How to give a good talk

1. How to give a good talk Alan Lee Xyz Consultants October 2, 2002

2. Contents • Golden Rules • Organisation • Slide tips • Technical issues

3. 3 Golden Rules (i) • Keep it simple! • Keep it simple! • Keep it simple! (keep level of audience in mind)

4. More Golden Rules (ii) • Use slides/powerpoint/pdf • Organise subject matter • Non-verbal is important! • Don’t have too much/too little material • Keep to time • Rehearse!

5. Golden Rule: use slides • Chalk and talk obsolete • We have technology – use it • Use data projector, but have transparencies as backup

6. Golden rule: Organisation Use same principles as report • Tell them what you are going to say • Say it! • Tell them what you have said! i.e. introduction, main stuff, summary!

7. Golden rules: Non-verbal • Seem confident! • Speak clearly, make sure everyone can hear • Eye contact with audience • Be aware how its going • Don’t obscure screen

8. Golden Rule: Too much-too little • Have the right amount of material for the time • Practice timing until you get more experience • Don’t speed up to finish • Keep to time- others are following

9. Organisation • Slides usually organised around bullet points (powerpoint influence!!) • Be concise • Use headings, indenting • Main point • Detail on main point

10. Slide tips • Not too much on each slide • (Like this one!!) • Slides must be clear and no spelling errors (se how obvious they are – you look like a dick! ) • Use graphics and pictures • Not too much maths – hard for audience to understand instantly unless simple • Use animation sparingly, but effectively • Have the correct number of slides for the allotted time

11. Slide tips • Not too much on each slide • (Like this one!!) • Slides must be clear and no spelling errors (se how obvious they are – you look like a dick! ) • Use graphics and pictures • Not too much maths – hard for audience to understand instantly unless simple • Use animation sparingly, but effectively • Have the correct number of slides for the allotted time

12. W indow Graphics and pictures xtarget

13. Too much maths??

14. Animation from hell here is my title! Here is some text! Here is some more text!

15. Technical issues • Choose colour, background to contrast • Choose font to be visible at back • This is very hard to read • Include maths in a big font • Powerpoint or pdflatex • Powerpoint : easy • pdf good for maths, can be included in powerpoint

16. asdfhasfhkasf ghdfhdfgh

17. kfkjfkahfkhasfk cvzxvzxv

18. lkjflfjldfgjlgh

19. Math stuff

20. A pdf page

21. Summary • Keep it simple, suitable for audience • Prepare well and rehearse • Have clear legible uncluttered slides • Use pictures and graphs • Have a logical structure • Enthusiasm, confidence, eye contact • Finish on time