Thesis supervision David Derichs 2021-2023

Topic outline

• The thesis seminar procedures and roles!
  Before the seminar

  Submit the thesis proposal/the first draft of the thesis by mail to the supervisor and other group members one week before the presentation. Supervisor will determine the opponents for every research plan/the first draft

  Opponents submit written assessment to the supervisor and other group members 24 hours before the presentation, at the latest.

  During the seminar

  • First presentation.
  • Then, the opponent comments.
  • Then the audience and the supervisor.
  • Active seminar participation is required from everyone!
  • The idea is to give constructive and encouraging feedback.

  The tasks of the presenter: 

  You prepare and practice a presentation that takes about 15-20 minutes. Please consider the following for your presentation: 

  • Presentation skills can be career deciding. It makes sense to practice and hone those skills in a risk-free environment such as this one. Consider the following
  • Develop engaging slides - not mere text dump, which focus the listeners attention on you - the presenter
  • Focus on starting the presentation with a hook - why is this thesis relevant both from practice and from theory perspectives
  • Provide a table of content
  • Wrap up the presentation at the end highlighting the core issues for why this thesis matters
  • After the presentation ask and receive feedback from the audience and the opponent.
  • Listen! Do not react to criticism or feedback directly, but let the people providing their comments finish. In case you fear you forget your points take a note! 
  • When the time comes and you feel the need to address feedback, please do so constructively
  • After the seminar, go over the feedback received. Summarize the feedback you received and outline what needs to be addressed and derive clear action steps of how to address that feedback, plan/adjust your schedule about addressing the points and staying on time with other deliverables. If you do not decide to address the feedback explain why not. Submit the memo no later than three days after the seminar to the submission box. 

  The tasks of the opponent

  To assess the thesis, and to comment and provide constructive feedback, ask questions, and stimulate discussion about the topic

  • You may utilize the Master Thesis Rubric

  https://into.aalto.fi/download/attachments/7157828/Rubriikki_Masters_Thesis_BIZ_2019.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1568127121168&api=v2

  The following may be considered:

  • Does the title accurately describe the topic?
  • How well are the objectives set and described?
  • The quality of argumentation and storyline of the thesis and different sections
  • How well various choices in the empirical work have been justified?
  • Analysis and interpretations of results
  • The “flow” throughout the thesis – is there “a thread”?
  • Research question(s) vs. conclusions – does the thesis answer its research question?
  • Contribution explained? – how is the contribution explained w.r.t to prior literature
  • Quality of writing – proper formal language is used