Transcript Presentations: The Art of the Stand

Presentations:
The Art of the
Stand-Out Talk
by Chris McKitterick
Preparing Presentations
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Audience.
Analyze the speaking situation.
Use effective and appropriate organization.
Choose effective language: Concise and clear.
Outline or note cards.
Prepare presentation graphics.
Put together the slide show or posters.
Rehearse. Use others interested in topic; peerreview opportunity.
• Prepare for the unexpected and questions.
Presentation Design
• Templates.
• Slide construction.
• Graphics, movies, music, and so on.
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Animated slides.
Graphics, movies, music, and so on.
Transitions.
How much content per slide?
Giving Presentations
• Introduce yourself and the presentation.
• Provide an agenda or overview.
• Control your voice: volume, speed, pitch,
pronunciation, and verbal crutches.
• Don’t read slides – use as notes.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Avoid distracting mannerisms.
• Announce the presentation’s conclusion.
• Address the audience's questions.
Making Your Presentation Stand Out
Involve the audience
• People are more interested in their own
concerns than in yours.
• Talk to the audience about their problems and
their solutions.
• In the introduction, establish a link between
your topic and the audience's interests.
Making Your Presentation Stand Out
Refer to people, not abstractions
• People remember specifics and concrete
information; they forget abstractions.
• To make a point memorable, describe it in
human terms or how it affects actual people.
Making Your Presentation Stand Out
Use interesting facts, figures, and quotations
• Do your research and find interesting
information about your subject.
• A brief quotation from:
– An authoritative figure in the field.
– A famous person not generally associated with the
field (Abraham Lincoln on waste management).
Making Your Presentation Stand Out
Make it relevant
• What does your topic contribute to your field?
• Does it address an important topic related to
the conference or publication?
• What is your topic’s significance?
Making Your Presentation Stand Out
Emphasize novelty or uniqueness
• What is new or unique in your topic?
• Do you present a new concept, perspective, or
approach?
• How broadly might this interest people?
• How timely is it?
• How can you make your presentation reflect
your subject’s novelty, uniqueness, timeliness,
and so on?
Making Your Presentation Stand Out
Show how your topic is realistic
• Can others use this in other contexts?
• Does it scale up or down?
• Is it economically, culturally, or geographically
dependent?
• Does your approach solve the stated problems?
• Is it sustainable?
Making Your Presentation Stand Out
Address social impact
• How broad an effect do the problems or
solutions have on people or places?
• How would they benefit from your solution?
• Did you consider broader issues such as
political, human rights, gender, language,
disability, or so on?
Making Your Presentation Stand Out
Look to the future
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What happens next?
If this goes on….
If we are fully funded….
Recommendations.
Requests.
The Art of the Stand-Out Talk
Sample presentations