How to Give a PresentationChem Eng 391

Topics:

• Preparation

• Delivery

Preparation and Planning

1. What is my objective?

2. Who is my audience?

3. What is the best format in which to present this?

4. What organizational structure is best?

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1. ObjectiveA. For any kind of communication you should have a

clear objective and tailor your presentation for the intended audience.

1. Technical communication objective: disseminate scientific knowledge or sell your ideas

2. Have at least one “take-home message” for everyone

B. Simplify your message1. Teach, don’t impress

• Focus on the key concepts you want them to understand and leave out unneeded details

• Keep content at a level with which they can identify2. Less is often better

• An audience will not remember large amounts of factual information

• An audience will remember general principles and ideas that are well illustrated

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2. Audience

A. Level1. “Dumb it down” to the audience’s level of training2. Relate it to the audience’s background3. Remember that they haven’t been researching the topic like

you have

B. Technical PresentationsAudience: engineers and scientists

– Interested in technical details – Want to hear how this applies to their problems and processes

C.Business PresentationsAudience: managers and non-technical coworkers

– Interested in corporate strategy– Want to improve products and decrease costs

“Unless one is a genius, it is best to aim at being intelligible.”

–Anthony Hope Hawkins

3. Format

White board/easel Computer Presentation

Less formal Most formal

Brainstorming, audience involvement

Multi-media, animations, etc.

Easily modified during talk Easily modified before talk

Visually stark Visually attractive

Minimal technical difficulties Frequent equipment difficulties; transport issues

Lighter room Darker room

Electronic Visuals

A. Limit the information on one slide (K.I.S.S.)– Only a few ideas; should average to 1 slide/minute– Should complement, not compete with spoken word

B. Limit animation– Extensive animation is irritating!!

C. Use large font sizes and simple font styles– 8 point font …. 18 point font

– How about these font styles?

• Use color for emphasis

How to Discuss Graphs1. Declare the topic

of the data2. Declare each

axis (what variables are being plotted)

3. Identify each curve or data set

4. Then tell the story of the data (take-home lesson)

Example: “Here is a plot of battery discharge performance. The horizontal axis is … The vertical axis is … The three curves represent different experiments where … We learn from this comparison that …”

4. Organization

A. Introduction: Generate interest(Tell them what you are going to tell them)

1. Attention getters: humor, controversy, questions2. Present the “problem” and how it relates to the audience3. Outline remainder of talk

B. Body (Tell them the meat)1. Necessary information given, starting with the basics2. Points are presented in logical order and are supported with

data and references3. For longer talks, give a “road map” when you switch subtopics

C. Summary (Tell them what you told them)

D. For this class, timing = 15.000 minutes!!!

How to make your case

A. Deductive reasoning – moves from general (well accepted) to specific statements

1. If this, then this; If this then this

2. If the flow is axisymmetric, then derivatives with respect to θ should be zero. …

B. Inductive reasoning – moves from specific to general statements

1. The specific result is …, which implies … as a more general result.

2. The best estimate of the activation energy from these data is 21 kcal/mol, with a 95% confidence interval for the correct value of ± 5 kcal/mol.

Delivery

A. Minimize distracting body language1. Don’t play with the pointer2. Don’t jingle keys in your pocket3. Don’t sway back and forth4. Don’t block the visual aids

B. Maximize eye contactC. Use appropriate voice inflection, volume,

enunciation, speedD. Show enthusiasmE. Practice until you are smooth, confident, and

relaxed

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Common Problems

• Nervous weaving

• Playing with laser pointer

• Speed demon

• Volume too soft (or too loud)

• Staring at screen or notes

• Too much animation

• Misplaced attempts at humor

Examples

A. Hydrogen production from bio-oils

B. Thorium efficiency in nuclear reactors

C. Advanced materials used for knee replacements

D. Multi-drug releasing films to target infection and offer therapeutics

E. Oil shale pyrolysis

F. Material advancement in TVs

G. Distillate optimization: Hydrocracking

Examples

A. Review presentation examples

B. Evaluation forms

Moderator

• The moderator is in charge• Often called the “session chair”

• Introduce the speaker• Name, where from, title of talk

• Keep things on time

• Moderate questions

• Be sure to stand

Assignment

• Technical presentation

• 15 minutes

• Topic:• Technical (prefer your research) • Choose a journal article, etc.

• Must include data/graphs

• You will be a speaker and a moderator

• Turn in title next time