The Craft of Scientific Presentations By Michael Alley Shari Ford RET 2007

Drawing Words from the Wrong Well Critical Error 2

Four Sources of Speech Speaking from points Memorizing Reading Speaking off the cuff

Speaking from Points Advantages – Credibility earned – Ease of adjusting speech – Eye contact – Natural pace Disadvantages – Wording not exact – Long prep time

Memorizing Advantages – Precision – Smooth delivery – Credibility earned – Eye contact Disadvantages – Potential for disaster – Unnatural pace – Inability to adjust speech – Long prep time

Reading Advantages – Precision – Smooth delivery Disadvantages – Credibility undercut – Lack of eye contact – Unnatural pace – Inability to adjust speech – Long prep time

Speaking off the Cuff Advantages – No prep time – Eye contact – Natural pace Disadvantages – Potential for disaster – Difficulty in organizing – Lack of visual aids

Appropriate Situations Speaking from points – Conference presentation – Business meeting – University lecture Memorizing – First few words of presentation – Short introduction of speaker Reading – Press conference – Quotation – Complex wording Speaking off the cuff – Answering a question – Asking a question

Structure: The Strategy You Choose Chapter 3

Structure of a Presentation Organization of the major points Transitions between those points Depth the presenter achieves Emphasis of the details

Structural Differences Begin at a depth that orients the entire audience Map the presentation for the audience Signal transitions between major parts of the presentation

Organization

Beginning Shows the big picture of the presentation Focuses everyone’s attention to the particular topic

Middle Discusses the topic in a logical fashion Process  Chronological Event  Spatial System  Follow the flow Parts  Grouping into parallel parts

Ending Analyze the work from an overall perspective Summary of the most important details Closure – Set of recommendations – List of questions to be resolved – How the work affects the big picture

Key Transitions

Depth vs Scope Scope Depth

Emphasis People remember 10% of what they hear Repetition, illustration, and placement Say something important in the beginning – Define the scope – Importance of the work – Map the path of the presentation Show a logical flow in the middle Leave up the conclusion slide during questions

Leaving the Audience at the Dock Critical Error 3

Anticipate Initial Questions What exactly is the subject? Why is the subject important? What background is needed to understand the subject? In what order will the subject be presented?

What Exactly is the Subject? Don’t assume the audience knows what the presentation is about Title slide (60 sec) – Title – Name of speaker – Affiliation of speaker – Key image

Why is the Subject Important? Don’t move to middle until the audience understands the importance Importance relates to money, safety, health, or environment Curiosity: Ganymede & Callisto

What Background is Needed to Understand the Subject? Be sensitive to the background information that audiences need If time is limited, state up front what you are assuming the audience knows Provide background in the introduction, or as the audience needs it

In What Order Will the Subject be Presented? Reveal the organization of the presentation Use images to make mapping memorable Repeat images in the corresponding divisions of the presentation Audience has an idea of what has been covered and how much is left

Anticipating the Audience’s Bias Understand the bias in order to decide the strategy and energy required for a successful argument Antagonistic audience: – Define the question up front, but don’t give away your results – Show you truly understand the opposition’s main arguments

Summary Know when to use the four sources of speech: – Speaking from points – Memorizing – Reading – Speaking off the cuff Structure the presentation with a beginning, a middle, and an ending Anticipate the audience’s initial questions and biases

Summary Know when to use the four sources of speech Structure the presentation with a beginning, a middle, and an ending Anticipate the audience’s initial questions and their biases