1. Academic Communication Lesson 8
(1) Please pick up one handout from the front desk.
(2) Look at the exam sign-up sheets at the front and sign up for one exam session.
(3) After signing up, sit at the desk that has your attendance card

2. Final Exam Sign-up Sheets
Sign up for one session
Sessions are labeled A, B, C, … but Session A may NOT be the first!
Later we’ll decide randomly which letter is on which day – days listed on the chalkboard
If possible, sign up in a session that has other talks in your research area.

3. After signing up for an exam session, find the desk that has your attendance card on it and sit there for this class
There are 2 cards per desk
Find your card and sit there
Do NOT move your card!
Read the handout for today but do not write on it yet.

4. Note: Arrive Early for your exam
You must be there for the whole session, no matter if you are the first or the last speaker.
Arrive 10 minutes early
To make sure slides work
To get yourself settled, ready, and confident
You lose marks if you are not at least 10 minutes early

5. Which session on which day?
Dates are on the chalkboard.
Letters of sessions on are cards: A, B, C...
First randomly chosen card tells which session is on first day, etc.
If you don’t like your day, you can switch your name to a blank spot in another session or trade with somebody else.
If you trade, switch the names on the sheets. Make sure your name is in just one session.

6. Practice Alone Everybody at the same time! (It will be very noisy.)
When I say to start, read your transcript.
See the timer here?
When you finish, note how long you took
(should be 8:00-10:00).

7. Evaluation Sheet Put your name at the top
Do not write anything else on your sheet.
Your PARTNER will be answering these questions on your sheet about your presentation.

8. Stage 1: Check partner’s slides
[10 minutes] Answer the first 20 questions on your partner’s sheet
Check carefully!
Circle all weaknesses and mistakes…
…even places you’re not sure about so your partner knows to check that slide extra carefully!
[10-15 minutes] Discuss answers with your partner.
Help make his/her slides better.
Today’s treat: Use Chinese in discussion.

9. Stage 2: Evaluate Presentation #1 (other person presents in Stage 3)
16 minutes
Speaker: Read your presentation out loud.
Let partner see slides if possible.
Listener: Try to answer questions on your partner’s sheet as you listen to the presentation.
After Speaker finishes reading:
Discuss answers to questions 21-43
Pay attention to any “no” answers!
Answer questions

10. Stage 3: Evaluate Presentation #2 (Stage 2 listener & speaker switch)
16 minutes
Speaker: Read your presentation out loud.
Let partner see slides if possible.
Listener: Try to answer questions on your partner’s sheet as you listen to the presentation.
After Speaker finishes reading:
Discuss answers to questions 21-43
Pay attention to any “no” answers!
Answer questions

12. Particularly Important Questions (where students often lose marks) are circled on the sheet
Almost always, a “No” answer to any of the 50 questions is a problem!
Do not have a bad presentation because of ignoring these issues.
Carefully considering each of these 50 questions will make your presentation better!

13. Next Week: Lesson 9 The last classroom lesson
We’ll talk about the marking sheet
A compressed version is on the back of today’s handout.
Full marking sheet is on website if you want to see it before next week.

14. Homework
Use today’s evaluation sheet to make your transcript & presentation better.
You should be able to answer “True” for all 50 of those questions.
There are exceptions.
But if an answer is “False” then you should have a good reason for it!
E.g. If your paper has >5 authors then just list the first 3 names/affiliations on the title slide “and others”, or identify the name of the research group.

15. Homework
Look at the “General Presentation Advice” on the back of today’s handout.
Finish your presentation
Some of you will be giving your exam presentation two weeks from today!
Will you be ready?