1. Final Presentation Guidelines and Hints
John C. Ramirez
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Computer Science
Capstone Course

2. University of Pittsburgh Computer Science
Outline
Introduction
Preparing for a Presentation
Creating a Presentation Document
Practicing the Presentation
Giving the Presentation
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

3. University of Pittsburgh Computer Science
Introduction
Why do we need presentations?
Formal documents (ex: tech reports, etc) require substantial time and effort to read
Presentations provide an overview of results
Usually with less detail than tech reports
Can show casual audience some interesting results
If interested, audience can then pursue the topic in more depth
Audience here could be colleagues, co-workers, supervisors, etc.
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

4. Preparing for a Presentation
What is the primary topic?
What is the focus of the presentation?
Who is the audience?
What is their interest and technical background
This can determine the level of detail needed
Ex: Will terminology be known or must you define it?
How much time is there for the talk?
Also greatly impacts the level of detail
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

5. Creating a Presentation Document
Modern presentations are typically multi- media
Minimally some type of presentation document is required
Ex: Powerpoint
Additionally, demos, audio and video clips, animations and other features can enhance a presentation
Goal is to keep the interest of a party who may not necessarily be predisposed toward the topic at hand
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

6. Creating a Presentation Document
Do not duplicate the technical document in the presentation
Packing too much information into a presentation is usually not good
Do not put too much information into each slide
"Busy" slides are hard to read and cause audience to lose interest
If multiple items are on a slide, do not show all at once
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

7. Creating a Presentation Document
Use large fonts so slides are easy to read
Check spelling and
Organize your document
Consider order of subtopics
Including an outline is a good idea
Consider relationship of topics to each other
Consider transitions between topics
This often is done orally but should be taken into account as document is being made
grammar
grammer
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

8. Practicing the Presentation
Presentations must be rehearsed
Must often adhere to a strict timeframe
Cannot know how long a presentation will take until it is tried
Goal is for the presentation to be as smooth and polished as possible
Practice helps this significantly
Do not simply state the content on the slides
Audience can read that for themselves
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

9. Practicing the Presentation
Goal of the speaker is the "fill in the gaps" left by the slides
Enhance the content shown with your words
However, too much talk on a single slide / line can also not be good
Must strike a balance
Be prepared for questions
Try to anticipate possible questions
Overall knowledge of the topic is generally helpful
Have friends / peers ask questions
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

10. Giving the Presentation
Speak clearly and project your voice
Your speaking is the single most important part of your presentation
Audience needs to hear and understand you
Look at your audience
Eye contact helps to engage the audience
Practicing your talk will allow you to look away from the slides more often
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

11. Giving the Presentation
Be aware of your time
Use a watch, wall clock, timer, etc.
If you find you are going over, adjust your presentation
May have to skip some "less important" topics
Consider this possibility in advance
Handle questions respectfully
If question is not relevant, do not dismiss it
If you don't know the answer, admit it
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

12. Giving the Presentation
End of talk should give closure
A summary is not a bad idea
Ask if audience has any questions
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science

13. University of Pittsburgh Computer Science
Summary
Prepare for your presentation
Create your presentation
Practice your presentation
Give your presentation
Any questions?
November 18, 2011
University of Pittsburgh Computer Science