1 14. Giving presentations Writing for Computer Science Ko Myung-warn

2 Contents Content Organization The introduction The conclusion Preparation Delivery Question time Slides Slide tools Text slides Checklist

3 Delivery (1/3) You must speak clearly –Voice : natural tone –Breathe : deeply –Speed : words per 3 minutes –Head up Speech –Avoid monotony, both in pace and tone. –Pause occasionally Χ “um”, “I mean”

4 Delivery (2/3) Consider the personality you present –Gestures should be natural. –Make frequent eye contact with the audience. –Be modest. Χ “people all said it couldn’t work, but my work proves them wrong” –You shouldn’t diminish your achievements. Χ “the talk was only written last night” Χ “I haven’t had time to prepare”.

5 Delivery (3/3) Beware of irritating habits. –Taking off watch –Use stick or laser pointer –Don’t overact or laugh at your own jokes. –Don’t act nervous, look at your feet, face the wrong way, scratch, fidget. –Don’t change slides before the audience has had a chance to read them. The audience wants to enjoy your talk.

6 Question time Used –To clarify misunderstandings –To amplify Answer –Short and avoid debating with an audience –Talk to the whole audience –Positively and honestly to all questions –Never dismissive of their questions

7 Slides (1/2) A typical slide consists –Text : visual guide to what the speaker is saying –Figure : show results or illustrate a point The focus of the talk is you, not the slides. –What you are saying, rather than the sketch content of a slide, should be the centre of attention.

8 Slides (2/2) Each slide should have a heading and be self-contained. –One slide per minute –Repeating crucial information Ex) Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Whole algorithm Slide 1 Example Step 1 Slide 2 Step 2 Slide 3 Example

9 Slide tools (1/3) Ease of use ≠ Necessity of use –The goal of a well-written talk is for the audience to listen to the speaker. –People are not impressed by the ability to use the latest software.

10 Slide tools (2/3) Layout –Dark backgrounds do not work. Ex) –The use of logos and images should be limited to borders. Χ Dark background √ Light background

11 Slide tools (3/3) Animation –Point-at-a-time display works against the success of a typical presentation. 1.It is a constraint on the speaker. 2.It makes harder for the listener to focus. If you need to draw, use a whiteboard.

12 Text slides (1/2) Text slides provide structure and context. –Usually written in point form. –Summaries in short sentences –Never read –Be brief, but not meaningless × Coding technique log-based, integer codes. √ The coding technique is logarithmic but yields integer codes.

13 Text slides (2/2) –Explain all variables –Possible simplify formulas. –Overheads should not be crowded with text. Ex.Ex –Use a font of reasonable size Ex.Ex –Strings of exclamation marks and text in uppercase do not add a sense of excitement.

14 Figure Good figures and graph can make ideas much easier to understand. –Figures should be simple. –Figures should focus on the technical content. –Label everything Checking a figure –Does it illustrate a major point? –Does it illustrate the point unambiguously? –Is all of the text legible?

15 END Question time

16

17 Example