SCI10010 Principles of Scientific Enquiry

Making Presentations

Prepared by Prof. Mark Rogers

Objective

· To address the question

· To provide tips and illustrate good and bad practice

“What makes a good presentation?”

Outline

· Target audience· Preparation· Planning· Key points· Use of slides

Define the audience

· Who is the audience?· Why are they there?· Are they knowledgeable in the

subject?

Preparation

· Source the information· Literature· Internet – reliable sources

· Keep a record of where you found the information

· Source the presentation aids· Pictures, charts, graphs

· Aid explanation· Maintain interest

Searching for information

· What’s known about your problem?· What’s not known about the

problem?

· Use appropriate sources· Text books· Research papers· Sources that are reliable, independent

and reviewed· Can include web sites

Searching for Information

· Huge amount of information· Learn how to read to find key articles and

points· Use Databases effectively

· Workshop to come· Can use text books and reviews to

find primary work· Where possible go to the original work

http://www.ucd.ie/libraryhttp://www.ucd.ie/library/students/information_skills

Online Information Sources

· Good· Libraries

· Databases· Catalogues· Journals· Text books

· Books· Journals· Websites from reputable societies

· Universities· Government· Charities

http://www.ucd.ie/library

Online Information Sources

· Bad· Wikipedia

· Readers can edit entries· Limited control on accuracy of information

· Beware of Google or other search engines

· Often get commercial sites / uncontrolled sites with their own agenda

Search Strategy· Define the topic

· Develop key search terms· What sources of information are appropriate?· Obtain search materials· Quickly scan initial information

· Does it contain relevant information?· Does it provide further material in its references?

· Read, take good notes, copy and print material· Keep track of all sources as you use them

· Organise the information· Organise your thoughts and interpretation· Prepare report and presentation

Using Information

· Don’t· Plagiarise

· Copying text as ones own· Using others ideas without proper reference

· Use information without purpose· Just because you know it or find it interesting

doesn’t make it relevant to your presentation

Using Information

· Do:· Use relevant information· Identify key studies· Critically evaluate the material· Justify your analysis and discussions· Use illustrations and figures where

appropriate

Source the Presentation Aids

· Will you talk without visual aids?· Not typical in science

· Gather· Pictures

· Plan and prepare· Figures and Charts

· Usually need to be prepared or adapted for slide use

· Ensure you reference your sources

Plan the talk

· What are the key points?· List in order of importance

· What background information is required to provide the context

The Structure

· Introduction

· Body

· Summary

· Conclusions

· Acknowledgements

· Questions

Time line (20 Min talk)

2-5 mins

3-8 mins

1-2 mins

1-2 mins

5 mins

30 seconds

Oral Presentations for Tutorials & Seminars. The learning Centre, The University of New South Wales © 2010

Introduction

· An introduction is like a road map that tells your audience the direction your presentation will take.· State your topic and tell the audience

what your presentation will cover.· Outline the main points.

· A good introduction will capture an audience’s attention

· Ask questions – personalise the subject

Oral Presentations for Tutorials & Seminars. The learning Centre, The University of New South Wales © 2010

Body

· Develop main points and present examples and evidence· The information needs to be well-structured

· Decide on an organising principle. It could be by chronological order, theme or order of importance

· Provide clear links between main points, explanations and examples

· Use visual aids to engage the interest

· Emphasise important information

Oral Presentations for Tutorials & Seminars. The learning Centre, The University of New South Wales © 2010

Summary and Conclusion

· Chance to draw arguments together· Summarise up to 3 main points

· State conclusion· Should be strong· Draw the talk to an end· Refer back to introduction

· Covered all main points

Oral Presentations for Tutorials & Seminars. The learning Centre, The University of New South Wales © 2010

Questions· Be prepared for questions· Do:

· Think about the questions you may be asked· Get friends to ask questions

· Don’t:· Panic if you don’t know the answer

· You can’t know it all· Assume the questioner knows the answer· Assume the question is a test of your

knowledge· The question may come out of interest

Visual Aids

· They increase understanding.· They save time.· They enhance retention.· They promote attentiveness.· They help control nervousness.

Types of Visual Aids

· Physical objects, props and models. · White boards.· Charts and posters.· Flip charts.· Overhead transparencies.· Computer presentations, e.g. Powerpoint.

Using Visual aids

· Illustrate something that is difficult or time consuming to describe

· Show reality in ways that words alone cannot (photographs, plans, maps)

· Summarise information· Add colour and interest to a ‘dry’

topic· Visuals can include PowerPoint slides,

OHTs, white/black boards or videos.

Using PowerPoint in Oral Presentations. Tracey-Lee Downey, The Learning Centre, The University of New South Wales © 2007.

Making Powerpoint Presentation

Tips for Using Powerpoint Effectively

Tips to be Covered

· Outline

· Slide Structure

· Text (Font and Colour)

· Background (Colour)

· Data Presentation (Graphs)

· Spelling and Grammar

Outline

· The first or second slide should be an outline of your presentation.· Eg.: Previous slide.

· Follow the order of your outline for the rest of the presentation.

· Use only main points.

Slide Structure – Good

· Use 1-2 slides per minute of your presentation.

· Write in point form, not complete sentences.

· Include maximum 5-6 points per slide.

· Avoid making slides too wordy, i.e. use key words and phrases only.

Slide Structure - Bad

· This page contains too many words for a presentation slide. It is not written in point form, making it difficult both for your audience to read and for you to present each point. Although there are exactly the same number of points on this slide as the previous slide, it looks much more complicated. In short, your audience will spend too much time trying to read this paragraph instead of listening to you.

Slide Structure

· Do not use distracting animation.

· Do not go overboard with the animation.

· Be consistent with the animation that you use.

Text Font - Good

· Use at least a 20-point font.

· Use different size fonts for main points and secondary points.· Eg.: this font is 24-point, the main point font is

28-point, and the title font is 32-point.

· Use a standard font like Arial or Times New Roman. · Font used here is Verdana

Text Font - Bad

· If you use a small font, your audience won’t be able to read what you have written

· CAPITALIZE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ

· Don’t use a complicated font

Text Colour - Good

· Use a font colour that contrasts sharply with the background.· Eg.: blue font on white background.

· Use colour to reinforce the logic of your structure.· Eg.: light blue title and dark blue text.

· Use colour to emphasize a point.· But only occasionally.

Text Colour - Bad

· Using a font colour that does not contrast with the background colour is hard to read.

· Using colour for decoration is distracting and annoying.

· Using a different colour for each point is unnecessary.· Using a different colour for secondary points is

also unnecessary.

· Trying to be creative can also be bad.

Slide Background - Good

· Use backgrounds such as this one that are attractive but simple.

· Use backgrounds which are light.

· Use the same background consistently throughout your presentation.

Slide Background – Bad

Avoid backgrounds that are distracting or difficult to read from.

Always be consistent with the background that you use.

Data Presentation - Good

· Use graphs rather than raw data.· Data presented in graph format is easier to

comprehend and retain.

· Trends are easier to visualize in graph form.

· Always title your graphs.

Data Presentation

January February March AprilBlue Balls 20.4 27.4 90 20.4Red Balls 30.6 38.6 34.6 31.6

Bad

0

20

40

60

80

100

January February March April

Items Sold in First Quarter of 2008

Blue Balls

Red Balls

Good

Graphs - Bad

20.4

27.4

90

20.4

30.6

38.6

34.631.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

January February March April

Blue Balls

Red Balls

Graphs - Bad

· Minor gridlines are unnecessary.· Small font – is hard to read.· Illogical colours – make hard to

interpret the data presented in the graph.

· Missing title.· Shading is distracting.

Spelling and Grammar

· Proof your slides for:· spelling mistakes,

· the use of of repeated words,

· grammatical errors you might have make.

· Always have someone else proof read your presentation

made.

Recommendations I

· Rehearsal:· Rehearse the presentation out loud at

least four times and at least once in front of live audience, e.g. friends, family, partner.

· Rehearse against the clock.· Word perfect.· Video or voice record yourself.

Recommendations II

· How to engage audience:· Draw the audience into your

presentation, eg. ask questions, create a discussion.

· Use active phraseology, eg. I, We, You.· Include relevant examples.· Body talk:

· communicate; eye contact and facial expressions,

· interested, clear, well modulated voice,· active body movements.

Recommended Reading and Websites

Reading:1. Siddons Suzy, 1942, “Presentation Skills”, Institute of personnel and development, c 1998, ISBN

0852927436. UCD Library, Location: James Joyce, Shelfmark: Pamphlet Collection 656.3/IPD.

2. Tierney Elizabeth P., 1996, “How to make effective presentations”, Thousand Oaks, Series Survival Skills for Scholars, volume 16, ISBN: 0803959575. UCD Library, Location: James Joyce, Shelfmark: Development Studies 658.452/TIE, GEN 658.45/TIE, SLC 658.45/TIE.

3. Chivers Barbara and Shoolbred Michael, 2007, “A student guide to presentations: making your presentation count”, Los Angeles, London, SAGE essential study skills, ISBN 9780761943686 (hbk), 0761943684 (hbk), 978076193693 (pbk) and 0761943692 (pbk). UCD Library, Location: James Joyce: Shelfmark: GEN 808.51/CHI, GEN 808.51/CHI.

4. Van Emden Joan and Becker Lucinda, 2004, “Presentation skills for students”, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmilian study guides, ISBN 1403913463. UCD Library, Location: James Joyce, Shelfmark: Development studies 658.452/VAN and GEN 658.452/VAN.

5. Hart, C., 1998, “Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination”, Published by SAGE, ISBN 0761959750, 978076195975.

Websites:http://www.llas.ac.uk/resources/mb/2722 (this link contains a video lecture)