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Master's Thesis Defense Moderator Script 1 - 17 - 2018

The document provides a script and procedures for moderating a master's thesis defense. It introduces the defense process and committee members. It outlines four stages of questioning: general audience questions, graduate faculty questions, thesis committee questions, and private committee deliberations. The moderator is tasked with timing each stage, ensuring procedures are followed, and submitting a checklist afterwards.

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121 views

Master's Thesis Defense Moderator Script 1 - 17 - 2018

The document provides a script and procedures for moderating a master's thesis defense. It introduces the defense process and committee members. It outlines four stages of questioning: general audience questions, graduate faculty questions, thesis committee questions, and private committee deliberations. The moderator is tasked with timing each stage, ensuring procedures are followed, and submitting a checklist afterwards.

Uploaded by

Noraima
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Script to be read at the beginning of the defense by the moderator:

Master’s Thesis Defense Script

Moderator Introduces the Defense Process

Thank you for joining us today, for [Name’s] thesis defense. I’m [Name] from [Dept.] and I will be moderating
the proceedings.

In the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, we ask that you hold questions until after the
candidate’s presentation. After [Name’s] talk, questioning will proceed in stages, starting with the general
audience and ending with the thesis committee. I will introduce each stage of questioning as it occurs. For all
members of the audience, please keep in mind that although it is tempting for faculty to answer questions or
clarify points, the goal of this exercise is for the student to independently defend the work that has been
completed.

Moderator Introduces Committee Members

The thesis committee members are: [Introduce each by Name, titles, starting with Chair and ending with
External Member]

Moderator Initiates the Presentation

Now [Name] will present his/her study, [Title].


Moderator Initiates the Presentation

Stage Time Active Participation

Stage 1: Formal presentation by Presentation: ~ 20-30 minutes General audience (students,


the candidate followed by practitioners, non-graduate faculty)
questions from the general
audience.

Note: Questions during this stage should be initiated by the General Audience and not the graduate faculty or
committee members. A graduate faculty or committee member may ask follow-up questions or comments
pertaining to a question initiated by the general audience. The moderator will ask the graduate faculty/committee
members if there are any follow-up questions once the student has responded to the question initiated by the
general audience member. Once the student has responded to any follow-up question, the moderator resumes
questioning by the general audience. The key in this stage is that the general audience is given the opportunity to
initiate questions and the graduate faculty/committee may ask follow-up questions.

When there are no other questions to be initiated by the general audience the Moderator concludes the formal
presentation/general question period and announces that the oral examination will proceed with questions from
members of the graduate faculty, who are not on the thesis committee. The entire audience is welcome to
remain in attendance.
Graduate Faculty Questions ~ 15-20 minutes Graduate faculty of SHRS and
the greater University who are not
members of the thesis committee

Note: Questions during this stage should be initiated by the graduate faculty. The Moderator will ask the
committee members if they have any follow-up questions/comments once the student has responded to the
question initiated by the graduate faculty member. Once the student has responded to any follow-up question, the
moderator resumes questioning by the graduate faculty.

When there are no further questions to be initiated by the graduate faculty, the Moderator concludes this stage
and announces that the oral examination will proceed with questions from the thesis committee. At this point,
the Moderator should stop the proceedings momentarily and allow anyone in the audience who wants to leave
to do so.

Thesis Committee There is no time limit but this Members of the Thesis and any
Questions section usually lasts ~ 30 other members of the audience who
minutes. wish to stay

When the thesis committee indicates there are no further questions the Moderator concludes this stage and the
audience, other than the Thesis Committee and Moderator are excused.
Deliberation and Time as needed Members of the Thesis Committee are
Recommendations present. The moderator is a silent
observer during this portion. The
candidate is present for probing
questions if the committee deems this
necessary, but absent during
deliberations, and the present again
during recommendations and procedural
discussions.
Moderator Checklist

Student Name: _______________________________ Defense Date: __________________________


Moderator Name: _____________________________

During the defense, the moderator will complete the following check list, to be submitted to Debby Keelan,
4022FT who will forward it to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. Please record actual times for each
portion of the defense. These data will help with auditing the thesis defense process.

Procedural Check List

YES NO Script was read to introduce the thesis defense

Record the length of the student’s talk (~20 minutes)

Record the length of general audience questioning (~ 10 minutes)

Record the length of graduate faculty questioning (~15 - 20 minutes)

Record the length of thesis committee questioning (~ 30 minutes)

YES NO Was student further questioned in private session with the thesis committee?

Record the length of the private questioning session if held

Record length of deliberations

YES NO Was the student notified of the final committee decision?

YES NO Was student provided with specific details on finalizing the document?

YES NO Did faculty need to be reminded during the proceedings to refrain from answering for
the student?

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