Constructing and Giving Research Presentations Paul Wagner (for MICS 2005)

Major Messages Organization is Key Start by following your paper (if you have one) Start by following your paper (if you have one) Otherwise, use an outline to develop your talk Otherwise, use an outline to develop your talk Emphasize interesting / stronger areas Emphasize interesting / stronger areas De-emphasize less interesting / weaker areas De-emphasize less interesting / weaker areas Revise to Increase Quality Practice to Increase Confidence and Delivery Avoid the Common Problems Running Out of Time Running Out of Time Reading Your Slides Reading Your Slides Others… Others…

Organization What you know/have done guides your talk Start by outlining Based on paper if written Based on paper if written Based on knowledge, current research Based on knowledge, current research Same sections can be used as for papers; e.g. Introduction Introduction Background Background Work Done / Contributions Made / Primary Ideas Work Done / Contributions Made / Primary Ideas Future Work (if any) Future Work (if any) Conclusions Conclusions

Organization (2) Generate a template for your presentation Steps Develop a slide for each major idea Develop a slide for each major idea Write idea in title area Write idea in title area Place only sub-ideas in text area Place only sub-ideas in text area If two or more major sub-ideas, give each one its own slide If two or more major sub-ideas, give each one its own slide Continue until have a fairly stable set of ideas Continue until have a fairly stable set of ideas Try to edit at this level! Try to edit at this level!

Organization (3) Requirements vary by context, but… In most cases, your presentation does not have to match your paper exactly Should follow it generally, of course Should follow it generally, of course Can emphasize the most interesting points Generates more discussion/questions Generates more discussion/questions Can de-emphasize the least interesting or weakest points Don’t spend much time on areas where you don’t have a lot to say / where there’s a lot more work to be done Don’t spend much time on areas where you don’t have a lot to say / where there’s a lot more work to be done Avoid talking about areas where people will jump on you Avoid talking about areas where people will jump on you

Revise Parallels to Writing First draft is not a keeper First draft is not a keeper Revise to: Revise to: Improve/add structure Can use parallel structure in talks, too Can use parallel structure in talks, too Remove weak points Find typos Edit at the outline level Saves time if you don’t eliminate entire sections Saves time if you don’t eliminate entire sections

Practice Practicing your talk is essential! First few iterations Practice alone Practice alone Some recommend using mirror Time it Time it Final iterations In front of friend / colleague / spouse / significant other In front of friend / colleague / spouse / significant other Not important that they know the content – you’re just getting comfortable talking in front of people Not important that they know the content – you’re just getting comfortable talking in front of people Time it Time it

Avoiding Common Problems (1) Running Out Of Time Problem Problem Very painful to use up entire session on background, get cut off just as you’re getting to your main result Solutions Solutions Practice several times (including timing) Present main messages first (as was done in this presentation) Even if you run out of time, you’ve told them the main messages Even if you run out of time, you’ve told them the main messages

Avoiding Common Problems (2) Reading Your Slides Problem Problem Novice presenters often read their slides verbatim Novice presenters often read their slides verbatim Boring to audience (they can read, too) Boring to audience (they can read, too) Takes away impact Takes away impact Solution(s) Solution(s) Use phrases on slides that lead you to complete sentences that you speak Use phrases on slides that lead you to complete sentences that you speak Practice until you’re comfortable speaking on the fly based on phrases Practice until you’re comfortable speaking on the fly based on phrases

Avoiding Common Problems (3) Nervousness Problem Problem Being nervous can: Slow you down Slow you down Interfere with the continuity of your presentation, and Interfere with the continuity of your presentation, and Distract the audience Distract the audience Solution(s) Solution(s) Practice until you’re comfortable giving this presentation Practice until you’re comfortable giving presentations in general Have I mentioned that it really helps you to practice? Have I mentioned that it really helps you to practice?

Avoiding Common Problems (4) Too Much On Slides Problem Problem Some people tend to put complete sentences down where they just should have bullet points; this leads to reading the entire sentence as is and makes the slides look cluttered Some people tend to put complete sentences down where they just should have bullet points; this leads to reading the entire sentence as is and makes the slides look cluttered Example above Example above Solution(s) Solution(s) Use short phrases, not complete sentences Use short phrases, not complete sentences Give each point its own bullet Give each point its own bullet Don’t list N items under one bullet Don’t list N items under one bullet The later items in the list tend to get lost The later items in the list tend to get lost

Avoiding Common Problems (5) Typos Problem Problem Typographical errors in slides detract from your message Viewers tend to get hung up on the errors Solution(s) Solution(s) Proofread your slides carefully Have a friend proofread them as well

Other Notes Session Chairs At conferences, there may be session chairs that help program move along, warn you re: time limit At conferences, there may be session chairs that help program move along, warn you re: time limit Talk to them before presentation, find out what their policy is Talk to them before presentation, find out what their policy is Is some of the presentation period reserved for questions? Is any time used for transitions between speakers? At what point(s) will you be warned before the end of your presentation? Good to try to watch the session chair, but... Good to try to watch the session chair, but... Don’t get distracted by them Don’t get distracted by them Don’t entirely rely on them (may miss their signals) Don’t entirely rely on them (may miss their signals)

Figures and Diagrams Fine to include these Don’t make them too complex Harder to get details across in a presentation Harder to get details across in a presentation Remember that you’re trying to get people to understand it on the spot, not after an hour of study Remember that you’re trying to get people to understand it on the spot, not after an hour of study If you do show detail, remember that you don’t have to discuss it all Highlight the major points Highlight the major points

Other Resources John Carlis, Notes from Talk on How to Give A Talk (Postscript version) (Postscript version) (PDF version) on-talk-1.pdf (PDF version) on-talk-1.pdf on-talk-1.pdf on-talk-1.pdf Edward Tufte, Essay on The Cognitive Style of Powerpoint Available at: Available at: