1. Thesis Presentations
MSCS 491

2. Introduction
To show you how to effectively convey the useful information in your thesis without boring audience with details or monotony
To illustrate how talks should be organized and planned
To provide recommendation on how to effectively present

3. Outline What to cover Organization Introduction and Conclusion
Preparation
Presentation
Conclusions
Questions?

4. Difference from Paper Cannot cover all detail from paper
Content depends on
Time available
Expertise of audience
Point to get across
Need to leave lasting impression
Motivate them to read more on topic

5. What to Cover? Single main goal Focus on
What should audience learn
Focus on
What audience needs to know to understand results
Clear description of results
Impact of results
Avoid algorithms, proofs, technical details, or other complex material, unless it is the focus of the work

6. Outline What to cover Organization Introduction and Conclusion
Preparation
Presentation
Conclusions
Questions?

7. Organization Linear organization Lead audience through Subject of talk
Necessary background
Experiments
Results
Conclusions
Implications of results
Lead audience through
I covered this, now moving on to that

8. Outline What to cover Organization Introduction and Conclusion
Preparation
Presentation
Conclusions
Questions?

9. The Introduction Introduce yourself and your topic
Introduce goal of talk before outlining structure of talk
Let audience know what you intend for them to learn
Then overview structure of talk
Refer back to structure throughout
Introduction
Organization
Intro / Concl
Preparation
Presentation
Conclusions
Questions?

10. The Conclusion
End the talk cleanly, do not just fade away or abruptly stop
Summarize the main points
Make a statement about impact
Signal the end of the talk
Ask for questions

11. Outline What to cover Organization Introduction and Conclusion
Preparation
Presentation
Conclusions
Questions?

12. The Preparation Write out notes? Printout of slides?
Rehearse the talk, do not memorize
Practice with the equipment in the environment if possible
Practice writing the notes on the board if planning to use it

13. Slides Provide structure and content
Point form representing brief summaries
Never read from them
Minimal text and minimize clutter
Full page at once better when possible

14. Figures and Graphs
Good figures and graphs make ideas easier to understand
Simple, clear, uncluttered, labeled
Show the point with a glance
Use incremental if lots of detail

15. Bad Table Results Task Size CPU Memory Compress 4.2 2:37 25.6
Invert :
Overhead :
Total :

16. Better

17. Outline What to cover Organization Introduction and Conclusion
Preparation
Presentation
Conclusions
Questions?

18. Presentation Be yourself Do not read
Address your audience and look at them
Make sure they are following
If unsure, ask if any questions or problems

19. Handling Questions Respond positively and honestly to all questions
Do not try to bluff the answer
Say you have not considered it
Never be rude or dismissive

20. Outline What to cover Organization Introduction and Conclusion
Preparation
Presentation
Conclusions
Questions?

21. Conclusion Try to make a point for audience to remember Keep it simple
Motivate audience to want to know more
Be yourself

22. Questions?