PREPARATION FOR VIVA VOCE

TOPIC 6 : VIVA VOCE PRESENTATION SKILLS

6.1

IMPACTFUL PRESENTATION SKILLS

a. Prepare a PowerPoint presentation independently. Use simple words to describe your

work. Very often in viva voce presentation general terms are used. For example, earth

getting warmer. Instead, provide the magnitude of the temperature increase, quantify the

statement, provide numerals, and be precise. Graphical illustration is recommended.

b. Insert slide numbers (page numbers) in order for examiners to precisely point particular

slides after your presentation.

c. Avoid copy-pasting from the thesis. Make sure of a storyline during the presentation. For

instance, your research objectives should be the solutions to your problem statements and

your conclusions should answer your objectives.

d. Presentation ideally of 20-30 slides. Do not bore the panel with a lengthy presentation.

Most of your panel members, importantly your examiners, have seen your thesis line by

line for the past two or three months. As such, an extended presentation is not required.

There are lot of confusion on this matter on how to accommodate two or three-year

research work into 25 slides. You are not asked to tell the whole of your two or three years

account. Present the important elements within the recommended duration. Often,

dragging the presentation annoys the panel.

e. Be early. Avoid excessive introduction of yourself or the panel members. Usually the

chairperson will introduce the panel. A ‘Welcome Note’ from you is not at all welcomed,

instead go straight to your slides.

f. You must bring a copy of your thesis draft. Remember that it must be the exact copy of

those submitted to the examiners. Very often student bringing a different version of thesis

draft that has been self-corrected during the last two to three months, in which the content

and the pages are not same as that of the examiners. This complicates the correction

process and very often annoys examiners.

g. Avoid presenting dull, monotonous or too general information. You should be excited in

presenting your two or three years findings. Keep audience interested throughout. Relate

your findings with practical scenario all around, connect with reality. By linking the results

to the realistic, one can effortlessly draw the attention of the audience.

h. Begin by explaining the very need for carry out this research. Explain clearly the need to

explore your scope, the very need to study the area. Demonstrate the research gap to the

panel.

i. State the possible obstacles/issues of the field then show how you are going to alleviate

those issues significantly through your research objectives.

j. Show how your work benefits the field, globally and locally. Relate the contribution of

your findings with economic, social, environmental gains.