Academic Communication Lesson 2

1. Academic CommunicationLesson 2 Pick up four different handouts per person from the desk at the front of the room: Syllabus Sheet Small card (your attendance card) “Choose a result” homework “Strategy & Checklist” Course Website: staff.ustc.edu.cn/~acadcom

2. Attendance Card Each student needs an attendance card. • Bring a picture to glue onto the card. Have a photo now? Glue it on during today’s break • No photo today? Bring one next week. • Hand in the card before you leave today.

3. Course Goals • Good speakers will get better • Bad speakers will get “good enough” (to present scientific results in English at an international conference) • You will know what to aim for (i.e. what you are trying to do) • You will know what mistakes to avoid

4. With your partner, make 2 lists… • What makes a good scientific presentation good? • Clear organization • … • What makes a bad scientific presentation bad? • Bad pronunciation • …

5. During the Break… • Glue an ID photo onto your attendance card • (If you do not have a photo with you today then bring one next week, BUT you must still hand your card in today.) • Hand the card in to the teacher now or at the end of today’s class

6. Presentation Checklist Two uses: • Gives you a step-by-step plan to follow • Makes sure you do not miss anything important

7. Section 1: Determining your topic • A. Choose a subject. [This may be all or part of the paper to be presented.] • B. Analyze the purpose of the talk. • C. Analyze your listeners.

8. Section 1: Determining your topic • A. Choose a subject. [This may be all or part of the paper to be presented.] = Your homework: Chose a paper to present • B. Analyze the purpose of the talk. • C. Analyze your listeners.

9. Section 1: Determining your topic • A. Choose a subject. [This may be all or part of the paper to be presented.] = Your homework: Chose a paper to present • B. Analyze the purpose of the talk. • Done in first class of course: “Prove that you can present a research result well in English” • Prove you can explain things in a way suitable for a conference • C. Analyze your listeners.

10. Section 1: Determining your topic • A. Choose a subject. [This may be all or part of the paper to be presented.] = Your homework: Chose a paper to present • B. Analyze the purpose of the talk. • Done in first class of course: “Prove that you can present a research result well in English” • C. Analyze your listeners. • Done in first class: “Graduate level scientists, probably in different area and/or field”

11. Section 1D: Central Idea Write a clear statement of your central idea. • One sentence 20 to 40 words long • Be specific for this talk (NOT “Introduce my result.” That is BAD!!) • What is the research result you will focus on? • What should listeners get from the talk? • Good: objective, quantitative data like numbers • Bad: qualitative, subjective words like “big”, “good” • May include technical terms you will define in your talk

12. Central Idea Examples: • “Typical language students can reduce their accent in a second language 50% faster by using a computer which displays their voice pitch and stress in real time.” • (Good, can be used anywhere in Introduction) • “Sleator and Tarjan’s splay tree data structure can be extended to k-ary search trees in a way that is provably statically optimal and probably dynamically optimal.” • (Good but can only be used after technical terms are defined, e.g. at end of Introduction.)

13. Section 1E: General Format • For this course, it must be computer projection. • Why? Because that’s what almost all modern conferences expect. • For other types of talks, it can vary… • Speech only (no visual aids) • Lecture with blackboard • …

14. Section 1F: Pattern of Organization • Predict main points • Introduction • <<< What points will be in here? >>> • Conclusion • Select a pattern of organization • Often similar to outline of the written paper, but it does not have to be! • Another pattern may be better.

15. Professional Terminology • It is not enough to be an expert; You must also sound like an expert! • Vocabulary, pronunciation, usage, etc. • Consider, for example, syllable stress

16. Syllable Stress Syllable stress: important for recognizing the word • syll-a-ble syll-a-ble syll-a-ble syll-a-ble • A common problem in student presentations! Which is correct? “im-age” or “i-mage”? • Answer: “im-age” • the “a” pronounced as [ə] “uh” not [ei] like “way”

17. Syllable Stress mech-a-nism? me-chan-ism? mech-a-nism? mech-a-nism? Answer: mech-a-nism (noun) Similar words with different stress: • me-chan-ics (noun) • me-chan-i-cal (adjective) • mech-a-nist-tic (adjective)

18. Your Personal Dictionary • Write out 10 important terms used often in your research area [5 minutes] • At least 5 terms must have 3 or more syllables (i.e. be long terms) • Take turns with your partner saying the terms out loud to each other • Look for problem sounds in the term (e.g. “th”, r-l-n) and be sure you pronounce them well • Be sure of the syllable stress (Remember the problems with “image” & “mechanism”!) • Speak confidently!

19. Homework • Choose a paper for your final exam, as explained in the small handout. Bring it to class next week! (We will use it in Lesson 3.) • Be sure you have handed in your attendance card before you leave today. • With or without a photo! Bring an ID photo for it next week if you didn’t bring one today but you must still hand in your card today.