Presenting the Honors Thesis

A thesis presentation is one of the requirements of the honors program.  It may take two different forms.

  1. You may present all, or part, of your research at a conference either before or after the completion of the thesis itself.
  2. You may give a formal thesis presentation, as outlined below.

 

What counts as a Conference Presentation?

  1. It must be a paper presented at a conference such as The Michigan Academy of Science Arts and Letters, The Meeting of the Minds, or the Sigma Tau Delta.
  2. Presenting material at an Honors Colloquium, or during a senior seminar, does not count as a thesis presentation.
  3. The readers must still read and approve the thesis and the student must complete all revisions to the satisfaction of the committee before a final grade is assigned.

 

What is a Thesis Presentation?

The thesis presentation is a meeting which lasts about one hour during which you present your thesis, and the members of the committee of readers ask questions or make suggestions about revisions for your thesis.

How do I set up the Thesis Presentation?

  1. You need to find a date when all your readers can meet together with you. It is a good idea to contact all the readers by email and to find out when each of the readers can meet. Then offer a series of alternate times when everyone can meet.
  2. You also need to find a room, such as a conference room. Consult with your thesis advisor. Classrooms and academic spaces are reserved through the Registrar's Office. 
  3. Readers who cannot be present because they are out of town or on sabbatical may submit written comments.
  4. During the meeting, you present the material in your thesis. This presentation may be a formal talk with PowerPoint, overheads, or slides, or it may consist of a dialogue with the readers, who ask questions of the candidate. 
  5. The format is flexible, depending on the discipline and requirements of the discipline.


What counts as a Conference Presentation?

  1. It must be a paper presented at a conference such as The Michigan Academy of Science Arts and Letters, The Meeting of the Minds, or the Sigma Tau Delta.
  2. Presenting material at an Honors Colloquium, or during a senior seminar, does not count as a thesis presentation.
  3. The readers must still read and approve the thesis and the student must complete all revisions to the satisfaction of the committee before a final grade is assigned.

 

University Honors Program