1. The Basics of Giving a Seminar Talk Nicholas A. Gariano Senior Graduate Student LSU Chemistry Department 1

2. Presentations The most effective ways I’VE found to connect with an audience and get positive results from a presentation. 2

3. Good presentations start with good intentions. 3

4. Choose a topic that interests you Interest and enthusiasm come across easily in your presentation. Major points and conclusions are far more interesting than details. 4

5. Why does anyone want to know about your talk? You need to choose a topic worth talking about Tell the audience why this work is important  More importantly… why it’s important to you. 5

6. Good presentations are made with hard work. 6 Procrastination shows… and doesn’t reflect well Hard work IS worth it !!

7. Building a great slide Titles should be a complete sentence or phrase 7  Good Flow should go from left to right if possible Colors should help not detract  Bad http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/encyc_colorwheel.html Choose a font that is simple and size

8. What should I put in the slide? Don’t put empty slides – simple with details 8 There is such a thing as too much of a good thing Non-data pictures and sound should be used very sparingly  This goes for transitions too

9. An Example of what not to do 9

10. Organization and content of a great talk Follow standard Intro, background, results, and conclusion format  No Table of contents slide 10 Format and presentation is just as important as content

11. Talks/slides need to be easy to understand and follow Background, background, background Numbering slides helps identify them during questions 11 Know your audience  Don’t talk above or below your audience Follow the same format on all slides  Bullets, color schemes, font, etc.

12. Time management Material based on time  Don’t smash too much into a short talk 12 Don’t rush your slides  1-2 min per slide Take 5 seconds before each slide to pace yourself and remind Always leave time for questions http://amerihopealliance.com/blog/2012/06/tic-toc-the-bank-wont-wait/

13. Practice and being prepared 13 Practice at least 2-3 times  Use your fellow students / friends Do at least one full dress practice in the actual room Eat something before you talk and bring a bottle of water Always have more than 1 copy of your presentation

14. The delivery of your presentation should keep the audience connected. 14 Don’t memorize a talk word for word, talk to the audience. Don’t read off the slides  Know what you know Don’t look at the screen/board when you talk Don’t fidget Don’t plagiarize Tell a story, don’t read data. Dr. Russo The Don’ts of Presenting

15. You are presenting yourself along with your work You need to practice your talk 15 If you don’t exude a calm, prepared, and knowledgeable facade, people will assume that you aren’t. Edit your slides and check for spellling also gramatical erross.

16. You are presenting yourself as much as your work 16 At least casual formal dress is expected  Comfortable, but not too comfortable Look in the mirror before you give your talk Generally look presentable  Guys…. shave

17. There are other good sources of information too http://macro.lsu.edu/ –http://macro.lsu.edu/msg/SeminarStuff/sem inars.htmhttp://macro.lsu.edu/msg/SeminarStuff/sem inars.htm –http://macro.lsu.edu/msgsa/http://macro.lsu.edu/msgsa/ Professors Older Graduate Students Practice, Practice, Practice 17

18. Does anyone have any Questions? 18