[academia] mild ongoing amusement

One of the things I apparently Need To Prepare for my viva is a short (5-10 minute) overview of what I've done and why. The idea, as best I can tell, is that this (1) demonstrates that I am actually familiar with the content of my thesis and can summarise it, and (2) is intended to be a nice easy introduction to get me relaxed and talking.

I, meanwhile, am the kind of autistic who instantly freezes up over this, because!!! that's why I wrote the abstract!!! and the plain language summary!!! and the introduction!!! and the entire final chapter!!!!! Did I? do it wrong? is it Inadequate? what did I leave Out of the Writings that I need to Say? How In The Heck am I supposed to pitch this, given that it's to subject experts who have at least nominally READ the THESIS??? what! register! do! I! use!

... so anyway I'm going to be spending some of tomorrow outlining and rehearsing that again, probably, in the hopes of not having the "easy opening" trip me up catastrophically...