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How to Present an Academic Paper

How to Present an Academic Paper. Dr Richard Rayne r.rayne@bbk.ac.uk Birkbeck, University of London School of Biological & Chemical Sciences Presented 24th May 2005 at the College Research School Generic Skills Workshop. Sources (1).

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How to Present an Academic Paper

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  1. How to Present an Academic Paper Dr Richard Rayne r.rayne@bbk.ac.uk Birkbeck, University of London School of Biological & Chemical Sciences Presented 24th May 2005 at the College Research School Generic Skills Workshop

  2. 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’.

  3. 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.

  4. 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)

  5. 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>

  6. Combat the Fear: Plan Well • Know your audience • Think about your rhetorical goals • Develop a clear message • Deliver your message effectively • Practice • Practice!

  7. Know Your Audience (1) • Who are you addressing? • experts in your narrow area • experts in the general area • others • How many? • Friendly or hostile?

  8. Know Your Audience (2) • What is the format? • seminar discussion? • formal talk? • How much time is allotted? • Where are you in the programme?

  9. ::: 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!

  10. 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?

  11. ::: 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

  12. 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

  13. ::: 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

  14. ::: 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)

  15. Deliver Your Message Effectively • What are the elements of an effective presentation? • Practical considerations: How do I execute a good presentation?

  16. 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)

  17. Entertaining? • Alternative definition: • ‘keeping the audience interested and involved’ • Expect the audience to be tired and cranky… • Help them keep their focus!

  18. ::: 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…

  19. ::: 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

  20. ::: 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

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

  22. ::: 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

  23. On the day • Making sure all the planning pays off…

  24. ::: 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

  25. ::: 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!

  26. 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!

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