Assignment Overview
A typical T&T prospectus defense presentation is 15-20 minutes: as at this stage you are still conceptualizing your project, so our practice run will be shorter. This is an opportunity to share your concept formally and practice for what can be a particularly stressful stage of the process.
Requirements
- 10-12 minute presentation (10 points)
- Well-organized visual aids (5 points)
- Presence and engagement with peers (5 points)
Presentation Schedule
Presentations will be divided into two groups:
- Group One: November 18
- Group Two: November 25
Group assignments will be determined in class based on student preferences and scheduling needs.
Presentation Components
Research Overview (2-3 minutes)
- Introduce your topic and research problem
- Present your research question(s)
- Explain why this research matters
Literature Review (1-2 minutes)
- Briefly situate your work within existing scholarship
- Highlight the key gap your research will fill
- Keep this section focused and concise
Methodology (2-3 minutes)
- Explain your research approach and methods
- Justify your methodological choices
- Address potential limitations or challenges
- This should be a substantial portion of your presentation
Significance and Contributions (2-3 minutes)
- Articulate what your research will contribute to your field
- Discuss broader implications of your work
- Connect to larger scholarly or social conversations
Visual Aids Guidelines
Design Principles
- Use clear, readable fonts (minimum 24pt)
- Limit text on each slide
- Include relevant images, charts, or diagrams
- Maintain consistent formatting
- Use professional color schemes
Content Suggestions
- Title slide with your name and research topic
- Research question slide
- Brief literature positioning (1-2 slides maximum)
- Detailed methodology overview (3-4 slides)
- Timeline or chapter outline
- Significance and contributions
Q & A
All students are expected to perform the role of the committee when asking questions:
- Think about challenges of scope, particularly given the limited time of a dissertation
- Be considerate when raising sources, methods, and ideas from your own exerptise - everyone brings different backgrounds to their work
- Remember to focus your questions on helping your peers clarify the projects they want to do, even if that’s not the project you would do!
Preparation Tips
- Practice your presentation multiple times to stay within the 10-12 minute limit
- Time each section to ensure proper balance (methodology should be longest)
- Prepare for potential questions, especially about your research methods
- Focus on clear, concise explanations rather than comprehensive coverage
Submission Requirements
Upload your presentation slides to Webcourses at least three hours prior to the class start time!