The Craft of Scientific Presentations

By Michael Alley

Shari FordRET 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

Scope

Depth

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