How to Present an Academic Paper

Dr Richard Rayner.rayne@bbk.ac.uk

Birkbeck, University of London

School of Biological & Chemical SciencesPresented 24th May 2005 at the College Research School

Generic Skills Workshop

Sources (1)• The Oceanography Society (1995). Tips for Preparing

Scientific Presentations. [Online]. Available: <http://www.onr.navy.mil/about/speaking_tips/> [Accessed 28 May 2005].– An unexpected source, but the above is an excellent,

comprehensive resource. It focuses on scientific talks, but many of the principles are universal.

• Radel, J (2004). Effective Presentations. [Online]. Available: <http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/effective.html> [Accessed 28 May 2005].– Science orientation, comprehensive; includes posters.

• Hill, MD (1997). Oral Presentation Advice. [Online]. Available: <http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Emarkhill/conference-talk.html> [Accessed 28 May 2005].– Science orientation; concise. Includes a humourous piece, ‘How

to Give a Bad Talk’.

Sources (2)• Edwards, PN (2004) How to Give a Talk: Changing the Culture

of Academic Public Speaking. [Online]. Available: <http://www.si.umich.edu/~pne/acadtalk.htm> [Accessed 28 May 2005].– A useful, concise guide; available as a PDF.

• Tyrell, M (2005). Public Speaking (Or How to Enjoy Presentations). [Online]. Available: <http://www.uncommon-knowledge.co.uk/ public_speaking.html> [Accessed 28 May 2005].– More general than the other sources. Some useful nuggets.

FEAR!

• People say public speaking is the number one fear– Death is 6th!

• "The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.”– George Jessel

– see: The Oceanography Society (1995)

What to be afraid of?• someone in the room who knows more than

you• forgetting what you were, um…• having to run screaming from the room• presentation so awful and embarassing that

your social/career relationships are forever ruined

• impossible to answer ‘question from Hell’

– See: <http://www.uncommon-knowledge.co.uk/public_speaking/fears.html>

Combat the Fear: Plan Well

• Know your audience

• Think about your rhetorical goals

• Develop a clear message

• Deliver your message effectively

• Practice

• Practice!

Know Your Audience (1)

• Who are you addressing?– experts in your narrow area– experts in the general area– others

• How many?

• Friendly or hostile?

Know Your Audience (2)

• What is the format?– seminar discussion?– formal talk?

• How much time is allotted?

• Where are you in the programme?

::: Practical Advice :::Know Your Audience

• Design the talk to address the most important constituency– Good if you can pitch the bulk of the talk to the

experts, but keep the interest of others via the intro and summary

– Anticipate questions

• Know the format and plan accordingly– technological issues?

• Use the allotted time, but NEVER exceed it!

Rhetorical Goals

• What do you want your audience to take away?– is the talk simply disseminatory? is it an

‘advertisement’?– is there an accompanying paper or

poster?

::: Practical Advice :::Rhetorical Goals

• Take account of your intended outcome and plan accordingly– are you ‘preaching to the converted?’ trying to

persuade? looking for a job?

• When a paper or poster accompanies the talk…– a sensible goal is to ‘whet the appetite’ of the

audience to read the paper/see the poster(s), not to simply mimic these

Develop a Clear Message

• What are the 2 or 3 key points you really want people to remember?

• Don’t forget: – listeners get only one chance to hear

your talk!– they might be hearing MANY talks on

the same day– they might not be able to ask a question

::: Practical Advice :::Develop a Clear Message

• Compose a sharply focused, jargon-free intro sentence (or two) that you know by heart– make this the first thing you say

• Compose a sharply focused, memorable summary sentence (or two) that you know by heart– make this the last thing you say

::: Practical Advice :::Develop a Clear Message

• Be a little repetitive– Tell them what you’re going to tell them

(Forecast)– Tell them (Just do it!)– Tell them what you told them

(Summary)

Deliver Your Message Effectively

• What are the elements of an effective presentation?

• Practical considerations: How do I execute a good presentation?

Effective Presentations

• An effective talk must:– Communicate your arguments and

evidence– Persuade your audience that they are

true– Be interesting and entertaining

– see: Edwards (2004)

Entertaining?

• Alternative definition:– ‘keeping the audience interested and

involved’

• Expect the audience to be tired and cranky…– Help them keep their focus!

::: Practical Advice :::Deliver Your Message Effectively

• Modulate your voice– conversational tone; loud and clear

• Engage the audience– Don’t stare at your notes or your slides

• Be self-aware– Please don’t: wave arms about, tap foot,

zap the audience with a laser…

::: Practical Advice :::Deliver Your Message Effectively

• Watch your pace…– …slower than normal conversation

• Hone the transitions– help the audience follow links from one

topic to the next– clearly introduce each topic/slide

::: Practical Advice :::Deliver Your Message Effectively

• Visuals– legible, no ‘eye tests’– don’t obscure the slide by standing in

front of it– avoid garish/bizarre slide formats– avoid information overload

• not too many visuals• limit the quantity of information on each

Practice!

• The 2nd hardest part…after actually doing it!

::: Practical Advice :::Practice!

• Practice LOTS!– to be extra-cruel, videotape

yourself and WATCH it--ugh!!

• Use realistic conditions– ...in so far as this is possible!– similar venue– employ an audience

On the day

• Making sure all the planning pays off…

::: Practical Advice :::On the day

• Check the venue in advance– know how any a/v controls,

microphones, etc work

– know who will be there to help

• Try to relax before you speak– try to find a private place, if

possible

::: Practical Advice :::On the day

• Dealing with questions– re-state the question– be sure you understand the intent– don’t be evasive

• If you don’t know the answer, say so!

– don’t lose your cool!

Is the fear gone…?

• A little adrenaline can be a good thing:– makes you get down and do it!– energises your talk

• So, don’t erase the fear--tame it!