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Intercultural Communication Center
Tips for Responding in Oral Qualifiers & Defenses
Situation
1. You are asked what you think is a simplistic
question.
Possible Responses
•
I’m not sure I understand your question.
•
Can you restate your question for me?
Why These Responses Work
If a communication problem occurs, you will get another
chance to understand the question. If not, answer the
question respectfully and briefly. Avoid being insulting.
2. You are asked a confusing question. You are not •
sure what the professor really means.
•
I’m not sure I understand the question. Could you rephrase it?
I didn’t understand the question. Did you mean…?
Don’t apologize in this situation. Take an active and
confident approach to understand the question. The
problem may not be due to your language proficiency; the
intent of the question may not be clear.
3. You need time to think about how to best
answer a question.
That’s a very interesting/challenging question. Let me work it
out for a minute so that I can include everything that’s relevant.
Start out strong: Take time to abstract the question into
formulas or parts.
•
Think aloud: State the elements of the solution that you are
familiar with and say why you think they will eventually fit
together. Let your words reflect your reasoning.
4. You are asked a question about an area in your
field that you know very little about or haven’t
thought about in a long time.
5. You are asked what you feel is a key question.
6. After you answer a question, you are told that
you don’t know enough about the subject and
should read more about it.
•
I’ve been working more on…so my knowledge on this topic is not
as deep. However, the issues are related by…and I have some
understanding of your question.
Try to link the question to the most relevant information
you know.
•
Let me know if this is what you’re looking for.
•
In my opinion this is crucial because…
Explicitly recognize that this is a key question in your field.
•
That’s an important question.
Answer it enthusiastically.
•
The answer to this question is key because…
•
It’s possible that I missed some important work in this area.
•
What would you recommend reading?
•
What specifically should I focus on in my reading?
First, it is OK to admit that you may not know enough
about a particular area. Acknowledge the comment, but also
respond actively by returning to points you made earlier that
indicate you’re in control of the material. If you haven’t
made enough points yet, steer the discussion back to what
you do know.
Part of the ICC seminar Preparing for Oral Qualifiers and Defenses
Warner Hall 308, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 / 412-268-4979 / [email protected] / www.cmu.edu/icc
02/14
Situation
Possible Responses
Why These Responses Work
•
Let me explain the background motivation for my work. My
work is important because…
•
When discussing my work at this level of detail, it’s easy to lose
sight of how it relates to and impacts the community.
At this point in your academic career, you have to be
familiar with the larger context within which your research is
situated. Be prepared to make a persuasive case for the value
of your work.
•
This body of research doesn’t address that question.
•
Perhaps this isn’t a good time to address those issue. Maybe later
I could deal with them in terms of…
•
My research does not yet address those issues. That’s an
interesting related question, but the work required to solve that
problem is beyond the scope of this work.
9. You can’t remember a formula or a certain
theory you’re asked about.
•
I’m sorry, I know I’ve studied that, but I just can’t recall it by
name. Could you remind me of the approach? I’ll probably be
able to remember it by content.
This is the ONLY situation where you should apologize.
You can rescue yourself from this situation by
demonstrating confidence while asking for help.
10. You realize that you just made a mistake and
answered something incorrectly.
•
Excuse me, but now I see another answer to the previous
question. May I spend a few minutes revisiting the issue?
First, be absolutely sure you made a mistake. Then, interrupt
at a convenient moment and address the issue again.
11. You are interrupted by questions during your
presentation and before you are ready for them.
•
Could you hold/defer this question until the end of the talk,
please?
•
Let me get back to that question later.
Unless the question is asking for clarification of a term, the
objective is to control the situation and complete your
presentation.
•
Why don’t I cover the background material I have prepared first.
If you still have a question in a few minutes, I’ll be glad to
address it.
12. A professor challenges you about something
another professor told you to do, and that you
accepted without really researching.
•
In discussions with Dr X we decided that…/it seems best to…
•
That particular choice was made during collaborations with Dr
X. At that time it seemed like a reasonable assumption.
13. Someone on the committee answers a question
for you.
•
Thanks Dr X, for answering that question. I’d like to add a
point from my perspective…
•
I agree with that answer. (Then introduce a new subject or
continue the same line of thinking).
7. Someone implies that there is no value in your
research.
8. You are asked a question you just don’t know
the answer to.
Respond with positive comments. It’s okay to say that you
do not know the particular answer, but that this is a good
question.
Take an active approach. Explain yourself without
apologizing.
Regain control of the situation. Add something to the
answer rather than remaining silent. Paraphrase the answer,
explain it further, or relate it to your area of expertise.
Tips for Responding in Oral Qualifiers & Defenses, Intercultural Communication Center, Carnegie Mellon, www.cmu.edu/icc
02/14