1. Launch – first impression and structure
- Opening slide: title, name, major, advisor/opponent's name, date - keep it clean, aesthetically structured and use an elegant, but not too special font.
- Table of contents: present the thought process of the presentation – it helps the audience and is a good reference for you too.
2. Theme guiding thought and emphases
- Clarify at the beginning what the central question, purpose, and relevance of your research are - make it clear and emphasize why your results are significant.
- Mention the most important result in the introduction; this will grab attention and provide the backbone of the presentation.
3. Literature and methodology – briefly and to the point
- The literature background should only be as brief as is actually necessary for your research.
- Explain concisely what methods you used and why – this establishes your credibility.
4. Results through diagrams
- One thought – one slide: this is the key rule.
- Use understandable graphs and diagrams — but don't overdo it: leave enough "white space." (You can also find pre-made, beautiful, clean, and elegant solutions in Canva)
5. Conclusions and future possibilities
- Show what was fully or partially confirmed, what was refuted, and what questions still remain open.
- Suggest research directions that could potentially be continued after your thesis - this will give your work a scientific perspective.
6. During a performance – style and confidence
- Let the slides serve as an outline, don't read them out loud - if you decide to memorize most of the text, try to articulate naturally and write your pre-written speech with filler words that help you maintain the appearance of "naturally confident".
- Be prepared for possible questions! If there are any tricky questions, no problem: if you don't know, answer honestly ("I don't know exactly, but..."), and then move on.
7. Technical safety and practice
- Don't leave it to the last minute: have a backup on a flash drive, via email, or saved online.
- Practice several times, record it on a microphone, perform it in front of a mirror, and ideally in front of friends or colleagues - this will help you improve both in time and tone.
8. Clothing, stress and reward
- Dress similarly to how you would for a job interview: clean, tidy, not too flashy – a sophisticated and well-groomed appearance counts a lot.
- Rest before the performance too – relax, close your eyes, imagine yourself performing and everything will be fine. You can also add a little extra boost with some magnesium and ginko bilova beforehand.
- Reward yourself: celebrate when you get there.
Kristof Molnar
Mobile: +36 30 335 9094
Email: korrepcristof@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KorrepKristof
