Thesis Defense Evaluation Form
This thesis defense evaluation form provides a comprehensive framework for committee members to assess graduate student defenses. It covers key evaluation areas including the written thesis quality, oral presentation skills, research methodology rigor, and the student's ability to defend their work under questioning. The form includes a matrix evaluation for detailed scoring, conditional logic for revision requirements, and a structured decision-making process. Suitable for master's theses, doctoral dissertations, and other academic defenses.
Try the Form
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
export function thesisDefenseFeedbackForm(form: FormTs) {
// Thesis Defense Evaluation Form - Academic Committee Assessment
// Demonstrates: Pages (multi-page), MatrixQuestion, StarRating, RatingScale, RadioButton, dynamic styling
// ============================================
// HEADER
// ============================================
form.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('header', {
label: 'Thesis Defense Evaluation',
computedValue: () => 'Committee Member Assessment Form',
customStyles: {
backgroundColor: '#7c3aed',
color: 'white',
padding: '24px',
borderRadius: '12px',
textAlign: 'center'
}
});
});
// ============================================
// MULTI-PAGE WIZARD
// ============================================
const pages = form.addPages('defensePages', { heightMode: 'current-page' });
// ============================================
// PAGE 1: Defense Information
// ============================================
const page1 = pages.addPage('info');
const infoSection = page1.addSubform('info', {
title: 'Defense Information'
});
infoSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextbox('studentName', {
label: 'Student Name',
placeholder: 'Full name of the candidate',
isRequired: true
}, '1fr');
row.addDatepicker('defenseDate', {
label: 'Defense Date',
isRequired: true
}, '1fr');
});
infoSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextbox('thesisTitle', {
label: 'Thesis Title',
placeholder: 'Enter the full thesis title',
isRequired: true
});
});
infoSection.addRow(row => {
row.addDropdown('degreeLevel', {
label: 'Degree Level',
options: [
{ id: 'masters', name: "Master's Thesis" },
{ id: 'phd', name: 'Doctoral Dissertation' },
{ id: 'honors', name: 'Honors Thesis' },
{ id: 'capstone', name: 'Capstone Project' }
],
isRequired: true
}, '1fr');
row.addDropdown('committeeRole', {
label: 'Your Role on Committee',
options: [
{ id: 'chair', name: 'Committee Chair' },
{ id: 'advisor', name: 'Thesis Advisor' },
{ id: 'member', name: 'Committee Member' },
{ id: 'external', name: 'External Examiner' }
],
isRequired: true
}, '1fr');
});
// Navigation for page 1
page1.addRow(row => {
row.addButton('nextToPage2', {
label: 'Continue to Evaluation',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('evaluation'),
isDisabled: () => {
return !infoSection.textbox('studentName')?.value() ||
!infoSection.datepicker('defenseDate')?.value() ||
!infoSection.textbox('thesisTitle')?.value();
}
});
});
// ============================================
// PAGE 2: Detailed Evaluation
// ============================================
const page2 = pages.addPage('evaluation');
const writtenSection = page2.addSubform('written', {
title: 'Written Thesis Quality'
});
writtenSection.addRow(row => {
row.addMatrixQuestion('thesisMatrix', {
label: 'Rate the following aspects of the written thesis:',
rows: [
{ id: 'research', label: 'Research Question & Significance', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'literature', label: 'Literature Review', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'methodology', label: 'Research Methodology', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'analysis', label: 'Data Analysis & Results', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'conclusions', label: 'Conclusions & Implications', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'writing', label: 'Writing Quality & Organization', isRequired: true }
],
columns: [
{ id: 'unsatisfactory', label: 'Unsatisfactory' },
{ id: 'needs-work', label: 'Needs Work' },
{ id: 'satisfactory', label: 'Satisfactory' },
{ id: 'good', label: 'Good' },
{ id: 'excellent', label: 'Excellent' }
],
fullWidth: true,
striped: true
});
});
const presentationSection = page2.addSubform('presentation', {
title: 'Oral Presentation'
});
presentationSection.addRow(row => {
row.addStarRating('presentationClarity', {
label: 'Clarity of presentation',
maxStars: 5,
size: 'lg',
showCounter: true,
alignment: 'center'
});
row.addStarRating('presentationOrganization', {
label: 'Organization & flow',
maxStars: 5,
size: 'lg',
showCounter: true,
alignment: 'center'
});
});
presentationSection.addRow(row => {
row.addStarRating('visualAids', {
label: 'Use of visual aids',
maxStars: 5,
size: 'lg',
showCounter: true,
alignment: 'center'
});
row.addStarRating('timeManagement', {
label: 'Time management',
maxStars: 5,
size: 'lg',
showCounter: true,
alignment: 'center'
});
});
presentationSection.addRow(row => {
row.addSlider('presentationDuration', {
label: 'Presentation duration (minutes)',
min: 10,
max: 90,
step: 5,
showValue: true,
unit: 'min',
defaultValue: 30
});
});
// Navigation for page 2
page2.addSpacer({ height: '24px' });
page2.addRow(row => {
row.addButton('backToPage1', {
label: 'Back',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('info')
}, '1fr');
row.addButton('nextToPage3', {
label: 'Continue to Defense Q&A',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('qa')
}, '1fr');
});
// ============================================
// PAGE 3: Defense Q&A
// ============================================
const page3 = pages.addPage('qa');
const qaSection = page3.addSubform('qa', {
title: 'Defense & Q&A Performance'
});
qaSection.addRow(row => {
row.addRatingScale('questionResponses', {
label: 'How well did the candidate respond to committee questions?',
preset: 'likert-5',
lowLabel: 'Poorly',
highLabel: 'Excellently',
size: 'md',
alignment: 'center'
});
});
qaSection.addRow(row => {
row.addMatrixQuestion('defenseMatrix', {
label: 'Rate the candidate\'s defense performance:',
rows: [
{ id: 'knowledge', label: 'Subject Matter Knowledge', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'critical', label: 'Critical Thinking', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'composure', label: 'Composure Under Questioning', isRequired: true },
{ id: 'articulation', label: 'Articulation of Ideas', isRequired: true }
],
columns: [
{ id: 'poor', label: 'Poor' },
{ id: 'fair', label: 'Fair' },
{ id: 'good', label: 'Good' },
{ id: 'excellent', label: 'Excellent' }
],
fullWidth: true,
striped: true
});
});
qaSection.addRow(row => {
row.addCheckboxList('strengths', {
label: 'Key strengths demonstrated during defense:',
options: [
{ id: 'depth', name: 'Deep understanding of subject' },
{ id: 'confident', name: 'Confident presentation' },
{ id: 'thoughtful', name: 'Thoughtful responses' },
{ id: 'synthesis', name: 'Ability to synthesize ideas' },
{ id: 'honest', name: 'Honest about limitations' },
{ id: 'passionate', name: 'Passionate about research' }
],
orientation: 'vertical'
});
});
// Navigation for page 3
page3.addSpacer({ height: '24px' });
page3.addRow(row => {
row.addButton('backToPage2', {
label: 'Back',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('evaluation')
}, '1fr');
row.addButton('nextToPage4', {
label: 'Continue to Decision',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('decision')
}, '1fr');
});
// ============================================
// PAGE 4: Final Decision
// ============================================
const page4 = pages.addPage('decision');
const decisionSection = page4.addSubform('decision', {
title: 'Committee Decision',
customStyles: () => {
const decision = decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value();
if (decision === 'pass') return { backgroundColor: '#d1fae5', padding: '16px', borderRadius: '8px' };
if (decision === 'pass-revisions') return { backgroundColor: '#fef3c7', padding: '16px', borderRadius: '8px' };
if (decision === 'fail' || decision === 'defer') return { backgroundColor: '#fee2e2', padding: '16px', borderRadius: '8px' };
return { padding: '16px', borderRadius: '8px', border: '1px solid #e5e7eb' };
}
});
decisionSection.addRow(row => {
row.addRadioButton('finalDecision', {
label: 'Your recommendation for this defense:',
options: [
{ id: 'pass', name: 'Pass - Defense successful, thesis approved' },
{ id: 'pass-revisions', name: 'Pass with Minor Revisions - Approved pending specified changes' },
{ id: 'major-revisions', name: 'Major Revisions Required - Resubmit thesis' },
{ id: 'defer', name: 'Defer Decision - Requires further deliberation' },
{ id: 'fail', name: 'Fail - Defense unsuccessful' }
],
orientation: 'vertical',
isRequired: true
});
});
// Conditional revisions section
decisionSection.addSpacer({ height: '16px' });
decisionSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextarea('revisionRequirements', {
label: 'Required revisions (be specific):',
placeholder: 'Describe the specific changes, additions, or corrections required...',
rows: 4,
isRequired: () => {
const decision = decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value();
return decision === 'pass-revisions' || decision === 'major-revisions';
},
isVisible: () => {
const decision = decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value();
return decision === 'pass-revisions' || decision === 'major-revisions';
}
});
});
decisionSection.addRow(row => {
row.addDropdown('revisionReviewer', {
label: 'Who should approve the revisions?',
options: [
{ id: 'advisor', name: 'Thesis Advisor only' },
{ id: 'chair', name: 'Committee Chair' },
{ id: 'committee', name: 'Full Committee' }
],
isVisible: () => {
const decision = decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value();
return decision === 'pass-revisions' || decision === 'major-revisions';
}
}, '1fr');
row.addDropdown('revisionDeadline', {
label: 'Revision deadline',
options: [
{ id: '2-weeks', name: '2 weeks' },
{ id: '1-month', name: '1 month' },
{ id: '3-months', name: '3 months' },
{ id: '6-months', name: '6 months' }
],
isVisible: () => {
const decision = decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value();
return decision === 'pass-revisions' || decision === 'major-revisions';
}
}, '1fr');
});
// Comments section
const commentsSection = page4.addSubform('comments', {
title: 'Additional Comments',
isVisible: () => decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value() !== null
});
commentsSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextarea('privateComments', {
label: 'Comments for committee records (confidential):',
placeholder: 'Notes for committee deliberation...',
rows: 3
});
});
commentsSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextarea('studentFeedback', {
label: () => {
const decision = decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value();
if (decision === 'pass') return 'Congratulatory comments for the student:';
if (decision === 'fail') return 'Constructive feedback for the student:';
return 'Feedback to share with the student:';
},
placeholder: 'Constructive feedback that can be shared with the candidate...',
rows: 3
});
});
// Summary
const summarySection = page4.addSubform('summary', {
title: 'Evaluation Summary',
isVisible: () => decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value() !== null
});
summarySection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('summaryContent', {
computedValue: () => {
const studentName = infoSection.textbox('studentName')?.value() || 'Candidate';
const decision = decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value();
const degreeLevel = infoSection.dropdown('degreeLevel')?.value();
const defenseDate = infoSection.datepicker('defenseDate')?.value();
const strengths = qaSection.checkboxList('strengths')?.value() || [];
if (!decision) return '';
const decisionLabels: Record<string, string> = {
'pass': 'PASS - Approved',
'pass-revisions': 'PASS WITH REVISIONS',
'major-revisions': 'MAJOR REVISIONS REQUIRED',
'defer': 'DECISION DEFERRED',
'fail': 'FAIL'
};
const decisionEmojis: Record<string, string> = {
'pass': '🎓',
'pass-revisions': '📝',
'major-revisions': '📋',
'defer': '⏳',
'fail': '❌'
};
let summary = '📋 Defense Evaluation Summary\n';
summary += '═'.repeat(32) + '\n\n';
summary += `👤 Candidate: ${studentName}\n`;
if (degreeLevel) summary += `🎓 Degree: ${degreeLevel.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + degreeLevel.slice(1)}\n`;
if (defenseDate) summary += `📅 Date: ${new Date(defenseDate).toLocaleDateString()}\n`;
summary += `\n${decisionEmojis[decision] || '📌'} Decision: ${decisionLabels[decision] || decision}\n`;
if (strengths.length > 0) {
summary += `\n✨ ${strengths.length} key strength(s) noted`;
}
return summary;
},
customStyles: () => {
const decision = decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value();
const baseStyles = {
padding: '16px',
borderRadius: '8px',
whiteSpace: 'pre-wrap',
fontFamily: 'monospace',
fontSize: '14px'
};
if (decision === 'pass') return { ...baseStyles, backgroundColor: '#d1fae5', borderLeft: '4px solid #10b981' };
if (decision === 'pass-revisions') return { ...baseStyles, backgroundColor: '#fef3c7', borderLeft: '4px solid #f59e0b' };
if (decision === 'fail' || decision === 'defer' || decision === 'major-revisions') {
return { ...baseStyles, backgroundColor: '#fee2e2', borderLeft: '4px solid #ef4444' };
}
return { ...baseStyles, backgroundColor: '#f3f4f6', borderLeft: '4px solid #6b7280' };
}
});
});
// Navigation for page 4
page4.addSpacer({ height: '24px' });
page4.addRow(row => {
row.addButton('backToPage3', {
label: 'Back',
onClick: () => pages.goToPage('qa')
});
});
// ============================================
// FORM CONFIGURATION
// ============================================
form.configureSubmitButton({
label: 'Submit Evaluation',
isVisible: () => decisionSection.radioButton('finalDecision')?.value() !== null
});
form.configureCompletionScreen({
type: 'text',
title: 'Evaluation Submitted',
message: 'Thank you for completing this thesis defense evaluation. Your assessment will be compiled with other committee members\' evaluations for the final decision record.'
});
}
Frequently Asked Questions
When should committee members complete this form?
Committee members should complete individual evaluations during or immediately after the defense, before the deliberation discussion. This ensures independent assessment before group influence. Final decision sections can be completed after committee discussion.
Should the student see this evaluation?
Practice varies by institution. Typically, aggregate feedback and the final decision are shared, while individual committee member ratings remain confidential. The written comments section can be compiled into constructive feedback for the student.
How do we handle split committee decisions?
The form captures individual evaluations, which helps document disagreements. Your institution's graduate policies should define how split decisions are resolved, typically through committee chair authority or majority vote.
Can we customize the evaluation criteria?
Yes, the form is fully customizable. You can modify the matrix criteria, add discipline-specific questions, adjust the grading scale, and change decision categories to match your program's academic standards and requirements.
How do we handle conditional pass with revisions?
The form includes conditional logic that reveals revision requirement fields when 'Pass with Revisions' is selected. This allows committee members to specify required changes, timelines, and who should approve the revisions.