Superlatives

Here is a small reflection and summary exercise to help gather useful information before your viva. Four questions:

• What’s the best part of your thesis?
• What was the least useful period of research during your PhD?
• What was the hardest thing you learned?
• What is your proudest achievement?

Take a moment to reflect for each of these. Write down your thoughts in keywords or sentences. Reflect more and then dig deeper for each by asking yourself, “Why?”

• Why is this the best part of your thesis?
• Why was that the least useful period?
• Why is that the hardest thing you learned?
• Why is that your proudest achievement?

Reflection questions are helpful for shaking loose ideas that are worth remembering or considering more.

“Why?” often allows one to dig a little deeper.