CSC 595 Lecture #11_2 Giving Presentations

CSC 595Lecture #11_2Giving Presentations Reference Book: Justin Zobel, Writing For Computer Science, 2nd Ed. Springer, 2004 Dr. ManarHosny

Giving Presentations • The success of a talk depends on: the skill of the speaker and the interest of the audience • Practice can turn a nervous researcher into an accomplished public speaker • The purpose of the talk is to introduce a research program and persuade the audience that it is significant • Detail that is essential to a paper may be of little value in a presentation

Content • First Step is to decide what to cover. Thus, content must be selected carefully • This depends on: the time available & the expertise of the audience • Introduce basic concepts before proceeding to the results • Begin by choosing a single main goal what the audience should learn • Then workout what information is required before the result can be understood

Content • Provide the minimum of detail that allow the audience to understand the result • Motivate the listener by presenting why the problem is important, where it arises, or why previous approaches are unsatisfactory • Complex issues should be presented slowly and in stages

Content • Don’t include messy details such as the internals of a system or a proof of a theorem • Be frank about shortcomings and difficulties • Obstacles are part of doing research. They add interest to a talk and the audience can offer a solution • Never have too much material for the allotted time

Organization • The structure could be: topic of the talk, background, experiments or results, and conclusions and implications of the results • The preview- do – review strategy is highly effective (“I previously showed that…”, “I will shortly demonstrate that…”) • If you are not sure about the timing, include material that can be skipped at the end

The Introduction • First few sentences should show that the talk will be interesting (Ex: make a surprising claim, argue that some familiar solution is incorrect, or show significant statistics about something) • Outline should not be on the first slide, but after the context

The Conclusion • Clearly signal the end • Revise the main points before the end • Point to future work • Consider saying something emphatic: predict something, recommend a change of practice, or make a judgment

Preparation • Write supporting notes if necessary, but not the full text of what you want to say • Reading prevents you from looking at the audience • Rehearse the talk often enough • However, do not memorize the speech • Rehearse while standing and in front of a mirror • Get someone to give you feedback and make use of it

Delivery • Make good use of slides but relate to the audience • Speak clearly: good volume without shouting • Speak a little slower than a normal conversation • Keep your head up and face the audience • Avoid monotony both in speed and tone • Pause occasionally, particularly when you have given the audience something to think about • Don’t freeze; gestures should be natural • Vary what you do: move away from the computer and talk to the audience directly

Delivery • Don’t show off. Be modest. Don’t talk down to the audience • At the same time, don’t diminish your work, or begin by saying that the talk will be dull or that you are nervous • Only drink if you absolutely have to • Don’t read directly from the slides or written notes • Don’t cast a shadow on the screen

Delivery • When referring to the screen, use a stick or a laser pointer rather than the mouse • Don’t change slides before the audience had a chance to read them • Handle distractions tactfully offer to talk to them afterwards • Best cure of serious attacks of freight is to give a preparatory talk or two before a friendly (but critical) audience

Question Time • Keep answers short and avoid debating with an audience member • Involve the audience by repeating the question in your own words • Respond positively and honestly to all questions • Never be rude to audience members or dismissive of their questions

Question Time • When you’re asked a question: • Listen to the whole question • Re-state the question • Pause: Take a moment • Give a thoughtful and respectful answer How to respond in special cases: • You don’t know the answer: • “I’ll look up the answer and get back to you.” • It is O.K. to ask questioner to repeat a question

Question Time • Answer would be too complex for audience interest • “That is a very interesting question, and requires a complex answer. I’m happy to discuss it with you after the talk.” • Disagrees with you • Acknowledge their point of view, and clarify your own point Do not argue (instead, “agree to disagree”!) • Points out shortcomings in the work/presentation • Acknowledge the shortcomings and describe how you will address them

Slides • A typical slide consists of either text or figure with a few words of explanation • Remember that the focus of the talk is you, not the slides • Don’t use slides to avoid contact with the audience • Each slide should have a heading and be self-contained • Aim for about one slide per minute • Don’t switch back and forth between slides

Slides • Dark backgrounds do not work, especially in a dimly lit room • Dark fonts on light background display better than dark fonts on white • Point by point animation is undesirable. It is an added constraint on the speaker • Displaying the whole slide at once helps the speaker to focus on talking to the audience and can improvise more easily • It also helps the audience to read the slides and then waits for the speaker to explain them

Slides • Text slides should be brief summaries in short sentences • Never read the slides to the audience • Explain all variables and simplify formulas if possible • Never display a page from a paper • Keep the layout simple- minimize frames, shading, shadows and artwork • Good figures and graphs make ideas easier to understand • Messy or crowded figures have no impact • Don’t use tables unless necessary • Label every thing in the figure (example graph axes)

Final Advices • Enthusiasm shows … • If you’re not passionate about your work, how can others be? • Look at the audience, not the screen • Talk to someone at the back even if you have a microphone • Point to the screen, not the computer • Eye contact seek the “nodders” • Remember: no one knows your work more than you do • Nervousness is unavoidable • A good level of nervousness is always healthy • Excessive nervousness can be devastating • Try to attend as much presentations as you can • Seeing what others do well or not-so-well makes you know what to try to acquire or avoid

CSC 595 Lecture #11_2 Giving Presentations