Session 4

1. Session 4 October 6th, 14:50 - 17:50

2. Written English formal, indirect audience can go back and re-read confusing sections Spoken English informal, direct audience hears information only one time Styles of English

3. Styles of English • We performed analysis of the proteins using electron microscope observation. • We analysed the proteins with an electron microscope.

4. Styles of English • The government’s decision was for the allowance of private companies’ building plan proposals. • The government decided to allow private companies to propose building plans.

5. Nouns （名詞） v. Verbs （動詞） • NOUN occurs. • NOUN is achieved. • We conducted NOUN. • We performed NOUN. • We did NOUN. • We made NOUN. • There is NOUN. • Something makes NOUN. • Something causes NOUN.

6. Nouns （名詞） v. Verbs （動詞） • VERB-tion occurs.  Protein formation occurs in the cytoplasm. Proteins form in the cytoplasm. • VERB-tion is achieved.  Growth acceleration is achieved. Growth is accelerated. • We conducted VERB-tion.  We conducted an investigation into... We investigated...

7. Formation System Structure Process Pattern Analysis Nouns （名詞） v. Verbs （動詞） • Avoid NOUN + NOUN + NOUN phrases • If you can delete the last noun without • losing or changing the meaning, then it’s • best to remove it

8. Examples • We hope for your participation in Friday’s pre-meeting luncheon. • We hope that you can participate in the luncheon before the meeting on Friday.

9. Examples • We conducted an investigation into how plant leaf formation is achieved. • We investigated how plant leaves are formed.

10. Examples • He decided on cancellation of his vacation plan because of presentation preparation pressure. • He decided to cancel his vacation because he had pressure to prepare a presentation.

11. Sentence Structure To cook pasta, you should start by making the sauce. Use olive oil to fry some onions and garlic which you have cut up. Add some diced tomatoes when they turn light brown. Put in dried spices like oregano, basil, and parsley when the mixture is boiling. Start boiling water for the spaghetti as the sauce cooks over low heat. Add dry pasta after the water comes to a boil. You can drain the water from the pasta after it becomes soft, and serve it mixed with the sauce. To cook pasta, you should start by making the sauce. Cut up onions and garlic and fry them in olive oil. After they turn light brown, add some diced tomatoes. When the mixture is boiling, put in dried spices like oregano, basil, and parsley. While the sauce cooks over low heat, start boiling water for the spaghetti. After the water comes to a boil add the dry pasta. When the pasta becomes soft, drain the water and mix it with the sauce. It is ready to serve.

12. Sentence Structure • Old information  New information • Old serves as an introduction to New • Provides context

13. Practice I isolated growth factor X. M cells secrete a protease and it degrades this growth factor. If a protease inhibitor inhibits the degradation, M cells and other surrounding cells will proliferate and become malignant. I isolated growth factor X. This factor is degraded by a protease secreted from M cells. If the degradation is inhibited by a protease inhibitor, M cells and other surrounding cells will proliferate and become malignant.

14. Q & A Sessions • What role do questions have in a scientific presentation? • What kinds of questions are frequently asked? • What kind of questions do you like/not like to be asked? • Why do many students shy away from asking questions?

15. Q & A • Making progress in research • Questions lead to new hypotheses • “Ideal question” - one that stimulates the audience and encourages active thinking • Any question is a good question

16. Asking Questions Active Listening • Listen with a purpose • Make predictions • Find conclusions, compare them to the ones the presenter makes • Keep the Key Question in mind

17. Asking Questions • Are there any logical mistakes? • Are there any gaps in the connections? • Are there alternative possibilities? • Are there any unanswered questions? • How does this relate to my own research?

18. Asking Questions • Motivation – why are you asking the question? Q: Have you studied their mating behavior outside of the laboratory?

19. Asking Questions • Motivation – why are you asking the question? Q: If you use these frogs as a solution to the Ogui fly problem, they need to be able to maintain their population in the wild. Have you studied their mating behavior outside of the laboratory?

20. Asking Questions • Add background information • You mentioned… • When you were talking about ~ , you said that… Q: Why don’t oocytes continue expanding beyond threefold now that they have so much more membrane available?

21. Asking Questions • Add background information • You mentioned… • When you were talking about ~ , you said that… Q: You explained that even the LOL-overexpressing oocytes stop expanding in fresh water at about three-fold their original size. Why don’t they continue expanding beyond that now that they have so much more membrane available?

22. Asking Questions • Frame your question: start basic, then add details • Are you planning more tests on the side effects? It seems like the condition of having their cells constantly swollen might have serious consequences. You mentioned only that they had wrinkly skin and some markings. I don’t think you have enough generations yet to confirm that there are no long term abnormalities.

23. Answering Questions • Try to predict what kind of questions the audience will ask • Audience wants to know your opinions and ideas, even if you can’t back them up with results

24. Techniques for Answering Questions • Confirm • I’m afraid I didn’t quite understand what you meant. • Could you please rephrase your question? • I didn’t quite catch what you said. • You’re asking about…? • Do you want to know about…?

25. Techniques for Answering Questions • Give background when necessary Q: Will the frogs be able to reproduce without mangrove roots? A: We are now researching about whether the roots are essential in their reproductive cycle.

26. Techniques for Answering Questions • Give background when necessary Q: Will the frogs be able to reproduce without mangrove roots? A: That’s an interesting question. First let me just explain for those of you who don’t know that Philippine saltwater frogs attach their egg strands exclusively to the roots of mangrove trees. We are now researching about whether the roots are essential in their reproductive cycle.

27. Techniques for Answering Questions • “Frame” your answer • Start with a basic answer, then add details • Yes, it is possible. • No, that is not known. • The short answer to your question is… • Yes and no.

28. Techniques for Answering Questions Q: You chose to increase the membrane, but is it possible to decrease the concentration of solute in the frog cells? A: We believe that a potential target could be the concentration of the impermeable solute in the cells. If we could manipulate that,… However, the frogs would be inviable in salt water. This would mean that…

29. Techniques for Answering Questions Q: You chose to increase the membrane, but is it possible to decrease the concentration of solute in the frog cells? A: Technically yes, but practically no. We believe that a potential target could be the concentration of the impermeable solute in the cells. If we could manipulate that,… However, the frogs would be inviable in salt water. This would mean that…

30. Techniques for Answering Questions • Audience misunderstanding • I think you may have misunderstood me when I said… • I’m sorry. I think my original explanation was too confusing, so let me try to explain that again.

31. Techniques for Answering Questions • Questions you can’t answer • Give a reason • Unfortunately I don’t have the data necessary to answer that question with me right now, but if you’ll give me your contact information after the session I’ll send that to you as soon as I’m able. • I think that question deserves a very detailed answer. Would it be alright to meet with you after the presentation to discuss that?