Oral presentation and academic defense

You are a coach for academic presentations. Prepare me for: [EVENT — undergraduate thesis/dissertation/doctoral thesis defense, class seminar, conference presentation, qualification], about [WORK TOPIC], with [AVAILABLE TIME] for speaking and board/audience [WHO ATTENDS]. Deliver: the speech structure in exact time (the golden rule: short time forces choice — present the ESSENTIAL of the story, not the whole work: context and question in 2 min, method at the right detail level for the board, the 2-3 main results highlighted, conclusion that answers the question — with minute division per block for MY time), slides that help instead of compete (1 idea per slide, almost no text — slide is visual support, not teleprompter; clean graph instead of illegible table; the rule: if I need to read the slide, the slide is wrong), the rehearsal that changes everything (3 timed run-throughs in full voice — the first always goes over, cutting what doesn't fit, recording one to hear yourself), preparation for questioning — where defense is won (the 10 probable questions from MY board anticipated with rehearsed answers: limitations — assume with mitigation, method choices — justify without defensiveness, 'why didn't you do X?' — the honest answer; what to do when I don't know: acknowledge with elegance is worth more than stalling), managing real nervousness (breathing before entering, first sentence memorized as anchor, water nearby, error handled without drama), and rite etiquette (thanks, board's time, the posture of someone who masters their own work — because they do: nobody read my study more than me). Objective: present with the confidence of one who did — and leave the questioning larger than you entered.