Dr. Fisher, 20 April 2013 For Astronomy class at ISM Example presentation for Astro one good way to organize a presentation so you’ll communicate well and get a good grade Dr. Fisher, 20 April 2013 For Astronomy class at ISM

overview A simple preview of the talk, a roadmap so your audience can know where they’ll go Introduction Background and history The main topic, what are you telling us that is the center of your message Some more supporting info, maybe from a different perspective, such as what you think about it. Where will this field go in the future Summary (summarize 1-5 briefly) Clever or memorable closing line and image Thank you and ask for questions.

Introduction: with brief subtitle You need to bring the listener from their place into your topic Relate it to them, use a question Have you ever looked up in the sky and wondered…..? What would it be like to travel…..? Then, in broad terms, define the field or topic you’ll present I’m going to show you some of the recent advances in astrobiology that I’ve been interested in

Throughout the talk, keep it personal. Use “I”, “mine” and “me” Say what interests you and excites you

Background: 1500-2013 Everybody needs some perspective of history to appreciate the advances you’ll show. So give a bit. Simple date list is fine 1500: Smith ground glass to make a lens 1550: Jones used it to look at his neighbor 1650: Nelson made a telescope 1800: Frankenfurter added the wonk device 2000: NASA sent Mission Wonk into orbit

How much text to put on a slide? Never just read your slide, except for short phrases. Don’t have any paragraph at all on the slides!

The main topic, why we are here This may take a few slides, even 12. You will develop your story It is a story I’m going to tell you a story

Change color of text if you need to Images can overlay And overlap Break up text with images. Make images fill the space They should have something to do with that slide, but not essential Change color of text if you need to Images can overlay And overlap

Main topic, diving deeper Can you ask questions in a slide? Yes, and you can answer it. Can I ask a question without the answer being right there? Make at most 2 points per slide.

If a point is important, it’s OK to put only one on a slide. Main topic, big point If a point is important, it’s OK to put only one on a slide. And not diluting it with images is a strong message that the point matters

The power of pictures, alone

Can you change gears in the middle and take another approach? Yes, sometimes you need equations Or you might need more history…… Variety is good

Do you know how to insert a video?

Do you know how to animate? This is very useful if you have a long list And you want to take them One By Or insert an image later But don’t become a technicolor idiot and use crazy animations that just really distract and scream out, “look at me, I can push buttons on Powerpoint!”

And links? Yes, they help http://workawesome.com/communication/top-10-coolest-powerpoint-slideshows-slideshare/ You can even paste them over another item if they are messy http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg/220px-GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton&h=241&w=176&sz=1&tbnid=rEFL6DUetYVmMM:&tbnh=186&tbnw=135&zoom=1&usg=__loVZmzFQ-fdKNqinTCBfHErGuIE=&docid=Lx1zRTA9D9RisM&itg=1&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2hRwUYCgA4XOyAGftYD4CQ&ved=0CMoBEPwdMAw

Today and the future of my topic Everyone the audience wants to know How does this relate to me? How will it relate in the future? Where is this going? So, do your best to tell them Even if you have to imagine or guess

Your main job in the talk…. Is to engage the listener with your topic

Recap or summary Why this topic is interesting to you Background and history so you can see how it fits with history Review 2-3 of the big points Slip in a reminder of the coolest example you used Say again that the field is still progressing and change will probably come Try to do this all in one slide so the viewer can see the whole story at once.

At the end, leave them with something memorable 100,000 years ago your grandparents wondered about a bright new star in the night. Today, with a telescope, you can see the result of that same explosion.