1. Guidelines for giving Effective Presentations

2. Introduction Marking scheme for your talk Tips on talks
Structure of your talk
How to present technical content
Answering questions
Checklists

3. Your Honours Talk 30 minute timeslot:
20 minute talk
5 minutes questions
Your seminar is marked according to:
4: Content (technical competence)
4: Presentation (delivery of technical material)
2: Responses to questions
It counts 10% of your honours project

4. The Top 6 Turnoffs Poor visuals Unclear structure Repetitive habits
Monotone voice
Reading verbatim
Disorganised

5. Talk Structure Tips Give your talk a snappy title!
All talks should have:
Introduction – tell them what you're going to tell them
Main Body – tell them
Conclusion/Summary – tell them what you’ve told them

6. Introduction
The opening should grab attention

7. Main Body Level of detail should be appropriate to the audience
tell them so that they will understand.
Give signposts when you go from one point to another so audience can follow.
Involve the audience
mentally (interesting and effective visuals)
verbally (questions and comments) or
physically (activities or discussions)

8. Audience of Mathematicians
Mathematics is quite area-specific
Audience from general backgrounds
80/20 rule:
80% general
20% specifics
Motivation and comprehensive introduction helps

9. Conclusion/Summary Is the "take-home" message clear?
Perfectly valid to flag future work or possible extensions

10. Slide Design Tips
KISS
No more than 6 words per line, 6 lines per slide is a good guide
Visual clarity is essential
Use big and bold text
Use all of screen
Ensure consistency of headings, design, colour, font size.

11. Slide Use Tips Talk to audience, not screen. Do not "read" slides
Do not block the audience view
Point to the screen, rather than the OHP
You should have about 1 slide per minute (20 slides)
Do not change the slides too quickly

12. Mathematics on Slides
Long complex equations are impossible to read from the back of the room.
Give a feel for complex mathematical equations with
animation
uncovering or
clumping

13. Dynamic Program Let V = E(P|t,S,NA,NB)
Sample Slide
Dynamic Program
Let V = E(P|t,S,NA,NB)
Suppose A is batting, so NB=10, 1<NA10, dSi  0
Expected increment from a hit
Value upon dismissal
Value in declaring

14. Sample Slide
Expected Payoff NA=1

15. Rehearsing
Run through at least once before approaching your supervisor
Preferably present a practice run in front of your supervisor
Provide a set of notes to your supervisor in advance

16. Answering Questions Thank the questioner
Repeat the question so that the people at the back know the question
Professional ethics imply “don’t know” is a valid response
Answer confidently and with a definite conclusion to the response

17. Structure Checklist · Clear introduction and intent · Logical flow
·        Clear message
·        Clear summary
·        Confident answers to questions
·        Finish on time

18. Visual Checklist · Complement not compete
·        Bullet points not paragraphs
·        Clear in meaning
·        Legible, large font
·        Impactful design/colour

19. Voice Checklist · Clear, confident, interesting
·        Enthusiastic inflection
·        Minimal uhmms
·        No monotone
·        No reading verbatim

20. Body Checklist · Good position, posture, language
·        Eye contact (even, regular)
·        Facial expressions match verbals
·        Conveys enthusiasm/warmth/confidence
·        No distracting mannerisms

21. Equipment Checklist · Knowledge of use · Audience sited not blocked
·        Visuals high on screen
·        Visuals occupy width of screen

22. Remember
Be prepared
Don’t cram in too much
Remember the 80/20 rule