1. How (not) to give a talk
Barbara Jacak
Stony Brook
Sept. 6, 2006

2. Organization of a Talk Talk Outline:
tells audience what's coming; gets speaker warmed up.
Introduction:
What's the issue? What is new? Why is it interesting?
Body of the Talk:
Experiment or method (How is it done?)
Describe experiment or theoretical assumptions.
Data taking & analysis/what theoretical techniques used?
What are sources and magnitudes of uncertainty?
Results (What’s the answer?)
Discussion (What does it mean?)
Form a physical picture, answer question from the intro.
Connect experiment and theory.
Conclusion: (So what??)
What did we learn?
Summarize the main point(s) & reiterate "the answer".

3. A Few Hints A good talk has only a few main points:
If reviewing a topic or field, ask: What is it about? Why is it interesting? What's the current hot question?
If reporting on your own research: Why is it interesting? What did I do? What did I learn?
It's better to choose fewer points and make sure your audience really gets them.
Don't go into too much detail!!
Give only enough detail so the audience can understand the answer and form an opinion as to whether it's believable.
When in doubt, prepare a reserve slide with all the details. Show it only if asked a question about these details, or if your audience looks very confused by your summary of how the work was done.
Talk to your audience:
The speaker always knows more about the subject than the average audience member! The purpose of the talk is to teach them about something they don't know and you do.
Speak slowly and clearly and watch the faces of your audience to see if they are following you. Look at the audience, not your slides.
Don't read your slides word for word!
Don't stand between the audience and your slides!
Slides:
Must be legible even from the back of the room.
No yellow! Orange is iffy. Find a projector and look at your slides.
The slides should not be too busy. It is better to make more slides with less material on each. Also, avoid writing whole sentences; the slides should be bullets or an outline for what you plan to say.
Estimate an average of speaking minutes per slide.
Practice your talk!
This is extremely useful, no matter how experienced you are!
It helps you get your story together and check the clarity of your presentation. Also this lets you optimize the amount of material for the time you have.
Remember to ask yourself "So What?" This keeps your talk interesting and focussed.

4. Slides
Must be legible even from the back of the room.
No yellow! Orange is iffy. So is light green.
Find a projector and look at your slides!
The slides should not be too busy
Make more slides with less material
Avoid writing whole sentences.
Use bullets or an outline for what you plan to say
Color can be helpful or distracting
Control your time carefully (or you’ll get cut off)
Average is speaking minutes per slide
Practice your talk!

5. Talk to your audience
The speaker always knows more about the subject than the average audience member!
The purpose of the talk is to teach them about something they don't know and you do
Speak slowly and clearly and watch the faces of your audience to see if they are following you
Look at the audience, not your slides.
Don't read your slides word for word!
Don't stand between the audience and your slides!

6. A good talk has only a few main points
If reviewing a topic or field, ask: What is it about? Why is it interesting? What's the current hot question?
If reporting on your own research: Why is it interesting? What did I do? What did I learn?
It's better to choose fewer points and make sure your audience really gets them
Don't go into too much detail!!
Use just enough so audience understands the answer
When in doubt, prepare a reserve slide with all the details. Show it only if asked a question about these details, or if your audience looks very confused.
Keep asking yourself "So What?"
This keeps your talk interesting and focused