School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering

Academic Session (2009/10)

SMMRE

UNDERGRADUATERESEARCH PROJECT

GUIDELINES

3/25/2010 1FYPGuidelines(2009-10) DrNorliaSMMRE(Slides1-71)

Prepared by Dr Norlia Baharun

SMMRE

25 Mac 2010


The oral presentation is of 15 mins duration

The next 5 mins will be on Q & A

The oral presentation should be in the style of a scientific presentation:

3/25/2010FYPGuidelines(2009-10) DrNorliaSMMRE(Slides1-71) 3

INTRODUCTION STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES SUMMARY OF METHODOLOGY PRESENTATION and INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS and THEIR BROADER IMPLICATIONS

SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS or RECOMMENDATIONS


PROJECT CONTENT IS LARGELY MARKED IN THE WRITTEN REPORT

THEREFORE, MARKS FOR ORAL PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNICATION OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE PROJECT AND ON ABILITY TO RESPOND TO RELEVANT QUESTIONS


• Consider your audience • Anticipate opposing arguments• Make your audience feel something• Make your argument seem like common sense• Sound like you know what you’re talking about• Get the facts!

Created by Cindy Farnum3/25/2010 6FYPGuidelines(2009-10) DrNorliaSMMRE(Slides1-71)

• Have conviction• Save the strongest argument for last• Give examples and be specific• Give your paper a clear title• Avoid exaggeration• Give referrals• Read your audience’s body language

Created by Cindy Farnum3/25/2010 7FYPGuidelines(2009-10) DrNorliaSMMRE(Slides1-71)

Explain, interpret, justify, not just describe Write large (Fonts >24) Use color, but sparingly, consistently Use pictures (and even animations) No full sentences (just terse outline) Make the sub-story coherent and self- contained One corollary: no standalone graphs


Talk Tips -Preparation

Practice Dry run followed by slide-by-slide analysis Pay attention to time and practice for time Practice for varying audience backgrounds


Talk Tips –Presentation

Speak clearly, make eye contact Don’t read slides Pay attention to posture Eye contact, shift gaze Plan on shedding slides Admit shortcomings, don’t wait for questions

Analogies and jokes and help3/25/2010 10

FYPGuidelines(2009-10) DrNorliaSMMRE(Slides1-71)

Know your audience• Help them understand• Keep it short; use signposts; get the contents right.

• Make sure you’ve covered the bases

• (Leave some simple mistakes in?)


“Let’s see, what can I ask the candidate?” The examiners may have decided before

the exam whether to pass you. Defense, viva, exam, ... viva = “viva voce” = “lively discussion” The exam is to check it’s your work... Talk fluently about the work; show you’ve

thought about it (which you have!). ...and a chance to clarify things that aren’t

clear in the thesis.


These are areas where corrections are likely.

Know & understand your results. Fine-tune presentation Practice ! Practice ! Practice ! (esp. for grads) Know the literature you cited Anticipate possible questions, including implications of your results, the logic of your discussion, and relevance of your work.


What should you expect at the defense?

• Could you fail?• Could it be one of life’s memorable events?

• What are the characteristics of a great defense?

• How do you get there?


• Primarily a presentation of the thesis work:Like a (long) talk at a (small) conferenceBut there are likely to be lots of questions

• Some possible goals of the defense are to:make sure you did itmake sure you understand what you didmake sure you understand the

significance/context of what you didprobe your general understanding of the field of

the thesismake sure the committee understands what you

didtest your ability to present



Giving an oral presentation is the final

stage in the assessment of your Final Year Project

Table 2.1 : Check List


List CONTENT Check List

1 Select Title of Project √

2 Proposal Submitted √

3 Experimental work carried out

according to Plan

√

4 Final Draftsubmitted

9 April 2010(14th academic

week)- latest by 4 pm

5 Oral Presentation (viva) 10-13 May 2010

6. Final Thesis submission 21 May 20103/25/2010 18


Students should develop :the ability to do scientific inquiry

the understanding about scientific inquiry

SMMRE


Students must actively participate in scientific investigations and

Students need to understand that experiments are guided by concepts and are performed to test ideas


Students need to learn how to analyze evidence and data from scientific investigations or databases

SMMRE


Delivery of a speech – is easy

Organization of a speech – is difficult


A. How to organize an

oral presentationB. How to deliver


You must do four things: 1. Make it short2. Make the organization obvious3. Make the ideas simple and vivid4. Summarize and be prepared for

questions3/25/2010 25


You need to do only four things:

1. Set the stage and the audience2. Have an insurance policy instead

of a manuscript3. Use visual aids4. Talk loudly, slowly and vigorously


What explanation do you expect to develop from your data?

How confident are you about the accuracy of your data?

How certain are you of those results?

Is there a better way to do the investigation ??


Is there an alternative scientific explanation for the one you proposed?

How do you account for an explanation that is different from others?

Do you need more evidence? What are the sources of experimental error?


Questions like these makes it possible for students:- to analyze data- to develop a richer knowledge base- to reason using scientific concepts- to make connections between evidence and explanations and recognize alternative explanations


**Ideas should be examine and

discuss with your supervisors


SMMRE


Your mental setPreparationThe presentationYour deliveryQuestion timeVisual aidsConclusions


Imagine that you’re simply having a conversation

Ways to keep calm ?? If you’re really bad, try meditation and muscle relaxation. Imagine yourself giving a good confident presentation. Practise in front of a friend.


Background research – use wide range of sources

Personal organization - Do preparation well in advance


What is the purpose? Inform, show progress, persuade, entertain?

What are the objectives of the talk? Have in mind your goal. eg. to explain a particular topic in general terms


What are the main points? Concentrate on what is really important.

Don’t be over-ambitious. There is a time limit and a limit to what people can be taken in.

Cue cards suits some people. Should just have key words, not the text. Postcard size. Number them.


Format? Debate, conversation with audience, lecture?

Practise. To build confidence. Need full-scale rehearsal for timing.

Consider your audience. Present state of knowledge?

Write out first draft. Review this and take out irrelevant material. Consistent? Flows smoothly? Don’t try to learn verbatim.


Title: Give the title and stick to it.

Dramatise. Find a memorable way to get point across.

Be positive. Maintain the appearance of being confident.

Structured. Make presentation structured. (see next)


Example: 1.State main issue or

problem. 2.Give examples to

illustrate. 3.End with a summary. 4.Handle questions. 5.Make a final statement.


Introduction: Explain the outline and structure and the aims of the talk.

Main part: Explain the main project with supporting information. Explain any complicated terms.

Conclusions: Remind the audience of the subject area and the focus of the presentation.

Try to tell an interesting project .


Use specific examples if theoretical or abstract.

Use linking statements.Use visual aids.Use brief summaries at appropriate points.

Don’t preach.


Write for the ear, not the eye. We don’t speak the way we write. Sentences will be shorter and punchier. Avoid long words, or words that you’re going to find difficult to pronounce.

Tape recording. Listen to your rehearsed talk without notes. Flows logically? Voice and pace not monotonous?


Pace: Don’t speak too rapidly. Neither speak deliberately slowly. If you speak naturally, pace should be OK.

Timing: Keep to time limit. Pause at key points. Don’t read from a script. This can

sound boring. At the very least, don’t sound as if you’re reading.

Eye contact. Connected to last point – look around at audience when possible.


Voice. Vary the tone and the pace (slightly). How you say it is important. Don’t shout or whisper. If using a mike, ask the back if they can hear.

Articulation. Don’t slur your speech, making it more difficult to hear.

Avoid repeated phrases. “you know”, etc.

Smile and be confident.


Mobility. Try not to walk around. Don’t sit down. Some animation is desirable. Don’t slouch or lean on the wall. Avoid distractions, e.g. gum chewing.

Don’t digress. Difficult to get back on track afterwards.


Depend on time available Listen carefully. Rephrase difficult questions.

To clarify understanding. Take time to consider. OK to

say “I don’t know”. Reply to whole audience. Don’t take hostile questions

personally and don’t be hostile in tone when answering questions (or asking questions of others).


Be careful of colour. Colour on an OHP can be too faint (esp orange and yellow).

Font size. 16-18-point Times Roman is recommended.

DON’T USE CAPITALS. Don’t try to cram too much in. Leave on long enough to read. Put on your key points. Supplement or

explain what is meant by these headings. Uncover points one-by-one?


Figures. Useful for holding interest. Pointing. Easier to point on an overhead

than screen. Avoid too much room light near

screen. But don’t plunge audience in darkness.

Stand so that not in the way of screen.

Number slides in case you mix them up.


Keep calm and be positive. Rehearsal can help out with timing. Tape recording even better.

What are your main points? Be concise, focussed and well structured.

Linkages. Keep it flowing well. Pace. Be natural and keep to the

required time. Overheads. Try not to cram too much in.

Keep to main headings Questions. Answer them carefully.


OUTLINEPlanningPreparationPracticePerformanceQuestions

Who are you talking to? Why are you talking to them? How long have you got? What findings are you going to

tell?

• Outline and sketch slides• Prepare slides• Proof read• Prepare notes -

brief keywords and phrases, except maybe first couple of paragraphs

1 - 2 minutes per slideGeneric 15 min Conference PresentationTitle Slide (1) Title, author, affiliation, acknowledgementsRationale (1-2) Why this is interestingMethods (1-2) What you didResults (2-4) What did you find and what does it meanSummary (1) One thing you want them to remember

Use Images & GraphicsMinimise text & numbersLight text on dark backgroundAvoid distracting backgroundsUse large sans serif fonts

Helvetica or Arial rather than serif fonts like Times

24 pt is minimum, 32 pt, or even 36 pt is better

Use Images & GraphicsMinimise text & numbersLight text on dark backgroundAvoid distracting backgroundsUse large sans serif fontsMix upper and lower case

ALL CAPITALS IS HARDER TO READ, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT BE OK FOR THE ODD TITLE

Use Images & GraphicsMinimise text & numbersLight text on dark backgroundAvoid distracting backgroundsUse large sans serif fontsMix upper and lower caseUse colour to highlight text

Use high contrast colours for important lines, symbols or text, and lower contrast colours for

less important lines, symbols or text.

But use a small number of colours

Use Images & GraphicsMinimise text & numbersLight text on dark backgroundAvoid distracting backgroundsUse large sans serif fontsMixture upper and lower caseUse colour to highlight textKeep figures simple

0

20

40

60

80

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Condition

Y a

xis

(uni

ts)

*

Show means, sd, effect size statistics, but not test statistics

Use Images & GraphicsMinimise text & numbersLight text on dark backgroundAvoid distracting backgroundsUse large sans serif fontsMixture upper and lower caseUse colour to highlight textKeep figures simpleThick lines and large symbols

0

5

10

15

20

20 30 40 50 60 70

Y A

xis

(uni

ts)

Participant 2

r = 0.89

X Axis (units)

Use Images & GraphicsMinimise text & numbersLight text on dark backgroundAvoid distracting backgroundsUse large sans serif fontsMixture upper and lower caseUse colour to highlight textKeep figures simpleThick lines and large symbolsProgressive disclosure

• Practice, practice, practice• Get feedback, and use it.• Be ruthless –

delete unnecessaryinformation

• Don’t Apologise• Speak loudly & clearly • Use short simple sentences • Avoid jargon & abbrev.• Vary pitch, tone, volume, speed

and pauses

• Avoid distracting mannerisms

• Relax, be enthusiastic• Make eye contact• Keep an eye on the time

remaining

• Explain figures, and point to important aspects

• Give a clear and concise summary, then stop.

• Don’t go over the time. Ever.

• Anticipate likely questions and prepare extra slides with the answers

• Maybe even plant a stooge

Paraphrase questions

1. so that other people hear the question2. to check that you understand the questions3. to stall while you think about an answer

• If you don’t know the answer, say so.• Offer to find out.• Ask the audience.

Like most things, the best way to learn

is to do



Documents

School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering