Giving a Memorable Technical Talk I. Vital Elements Garrett Apuzen-Ito Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, SOEST, University of Hawaii Why should you learn to speak well? Being an effective speaker is important: for anyone who has knowledge or information and feels it is important to convey it. for anyone who has knowledge or information and feels it is important to convey it. for anyone who has knowledge or information and feels it is important to convey it. for anyone whose work involves communicating with others. In SCIENCE, speaking--like publishing--is part of the process. Science is about gaining knowledge and telling the world about it. In SCIENCE, speaking--like publishing--is part of the process. Science is about gaining knowledge and telling the world about it.

Giving a Memorable Technical Talk I. Vital Elements Garrett Apuzen-Ito Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, SOEST, University of Hawaii Why should you learn to speak well? AND BTW.... that was the “motivation” part of this talk. Being an effective speaker is important: for anyone who has knowledge or information and feels it is important to convey it. for anyone whose work involves communicating with others. In SCIENCE, speaking--like publishing--is part of the process. Science is about gaining knowledge and telling the world about it.

Vitals & Key Ingredients 3 Categories: I. Vital Elements II Vitals & Key Ingredients 3 Categories: I. Vital Elements II. Mechanics of the Presentation III. Speaker Performance

Today’s Message is on the I. Vitals Elements I. Vital Elements Your main goal is to communicate: If your audience understands your main points, gains new appreciation for them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. Period. Follow a logical thought process: topic is well introduced and/or motivated, problems/hypotheses/questions clearly defined, appropriate strategy/methods/data, logical results & interpretations, limitations acknowledged, conclusions well justified. The critical audience will believe what you say if it is backed by evidence, analysis, and logic  Good work and important findings Tell ‘em what you’re going to tell them. Tell ‘em Tell ‘em what you’ve told them (This is my talk outline & that was the “Introduction”)

FIRST AND FOREMOST: Your purpose is to… I. Vitals Elements I. Vital Elements Your main goal is to communicate: If your audience understands your main points, gains new appreciation for them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. Period. FIRST AND FOREMOST: Your purpose is to… Communicate, Teach, Convince

FIRST AND FOREMOST: Your purpose is to… I. Vitals Elements I. Vital Elements Your main goal is to communicate: If your audience understands your main points, gains new appreciation for them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. Period. FIRST AND FOREMOST: Your purpose is to… Communicate, Teach, Convince It is essential that you build your talk around 1-3 main points and no more. No matter how you do it. (almost)

You should build your talk around how many points? I. Vital Elements Your main goal is to communicate: If your audience understands your main points, gains new appreciation for them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. Period. You should build your talk around how many points?

I. Vital Elements Your main goal is to communicate: If your audience understands your main points, gains new appreciation for them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. Period. Follow a logical thought process: topic is well introduced and/or motivated, problems/hypotheses/questions clearly defined, appropriate strategy/methods/data, logical results & interpretations, limitations acknowledged, conclusions well justified. The critical audience will believe what you say if it is backed by evidence, analysis, and logic Good work and important findings Tell ‘em what you’re going to tell them. Tell ‘em Tell ‘em what you’ve told them

} Introduction, motivation, purpose, problem, outline/summary I. Vital Elements Your main goal is to communicate: If your audience understands your main points, gains new appreciation for them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. Period. Follow a logical thought process: topic is well introduced and/or motivated, problems/hypotheses/questions clearly defined, appropriate strategy/methods/data, logical results & interpretations, limitations acknowledged, conclusions well justified. The critical audience will believe what you say if it is backed by evidence, analysis, and logic } Introduction, motivation, purpose, problem, outline/summary Strategy, method, information, evidence Findings or results Essential implications or interpretations Conclusions Why the project is important & what’s it about Build your arguments/tell your story What the reader gains of value &/or How the project should change views, knowledge or future actions Tell ’em what your going to tell ’em Tell ‘em Tell ‘em what you’ve told ‘em

I. Introduction, Motivation, Purpose, Problem, Outline/Summary “Tides are important because…” 1st Your audience needs to know the topic and WHY they should listen to your talk. 2nd Your audience needs to know the purpose or problem. What are the 1-3 points being addressed? 3rd Outline your talk. i.e., tell you’re audience what your going to tell them. “The problem I’d like to address is…”

II. Strategy, Methods, Information, Evidence I. Introduction, Motivation, Purpose, Problem, Outline/Summary II. Strategy, Methods, Information, Evidence The strategy, methods, approach defined. The information and evidence, is presented. Make it clear how the above support your purpose or will solve the problem “I will measure the level of high tide each day”

IV. Interpretations, Implications I. Introduction, Motivation, Purpose, Problem, & Outline. II. Strategy, Methods, Information, Evidence III. Findings, Results IV. Interpretations, Implications Findings are presented: Graphs show trends of data or outcomes of analysis. Logic and reasoning is clearly spelled-out, and judgements are made about the importance or value of the results. Make your 1-3 points “Yesterday the tide covered the rock Today it reached the tree Tomorrow…. Uhm, can you swim?”

I. Introduction, Motivation, Purpose, Problem, & Outline II. Strategy, Methods, Information, Evidence III. Findings, Results IV. Interpretations, Implications IV. Conclusions “Got it??” Restate the motivation/purpose Recap your 1-3 points Tell’em what you’ve told ‘em

This structure and the theme you establish… transforms a random bunch of (albeit jewels of) information I. Introduction, Motivation, Problem, Purpose, & Outline II. Strategy, Methods, Info. Evidence III. Findings, Results, IV. Interpretations, Implications IV. Conclusions into an orderly work of art. The theme of your 1-3 points is the thread that ties all the pieces together

This structure and the theme you establish… transforms a random bunch of (albeit jewels of) information I. Introduction, Motivation, Problem, Purpose, & Outline II. Strategy, Methods, Info. Evidence III. Findings, Results, IV. Interpretations, Implications IV. Conclusions into an orderly work of art. The theme of your 1-3 points is the thread that ties all the pieces together

Tell a Story. Take your Audience on an Adventure along your journey of discovery to your conclusions (point B) I. Introduction, Motivation, Problem, Purpose, & Outline II. Strategy, Methods, Info. Evidence III. Findings, Results, IV. Interpretations, Implications IV. Conclusions B lead them step-by-step FORWARD Take your audience from the starting point A

Last but not least…. I. Vital Elements Your main goal is to communicate: If your audience understands your main points, gains new appreciation for them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. Period. Follow a logical thought process: topic is well introduced and/or motivated, problems/hypotheses/questions clearly defined, appropriate strategy/methods/data, logical results & interpretations, limitations acknowledged, conclusions well justified. The critical audience will believe what you say if it is backed by evidence, analysis, and logic Good work and important findings Tell ‘em what you’re going to tell them. Tell ‘em Tell ‘em what you’ve told them Your work will be important enough for you to want to share it with others!

Giving a Memorable Technical Talk I. Vital Elements Your main goal is to communicate: If your audience understands your main points, gains new appreciation for them, and remembers them, then you’ve done your job. Period. Follow a logical thought process: topic is well introduced and/or motivated, problems/hypotheses/questions clearly defined, appropriate strategy/methods/data, logical results & interpretations, limitations acknowledged, conclusions well justified. The critical audience will believe what you say if it is backed by evidence, analysis, and logic  Good work and important findings Tell ‘em what you’re going to tell them. Tell ‘em Tell ‘em what you’ve told them Bring your audience on a journey of discovery Conclusions Interpretations, Implications Results, Findings Strategy, Methods, Information, Evidence Introduction, Motivation, Problem, Purpose, Outline