Writing a Thesis Proposal and Presenting It
Entry 0005
Blog published: May 13 2023
Writing a Thesis Proposal and Presenting It
Today, I am thrilled to share my journey toward discovering a topic for my research proposal, which is related to the field of agriculture. Despite the many restless nights and moments of anxiety, I finally found a topic that interested me. My decision to pursue this topic was driven not only by the university's RDE alignment but also by my desire to help farmers by introducing newer ideas that offer innovative agriculture, particularly but not limited to crop management, weather prediction, pest and disease detection, and other areas.
As I delved into the literature (lots and lots!), I discovered several studies that offered promising results and some that have recommendations for future research. However, I also noticed that many of these studies focused solely on the optimization of models and developing newer technologies without actual deployment or utilization. With this realization, I was determined to create a research proposal that not only explored these innovative ideas but also involved practical deployment and significance to the community. I am excited about the impact my research could have on the agriculture industry and its potential to help the lives of farmers.
Reflecting on my experience writing chapters 1-3, I recognize that I still have room for improvement in my technical writing skills. I should have planned better to avoid last-minute cramming. Putting my thoughts into writing in a scholarly manner was challenging, especially in Chapter 1, where I needed to identify the gap my research aimed to fill. It requires the skill to present the gap properly and justify the significance of the research you are aiming to propose. However, I found writing the literature review enjoyable and going through numerous research papers helped me understand the subject more. I found it challenging to create the frameworks and I acknowledge that I have opportunities for growth in this area. However, I believe that this experience has been a valuable learning opportunity for me, and although it was stressful, I hope this experience will help me write my future research. If it's all possible, I am also interested in game programming and AI technologies and would like to delve deeper into these topics in the future. Creating a video game sounds fun~
Delivering presentations can be a scary thing, especially for those who are not fond of public speaking (like me!). Nonetheless, I discovered that taking my time and pacing myself is crucial. Here are some tips that could be beneficial for you in giving presentations:
1. Know your stuff. It's essential to have an idea of what you're talking about and what you're presenting. You can write a script, but an outline is better as it helps you avoid the problem of forgetting your lines.
2. Organize your thoughts. Write them down and arrange your ideas so that they are aligned and won't get off track. It helps to ensure that the audience follows your presentation and it will help you have a smoother flow for presenting.
3. Practice. You can practice in front of a mirror, by yourself, or with an audience. Treat it as a practical test, and simulate the real thing. The objective is to learn what you're going to say, learn how to pace yourself, share your ideas in a way that the audience will understand, and anticipate potential questions. If you can accomplish that, whether it be once, twice, or multiple times, as long as you need to then it will help you prepare and ready yourself for the real thing.
4. Smile and be confident. Confidence is key. While you might be nervous, the audience doesn't know that. You can appear confident even if you're not. However, the audience will be more compelled to listen and give your ideas a chance if you appear confident and knowledgeable about what you're talking about. Don't forget to smile, and talk in a loud, confident manner. To avoid saying fillers, you can take a break and pause if you need to. This will also help you gather your thoughts.
5. Answer questions to the best of your ability. If the panel or someone from the audience asks something or asks you for clarification, answer them with confidence. If it's something you don't know, be honest about it. If they're suggesting something, take it into consideration. The goal is to have more ideas to improve your study and expand your knowledge to write better papers. Therefore, keeping an open mind is essential to achieve this goal.
Although this experience was both tiring and enjoyable, it is safe to say that I have learned a lot and grown as a student. I believe that this experience was necessary to prepare me for the coming semesters and that any challenges I may face in the future will only make me stronger (and more resilient :D). I hope to become a person that failure cannot deter, and I am grateful for the lessons I have learned and will learn to continue acquiring knowledge and growing as a student.
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