scientific writing/ presentation skills

Scientific Writing/Presentation Skills

Dipl. Ök. Jens K. Perret, M.Sc.

Schumpeter School ofBusiness and EconomicsBergische Universität WuppertalGaußstraße 20 42097 Wuppertal

| 25. April 2013 | Perret / Udalov | Folie 2 |

Contents

• Scientific WritingThesis

• Presentation Skills

• Literature and Data


Scientific Writing

Thesis


Scientific WritingThesis

• Title Page• Introduction• Main part• Conclusions• Lists• Appendix

• Citations


Overall Design

• Length 15 pages, not including:

– Title Page

– Contents

– Any lists or Bibliography / References

– Appendix

• Font: Times New Roman or similar

• Font Size: 12 Point

• Line Spacing: 1,5

• Margins: 2,5 cm left / right2,0 cm top / bottom


Title Page

• Contains:

– First Name, Surname (of all participants)

– Info on who wrote which parts

– Immatriculation Nummer

– Title of the lecture

– Title of the thesis

– Submission Date

– Name of the lecturer

– Semester


Introduction

• Length approx. 2 pages• Motivation of the main topic• Suitable introduction:

– What is interesting in the topic?– Why has the topic been selected?– Why has the topic been selected as it is?– Which are the main goals of the thesis?

• Structure of the thesis:– What has been done?– What has not been done?– Why has it been done?– What is the structure of the thesis?


Introduction

• Relevance of the topic• Research Question• Objects of interest• Research Goals• Hypotheses• Plan• Methods• Novelty of the research• Motivation


Main part

• Discussion and analysis

• All topics introduced in the introduction are discussed here

• Possible divisions:

– Definitions Theory Empirics

– Literature Review Theory Empirics

– Pro Discussion Contra Discussion

– Definitions Problem Solutions


Conclusions

• Summary of the research findings

– The conclusions part does not contain new insights

• Comparison with the goals stated in the introduction

• Show posibilities to take action (Policy Options)

– Which problems arise from recent politics?

– What should policy makers do?

• Open Research Questions


Lists

• Contents

• Bibliography / References

• List of tables

• List of figures

• Lists of symbols

• List of abbreviations


Contents

• Titles of all chapters and sub-chapters of the thesis

• Sensible numbering:

• Every chapter is numbered

• Page numbering:

• Roman numerals before and after the main part of thethesis (lists)

• Arabic numerals in the main text

• Contains neither the title page nor itself


Bibliography / References

• Contains all sources used in the thesis• Contains only the sources used in the thesis• Entries need to be sorted alphabetically• Entries should match the citation style

– Consistent citation style• A numbering and arrangement according to the type of source is

optional• Consistent format:

– Names (Year), Title, Publisher, Place of Pub, Edition, (Pages)– Names (Year), Title, Journal, Issue, Pages– Names (Year), Title, URL


Citation style

• All ideas and data taken from anywhere else need to be markedby citing their source

• A broad range of citation styles exist:

– Decision on one citation style

– Consistent use of the selected citation style

– The citation style needs to match the references

• Examples:

– „Cited Text“ (Name, Year, Pages)

– „Cited Text“ (Name1/Name2, Year, Pages)

– …. Name (Year)


Appendix

• Contains:

– Additional information

– Detailled descriptions

– Large data sets

• Databases do not need to be included

– (Additional) Tables and figures

– Mathematical proofs and deductions

– Laws

– Internet source

• Can be added to the thesis on a CD


Presentation Skills


Overall Rules

• Take the presentation serious

• Prepare the presentation for the audience

• Always have a plan B

• Get to know your environment

• There are not boring topics only different ways of presenting them

• Work on a topic unless it becomes interesting

• Fulfill expectations


Overall Rules

• People perceive information in different ways:

– Visual Perception (60%)

– Auditiv Perception (30%)

– Fictitious (Semantic) Perception (10%)

• Combine visual and auditiv signals


Formal Structure

• Title Page:

– Analogous to the thesis (Name, Immatriculationnumber, Title of the lecture, Title of the presentation, Date

• Introduction: (10-15% of the time)

– (Effective Introduction)

– Greeting

– Presentation of the topic

– Definition of problems

– Make additional information available (Hand-Outs)

– Overview over the presentation (Motivation)


Formal Structure

• Main part: (75 – 85% of the time)

– Presentation of facts

• Structure similar to the thesis

– Presentation of theoretical models

– Explanations

– Arguments

– Examples

– Refutations


Formal Structure

• End: (5 – 10% of the time)

– Summary of the presentation (if time > 15 minutes)

– Conclusions and outlook

– Leave-taking (Put a definitive end to the presentation)

– Invitation to start the discussion


Presentation Design

• Color Schemes (Black-White, Red-Green, Similar Colors)

• Gradual buildup

• Animations and sounds only in rare cases

• Use of a legible font (Type, Style, Size)

• Consistent design


Tools of Presentation

• How to transfer the content?

– PowerPoint

– Projector

– Black Board

– White Board

– Flip Chart

– Pin Board

– Hand Out

More interaction possible


PowerPoint

• Color Schemes: White, blue, red, creme, black• Fonts without serifs: Arial, Calibri, ComicSans MS• Big Font Sizes: 24 Points

• Thick Lines: 2 Points

• Consistent discreet layout and design

• Use tabulators

• Simple animations

• No overstuffed slides (ideally 7 rows)

• Plan two to three minutes per slide

• Hyperlinks


Black Board, White Board etc.

• Use of colors (e.g. colored chalk)

• Large letters

• Keep the middle part of the letters big

• Take three steps back to read

• Keep a steady pose

• Flip Chart: Use a pencil to pre-write the text. During the presentation use a marker


Hand-Outs

• To the point (No additional pictures)

• Headwords

• Advantages:

– Audience can keep notes

– Definitions, Models, important facts are always available

– Suitable to prepare a discussion

– Nice gesture

• If PowerPoint slides are distributed, use a simple design


Reminder Cards

• Headwords, no full sentences

• Mark keywords

• Number the cards

• Small cards are usually better (Maximum A6)

• Something to hold on to

• Do not forget to switch cards


Critical Aspects

• Well-rested? Practised the presentation?

• Suitable outfit?

• Mobile phone switched off?

• Watch / Clock (Someone to remember the time) available?

• Pointer / Laserpointer (Laserpointer only in larger rooms)?

• Own markers, chalk, laptop available?

• Slides for the projector available, sorted and numbered?

• Cards available, sorted and numbered?

• Enough (sorted) Hand Outs available?

• Something to drink?

• Been to the toilet?


Critical Aspects

Name / End

Eye Contact

Pronounciation

Smiling

Mimic

Hands / Gestures

Stress

Stable Stance

Voice / Intonation

Structure

Time-Management

Technical organization & competence

Handwriting

Available media

Content

Foreign words

Short Sentences

„ähm, hmm“ and other fill-in words


Critical Aspecte

• Hold the pointer steady with closed hands

• No laserpointer in small rooms

• Time problems? Use friends for remembrance

• Give room to think

• Formal adress

• Anecdotes


Mishaps

• To avoid mishaps beforehand:

– Take the presentation serious

– Practise the presentation

– Keep a plan B

– Get aquainted with the location

• If something happens:

– Keep going on

– Nonchalance


Data- and Literature


Types of data

• Numerical Data:– Cross-sectional data

e.g. different countries in one year– Time series data

e.g. one country over different years– Panel data

e.g. different countries over different years• Non-nummerical data

– Qualitative datae.g. answers to interview questions

– Alphanummerical datae.g. street numbers


Forms of Literature

• Books

• Journals

• Working and Discussion Papers

• Law Texts (Primary Sources)

• Internet pages (reliable)

• Other forms of official publications(e.g. from firms)

• Articles from daily or weekly papers

• Other forms of unofficially publications

+Reliability-

Use as muchas possible

Use as littleas possible


Literature Sourcing

• Find one basis book or article

• Scan the references and mark related articles

• Get the related articles

• Search the library, journals, authors for related topics

• Search the internet for related topics:

– http://scholar.google.com


Thank you for

your attention!

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