How to develop an oral presentation

You have one chance to make a point.

Reference

• http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/effective.html

• “The standards for public speaking in science and academia are relatively low, so a good presentation often is memorable”.

What is an oral presentation?

• It is a condensed version of the paper.• It is organized around one TOPIC. A

TOPIC is a clear statement of a problem.• It has logic (a string of topics), little text,

and clear graphics. • It tells a story with graphs, tables and

pictures.

An oral presentation

• Follows the IMRAD convention:Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion

• Tells a story. Its characters act along string of topics linked together from beginning to end.

Planning

• What is expected of the presentation?informal chat or formal presentationliterature survey or new information

• Who is the audience?experts in the field, technical publicor general public

• How much time?

Preparation

• Use one clear statement of the problem, THE TOPIC, the one sentence that will catch the attention of the audience.

• Use the accepted structure: IMRAD • Organize your points from the most to the

least important. The retention of information by the audience gets smaller as you talk.

Preparation

• Use short sentences with simple grammar.

• Outline the concepts briefly, clearly, and early in the talk. Assume that you have an unfamiliar audience.

• Only use the most important concepts. What visual aids go with them?

Graphs, tables, figures

• Only use those that support your POINT.• Communicate relationships early.• Use simple two dimensional charts.• Minimize the text; use photos.

make them simple and clean.write explanations directly into the graphic.

Four important design concepts

•BIG• Simple• Clear• Consistent

BIG design

Expand the text until it occupies all the computer screen then stand 2 meters away from the screen. A person in the back of the audience can also read the text.

Simple design

• Create new slides for the presentation. • Only use the concepts essential to the

TOPIC. • When you put up a new slide allow 5

seconds for the audience to absorb the information. Be quiet and then speak what the slide has to say. Be brief.

Simple design

• Your TOPIC limits the text and restricts the contents of tables or graphs.

• Your TOPIC Includes only the information that supports it.

Clear design

• The audience has to be able to read your visual in 5 seconds

• For the text:Choose a font SANSARIFSelect a size from 36-48 pointsUse a mixture of upper and lower caseUse 10% background color

Consistent design

• Begin and end the presentation with an identical pair of slides that summarize the TOPIC.

At the beginning it is the outline.At the end it is your summary; you finished the story you promised to tell.

The end

• The audience remembers little. Begin well … and end well;In between is forgotten.

• Prepare a great summary: The audience needs to remember the message from your TOPIC.

Some practical elements

• Rate: About 100 words per minute. Use pauses, and repeat critical information.

• Opening: Immediately catch the audience’s interest and attention.

• Transitions: Make the relation between successive elements clear to the audience, lead them trough your talk.

Some practical elements

• Conclusion: Summarize the main concepts. Signal that the summary is beginning ("In summary, ...”).

• Length: Don't run over! Ever! Shorten by removing detail.

• Questions: Always leave time for questions.

Practice, practice, practice

• Practice: A minimum of 10 practice runs. How does the talk flow?

• Practice all parts. Practice starting from the beginning, the middle and the end.

• Your presentation is important, treat it that way.

Presentation

• BEFORE you depart for the conference! • Is the software compatible with the

host’s?• Do you have all the files and resources? • Back-up your presentation with an

alternate medium, e-mail it to yourself, or e-mail it to your host for testing.

Presentation

• Technology fails.The embarrassment is greater for the host. You impress the host when you have an alternate solution to the

problem. • Is there a sound system? How loud?• What will you do if you have no AV?

The presentation

• Take several deep breaths as you are being introduced.

• Speak naturally at a moderate rate and use automatic, moderate gestures.

• Concentrate on the projection screen.

The presentation

• Converse with your audience. Involve them with questions and making eye contact. If you ask a question wait for the answer.

• Keep an eye on your time. Don't run over your limit. Ever!

• Be prepared for interruptions.

The presentation

• If you have to apologize, you did not do your job; don’t apologize.

• Give yourself and others credit for your own work. If you use borrowed slides give credit the people right on that slide.

• Don't criticize aspects of the trip, city, facilities, etc.

Handling questions

• Include a Question & Answer slide (Q&A slide) at the end.–Keep it in the background as you answer

questions from the audience.– Select the TOPIC images from your slides, fit

them on the Q&A slide in view of the audience as the session goes on.

Handling questions

• Repeat each question to the audience.• If you are unsure, say the question again

or ask: “Would you mind clarifying?”• Take a moment to reflect on the

question. • During the talk, answer questions

immediately if it clarifies a problem.

Handling questions

• “I don’t know.” is an answer. Don't apologize. Ask for suggestions from the audience.

• Finish question by asking the person if the question was answered.

• Avoid prolonged discussions with one person. Settle it in a private discussion.

An oral presentation

• Is a condensed version of the paper.• Is organized around one TOPIC – A clear

statement of a problem.• Has logic (a string of topics), little text,

and clear graphics. • It tells a story with graphs tables and

pictures.

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