External Examiner of a Masters Thesis

Background

I often receive requests for examining thesis (mostly Masters in Engineering). Nothing to do with me, but to do with  my current job profile!

Note
This my incomplete list of Do's and Don't. Mostly written in one sitting.

Why am I writing it?

After having had to go through some painfully lengthy presentations which spoke more about the literature and less of what the student actually did!  And having had to listen to several supervisor say "I am not actually the project supervisor and I had to step in because of " to avoid any responsibility of what is being presented! I thought these tips will help the student plan in advance and speak their best.

Since I interact with the supervisor who organizes the evaluation. I will write as if I am addressing the supervisor; but the student should, they were to read, get the intent. 

Few Suggestions

Please have the student do the following 

• Start with 10 minutes demonstration if there is something to be shown as part of the work {this give a good perspective to the thesis}
• A strict 30 minutes presentation {at best 15-18 slides}
• The first slide should contain the duration of the project and the number of hours spend on the project (example, Jan 2018 - July 2018; xxx hours) {this again gives a good perspective of the time spent in the project}
  
• Start with the problem statement and highlight the main contribution of the work done {this should allow the student to think what they have contributed to the overall literature}
  
• Concentrate on the work done rather than the literature (they could have the literature as backup slides - which they can refer to if required - but not to be presented)
• Make sure the presenter knows what ever is written on the slide {there is no point in putting details that the presenter does not know, often happens with literature}
  
• Ask them to spend a slide or two (and time) on the experimental results and analysis 
• let them use graphs {when applicable}, 
• highlight what they want to talk about in the tables; 
• clearly articulate what they want the listener to gain from the tables|charts
• Numerical if shown should be limited to two digits after the decimal {do not use 0.56892; use instead 0.57 to make it human readable}
• They should be familiar with the mathematical expression on the slide - let them not put it without understanding 
• They should proof read their thesis and the slides used for presentation
• No more than 4-5 sentences in a slide
• Do not read what is there on the slide {the examiner can do it too}
  
• Use bullets instead of complete sentences
• Time your presentation {a rehearsal  definitely helps}