1. SOME GENERAL POINTS TO CONSIDER FOR AN EFFECTIVE SEMINAR
■ Be Enthusiastic!
» do not speak in a monotone voice
» do not read your slides
» gesture, move about (within reason)
» look at and engage your audience
» have fun and be yourself

2. ■ Do Not Make your Audience Work
» speak clearly, loudly and slowly
» speak to the audience NOT to your slides
» make your slides simple and easy to read

3. SOME GENERAL POINTS TO CONSIDER FOR AN EFFECTIVE SEMINAR
■ Do Not Try To Cover Too Much Material
» focus on the important information
■ Be Professional, But Not Reserved
» treat audience with respect

4. ■ Be Prepared and Organized
» know your subject matter
» come early
■ View Seminar as a Story to be Told
■ Use Your Nervousness Productively
» be prepared
» stay focused

5. SEMINAR OUTLINE » Important Background Material
■ The Introduction – “Tell the audience what you are going to tell them”
» Important Background Material
- Give Overall Perspective –Scientific Relevance (Big Picture)
- Give All Audience Members Same Foundation
» Bullet List of Important Topics (Table of Contents)
- Use Throughout Highlight the Progress

6. ■ The Main Body of the Presentation – “Tell them” ■ The Conclusion
»“Tell them what you told them”
» Summarize the Important/Main Points (Take Home
Message)

7. KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN PREPARING
■ What is the purpose of the seminar?
» convey results
» get “Buy” in for project
» scientific review
■ Who is your audience?
» general vs. expert

8. ■ How much time do you have for your presentation?
» good rule of thumb: two minutes of presentation per slide
- 20 to 25 slides for a 45 minute seminar
■ What materials should you use?
» PowerPoint presentations are the overwhelming choice at scientific conferences
» have a backup!

9. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR SEMINAR ?
■ To Present Your Research?
■ To Review a Topic?
■ To Begin a Discussion?

10. Who is Your Audience? ■ Students? ■ Faculty?
■ Scientists in Your Field?
■ Scientists in a Different Field?
■ A General Audience?
Choose materials and a level of discussion
that is appropriate for your audience

11. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ?
■ How much material can be covered?
» focus on the important issues
■ How much time must be used for an Intro.?
» give only background that is need to
understand content/relevance.
■ How much time must be left for questions?
» typically 5-10 minutes
*Always stay within your allotted time*

12. WHAT MATERIALS SHOULD YOU USE ?
35 mm Slides Overhead Transparencies
PowerPoint Slides Videotapes
Web Resources Chalkboard/Wipe Board

13. GENERAL RULES FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEMINAR
Know your subject
Be organized
Check the pronunciation & meaning of unfamiliar words
Practice, practice, practice…
The better prepared, organized, and rehearsed you are,
the easier it will be to give your presentation

14. PREPARATION OF SEMINAR MATERIALS
Use an Easy-to-See Size (NOT a Small One)
Use Clear, Contrasting Colors (NOT Loud or Similar Colors)
Avoid Clutter or Too Much Material/Slide
Use Graphs, Figures, Animations, etc.
Check for Errors in Your Slydes
Always Acknowledge Outside Sources
Do Not Overdue “Special Effects”

15. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ■ For a research presentation
» mention those who contributed to the work discussed in your presentation.
» list all sources of pertinent funding.
■ Reference ALL Articles From Which Data is Presented
» usually on the same slide with the data
■ Thank the audience for taking part in your presentation.

16. THE QUESTION & ANSWER PERIOD
Allow time for questions at the end of the
Seminar
■ Be familiar with your material so that you can answer the questions
■ Treat all members of the audience who ask questions with respect (even if they don’t do the same)

17. ■ Some questions may involve speculation. If
they do, state before you answer that this is
what your doing
■ Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know the answer
or didn’t do the experiment
■ Take criticism gracefully

18. WRITING INTRODUCTION 1. Establishing the field  current knowledge ?
2. Summerizing previous research
3. Preparing for present research
» indicating a gap
» raising a question about previous research
4. Introducing present research
» stating the purpose
» outlining the present research