Defending Your Dissertation: The Final Uphill Climb

You have spent years going to class, reading, writing, and discussing. You have spent more years planning your project, engaging in research, and becoming an expert on your topic. You have written hundreds of pages, producing more words than you ever thought possible. You have stayed up late, experienced successes and setbacks, and probably shed some (or many) tears. Now it’s time for the culmination of your doctoral career – the dissertation defense.

Defending your dissertation can seem like yet another steep hill at the end of a long marathon. This post and the two that follow will provide some perspective and tips on how to approach the incline.

First, Some Perspective

Yes, the defense is important. And yes, you should prepare with the same level of rigor with which you have tackled every other stage of the graduate school journey. But keep in mind that the reason you are at this stage is because you have already done good work. Your advisor, who knows your work better than anyone (except you), would not allow you to defend a project that was not worth defending.

Additionally, remember that in this little inlet of the vast sea of knowledge, you are the expert. Your committee members probably know something (maybe a lot) about various pieces of your topic. Maybe one is an expert on your methodology or time period or theoretical framework. But you are the only one who has put the disparate pieces together in this particular way. It is your work, and you are the most qualified person in the room (or the Zoom) to speak on it.

At the same time, you are not expected to know everything. If you covered every possible facet and ancillary bunny trail of your topic, your dissertation would be thousands of pages long, and no one would read it. It is perfectly fine to admit that your research did not extend into every nook and cranny (more on how to address things you don’t know in the next post).  

Also, remember that often, the defense is actually an enjoyable experience. You are talking about something you know and care about with some of the few people in the world who also know and care about it. That’s the definition of fun for many academics.

And finally, remember that your dissertation is not perfect. No matter how many hours you have poured into that tome, it has flaws. Your committee is there to help you make it better. Expect that they will require some changes and corrections post-defense, and know that does not mean that you have produced inadequate work.

Some Questions to Ask

 First, make sure you have all your paperwork ducks in a row. Make sure you know what you need to file, sign, pay for, or bring. If you aren’t sure, ask the graduate coordinator or program director in your department. Then, make sure you carefully complete those steps.

You’ll also need some information about the structure and format of your defense. These are some good details to clarify with your advisor:

• Will the defense be online or in person? If online, who will host, and what platform will be used? If in person, what is the room setup?
• Who will be there? Is the defense open to the public? If you are allowed to invite guests, consider carefully whether you want to. For some people, having supporters in the room can provide extra confidence. For others, it may be an unnecessary source of anxiety.
• How long should you expect the defense to last?
• What can/should you bring? Are you permitted to have notes? If the defense is in person, should you provide snacks or water?
• Should you prepare a presentation? How long should it be? What aspects of the dissertation should it cover? Do you need slides?
• Who will ask questions? Will committee members ask in a particular order? Are they limited in the number of questions they can ask?

It’s also a good idea to ask your advisor for their general thoughts on what to expect and any advice they can provide. Your advisor may know committee members’ quirks and hobby horses, and this information can help you prepare wisely.

Preparing for the Defense

If you will be presenting as part of your defense, the presentation is the part of the event where you will have the most control. Take advantage of that fact by preparing thoroughly and practicing. Get a friend or family member to listen and provide feedback.

The bulk of the defense will likely be you answering questions from committee members. You can’t know exactly what they will ask, but you can still prepare well. Other than asking your advisor for insight, there are a few other things you should do.

• Consider the feedback committee members have already provided on chapter or full dissertation drafts. This feedback can give you an idea of what is important to them. If you have not incorporated their suggestions into the dissertation, make sure you can explain that choice in a respectful and convincing way.
• Consider committee members’ areas of expertise. Again, this will give you some insight into the topics they are likely to focus on.
• Read through a clean copy of your entire dissertation. This reading will not only remind you of the theories you used and the arguments you made (which you should have ready to hand), but it will also help you note areas of weakness. Consider how you might address questions about these areas.

Write out answers to the questions you think committee members might ask. Maybe get a set of index cards and write a question on each one, then write bullet points for possible answers on the back. Depending on the format of your defense, you may be able to use the notecards, but regardless, they will help you sort out your thoughts so you go in with an organized mind.

Finally, as you prepare for the defense, continue to take care of yourself as well as possible. Try to maintain good routines for sleep, exercise, and eating. But don’t stress if your discipline breaks down or you suffer some sleepless nights. You have been preparing for this defense for years, and you’ll be able to do it well even if you are not at your physical best.

Coming up next: During the Defense

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