with the title slide.

12. Place Title of Study Here
Your name
Date of Presentation
Degree Program and Specialization
Proposal Oral Defense

13. Background
Briefly summarize research literature related to the scope of the study topic
Describe the gap in knowledge in the discipline that the study will address and why study is needed

14. Problem Statement State the research problem
Provide evidence of consensus that the problem is current, relevant, and significant to the discipline
Frame the problem in a way that builds upon or counters previous research findings focusing on the problem
Address a meaningful gap in the current research literature

15. Purpose of the Study
Indicate whether a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods paradigm is being used
Discuss the study intent
State the independent, dependent, and covariate variables and/or concept/phenomenon (as appropriate to the particular study)

16. Research Questions
State the Research Questions

17. Hypotheses (if Quant or Mixed)
For quantitative components, state the null and alternative hypotheses that identify the independent and dependent variables being studied, the association being tested, and how the variables are being measured

18. Conceptual or Theoretical Framework
Name of theory
Identify author of the theory
State how the theory interfaces with your study
Name of conceptual framework
Identify author of the conceptual framework
State how the concepts interface with your study

19. Method/Design Quantitative, qualitative, or mixed method
“Using this method will allow me to. . .”
Research Design
“Using this design will allow me to. . .”

20. Participants/Sample Size
Primary or secondary data
Population from which sample is selected
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria for participants
Power calculations for quantitative studies
Proposed sample size for qualitative

21. Data Collection Technique
Primary or Secondary Data Collection
Survey or Instrument Used
Recruiting Techniques
Software

22. Data Analysis Plan
List each research question with its proposed analysis plan

23. Social Change Implications
Describe potential implications for positive social change that are consistent with and bounded by the scope of the study

24. Stakeholder Communication (if applicable)
If you are collecting primary data, especially at organizations/consultancies, provide next steps for reporting back to key stakeholders on any changes from the initial agreement
Review your consent form and partner agreement and discuss what you are telling stakeholders regarding the masking of participant and/or organization identities (the default is to mask both unless you received permission from the program director to state the name of the organization in the final dissertation as per criteria outlined here).

25. Concluding Thoughts…
Provide a strong “take home” message that captures the key essence of the proposal

26. Acknowledgements
Thank your committee members

27. References