tips on doing oral presentations

Master on Free Software

A Few Random Tips on Doing Oral Presentations


Random Tip

First of all, obtain a chance to present a paper


Random Tip

You may need to write an abstract for your talk

http://lero.ie/Events/Talks/2007/TeoRomera.html

http://lero.ie/Events/Talks/2007/TeoRomera.html


Random Tip

Write your own slides


Random Tip

Start with: This was the problem.

Finish with: This is the solution.


Random Tip

Do not cite the literature too much

(probably at all)


Random Tip

Do not explain your methodology too much

(probably at all)


Random Tip

Do not exceed your time limit

Focus in one key idea


Random Tip

Go slow at the beginning

Speed up if you need it at the end


Random Tip

Rehearse your presentation to get to know how long it takes and what is the right pace


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Stay aware of the time during your presentation


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Deliver clearly, look at the audience keep your hands off your pockets


Random Tip

Stage fright?

Prepare well

Keep in mind that they are interested colleagues


Random Tip

In most scientific meetings slides are mandatory

Do not count on having a blackboard available


Random Tip

Design slides for oral presentations


Random Tip

Do not borrow graphics from the paper. Make new ones for the slides.


Random Tip

All the slides in this presentation are very light, in the sense that they do not have long paragraphs on them. This is good mainly because long slides are often boring and seldom read. But particularly

in this presentation it is perfectly arguably that most of the slides are indeed too short. So keep in

mind that probably the best slide is one without long paragraphs but maybe with 3 o 4 short

sentences. If you cannot understand a slide in 4 seconds... it is a bad slide!


Random Tip

Choose graphs over tables when possible


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Do not read the slide... ever


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The audience in the presentation will be more diverse that the readers of your paper


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Try to be ready for questions, ask your colleagues for a rehearsal and feedback


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It is ok to disagree but try not to be disagreeable


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If someone is rude, stay calm and courteous.


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If someone is tiresome, offer her to talk later


Random Tip

If someone is dull, try to deflect to something you want to talk about


Random Tip

If you do not know the answer, just admit it


Random Tip

What did you like the most of this presentation?

What did you like the least?

tips on doing oral presentations

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