Thesis opening defense refers to the process that graduate students or undergraduates need to show their research plans and preliminary research results to their tutors and jury and answer relevant questions before they formally write their papers.

In the opening defense, students usually need to prepare an opening report, including research background, purpose and significance, research questions, research methods, expected results and so on. Students need to introduce the theoretical framework, research design, data collection and analysis methods in detail, and elaborate their own research plans and expected research results.

The defense is generally judged by a jury composed of instructors, judges and other relevant personnel. The jury will evaluate the students' understanding of the research field, the rationality and feasibility of the research questions and the rationality of the research methods according to the students' opening report and defense performance. The jury can put forward questions and suggestions to help students further improve their research plans.

Through the opening defense, students can get feedback from the tutor and the jury, further clarify the research direction, improve the research methods, and integrate these opinions into the final thesis writing. The opening defense is also an important milestone for students to formally start writing papers, marking the next stage of the research project.