How to give a (good) presentation Week 3 Tutorial First, structure - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

How to give a (good) presentation

Week 3 Tutorial

First, structure for your presentations:

• Condensed versions of the paper.

Research Paper:

• Question. Argument. Evidence. Conclusion.

Policy Brief:

• Scenario. Proposal. Evidence. Conclusion.
• Be succinct. Get to the point. Convince the

audience (me!).

Structure for most other presentations:

• Why is this important?
• What am I doing to address this thing?
• Why am I right?
• What do we need to do in the future?
• Same idea. Be succinct. Get to the point.

Convince the audience.

The DON’Ts of presentations….

...be boring

...be confusing

...read off the slides

• Reading off the slides is a bad idea.
• When you read, your voice becomes very

monotone and boring. The audience is liable to fall asleep.

• Reading off the slides is also a sign that

you’re not prepared.

• Remember, you’re trying to show that you

know your stuff here

• Reading does not project confidence and
• knowledge. It projects a lack of preparation.

No one is going to read this

There’s way too much text here. Don’t even try to keep reading. Your audience won’t. If they try...guess what!? They’re not listening to what you’re saying. Soon they’ll get tired of trying to read this, stop paying attention altogether and then out comes the phone/laptop and you’ve lost them. They’re in e-mail land for the rest of your talk. They remember you as that boring person that put up a giant slide. I mean right now, if you’re trying to read this slide you have no idea what I’m saying any more, I’ve completely lost you (it better be the first time!) and soon you’ll quit and you’re on Facebook. “Look someone posted a link to a Buzzfeed article! 25 signs you’re a college student...this list speaks to me so much, especially numbers 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 23, 25. Oh look, a cute cat picture to the side, I’ll click on that! Oh, 56 of the world’s cutest cats, I love them all! Now over to Reddit. What!? That guy’s story is crazy! No way it’s true. Let’s see what the comments say. All 2,629 of them...wait, the lecture’s over...wonder what that was all about.” And that’s why you always leave a note!

...or this, Bill.

... blind people

• PowerPoint can be your enemy.
• The audience should focus on you.
• Distracting designs are distracting.
• Simple is best.

...go over time

• Aggravates audience, even if captive.
• Aggregates other presenters.
• Aggravates timekeeper.

○ Usually old guy you want to impress.

• Signals you’re not prepared.

Now, some DOs.

• The beginning is the most important part.

Now, some DOs.

• The beginning is the most important part.
• Capture the audience. Get to the point.

Now, some DOs.

• The beginning is the most important part.
• Capture the audience. Get to the point.
• Clear progression from problem to solution.

Now, some DOs.

• The beginning is the most important part.
• Capture the audience. Get to the point.
• Clear progression from problem to solution.
• Graphs > Tables > Words

Introductions...

• ...should be short and sweet.
• Audience doesn’t need too much

background.

• Same goes for other people’s research.

Good Slide Design

• Large font size
• Succinct outline.
• No complete sentences. One line. One bullet.
• Keep distractions to a minimum.

Good Slide Design

• Large font size
• Succinct outline.
• No complete sentences. One line. One bullet.
• Keep distractions to a minimum.

Good Slide Design

• Large font size
• Succinct outline.
• No complete sentences. One line. One bullet.
• Keep distractions to a minimum.

Tables are good...

...until they’re not

Graphs >>>>> Tables

But...don’t go crazy

You’ll be graded on:

• Preparation (no reading!)
• Organization
• Clarity
• Poise (eye contact!)

Most important thing...

PRACTICE!!!