Academic CommunicationAcademic CommunicationLesson 3Lesson 3

1.1. Pick up one handout from the Pick up one handout from the front desk. (You will also need the front desk. (You will also need the handout “Strategy & Checklist…”)handout “Strategy & Checklist…”)

2.2. Please sit in pairs. You need Please sit in pairs. You need exactly one partner.exactly one partner.

Course Website: Course Website: staff.ustc.edu.cn/~acadcomstaff.ustc.edu.cn/~acadcom

Summarizing your PaperSummarizing your Paper

As specified in last week’s homework, for As specified in last week’s homework, for this lesson you need a print-out of the this lesson you need a print-out of the paper you will present for your final exam. paper you will present for your final exam. If you do not have one with you, think back If you do not have one with you, think back to a paper you have read recently.to a paper you have read recently.Prepare a summary of your paper:Prepare a summary of your paper:– answers to 5 questionsanswers to 5 questions– plus extra as you wantplus extra as you want

must be must be exactlyexactly 5 minutes long! 5 minutes long!

5-minute summary of Exam Paper5-minute summary of Exam PaperSometime during your summary, answer these:Sometime during your summary, answer these:1.1. What is the research field and research area of What is the research field and research area of

this result?this result?2.2. Is it experimental, theoretical, simulation, Is it experimental, theoretical, simulation,

discovery…?discovery…?3.3. In one sentence, what is the result?In one sentence, what is the result?4.4. What is What is newnew about the result? about the result?5.5. Why is the result Why is the result significantsignificant? (i.e. Why should ? (i.e. Why should

we care about the result?)we care about the result?)

When presenting your summary, you may point at When presenting your summary, you may point at tables and diagrams in the paper.tables and diagrams in the paper.

Your presentation must be Your presentation must be exactlyexactly 5 minutes long 5 minutes long

How can you get good timing?How can you get good timing?PlanPlan times as you prepare times as you prepare – important or complicated things get more timeimportant or complicated things get more time– simple things get less timesimple things get less time

Time yourself as you talkTime yourself as you talk– Know if you are going too slowly or too quickly.Know if you are going too slowly or too quickly.

Have extra material readyHave extra material ready – if you need to use more timeif you need to use more time

Decide what you could leave out or how Decide what you could leave out or how you could say parts in a shorter way you could say parts in a shorter way – if you are running out of timeif you are running out of time

Checklist Part 2A: Main PointsChecklist Part 2A: Main Points

From 1F (pattern of organization) From 1F (pattern of organization)

you have the basic pointsyou have the basic points

2A: Think more carefully2A: Think more carefully

State the points as best you can in one State the points as best you can in one sentence or phrase eachsentence or phrase each

Checklist Item 2B: Working OutlineChecklist Item 2B: Working Outline

Start simpleStart simple

Add details as you develop your Add details as you develop your presentationpresentation

Eventually this will be a detailed planning Eventually this will be a detailed planning outline with timing includedoutline with timing included

Working Outline Top InfoWorking Outline Top InfoLook at the example on the handout.Look at the example on the handout.For homework assignment you For homework assignment you mustmust give: give:

TitleTitleAuthor(s) & Affiliation(s)Author(s) & Affiliation(s)– Who did the research? Where was it done?Who did the research? Where was it done?

Source: Source: – the journal name (or other source, e.g. “my lab”)the journal name (or other source, e.g. “my lab”)– the date this research was done or publishedthe date this research was done or published

Central Idea: One sentence as specified in our Central Idea: One sentence as specified in our lesson last week.lesson last week.Pattern of Organization: Pattern of Organization: State the nameState the name of the of the pattern. Explain if needed.pattern. Explain if needed.

Working Outline: Bottom partWorking Outline: Bottom part

Copy points into this template:Copy points into this template:

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

2.2. BodyBodya.a. <point 1><point 1>

b.b. <point 2><point 2>

<possibly other points as chosen in 1F and 2A; <possibly other points as chosen in 1F and 2A; the body should have 2, 3, or 4 points>the body should have 2, 3, or 4 points>

3.3. ConclusionConclusion

Example:Example:

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

2.2. BodyBodya. Zircon crystals and uranium-lead datinga. Zircon crystals and uranium-lead dating

b. Oxygen isotope ratiosb. Oxygen isotope ratios

c. Rounded surfacesc. Rounded surfaces

3.3. ConclusionConclusion

Add some detail to Intro & ConcAdd some detail to Intro & Conc (Homework: top info plus this level of detail) (Homework: top info plus this level of detail)

1.1. IntroductionIntroductiona.a. Previous best modelPrevious best modelb.b. Zircon crystalsZircon crystals

2.2. BodyBodya. Zircon crystals and uranium-lead datinga. Zircon crystals and uranium-lead datingb. Oxygen isotope ratiosb. Oxygen isotope ratiosc. Rounded surfacesc. Rounded surfaces

3.3. ConclusionConclusiona.a. Review: Zircons reliably dated to 4.4 byaReview: Zircons reliably dated to 4.4 byab.b. Earth suitable for life earlierEarth suitable for life earlier

Checklist 2C: Collect Info, Wording, Checklist 2C: Collect Info, Wording, & Ways to Explain Things& Ways to Explain Things

Keep in mind: you may need extra Keep in mind: you may need extra information to use in answering questionsinformation to use in answering questions

Find simple explanations of complex stuff Find simple explanations of complex stuff in encyclopedias (e.g. on Internet) and in encyclopedias (e.g. on Internet) and middle-school textbooks. middle-school textbooks.

Don’t worry if you’re not sure where info Don’t worry if you’re not sure where info will fit into your outlinewill fit into your outline

Checklist Section 3A, 3BChecklist Section 3A, 3B

3A: (Reminder) Update your working outline 3A: (Reminder) Update your working outline as you goas you go

3B: Decide on timing for points in your 3B: Decide on timing for points in your working outlineworking outline

Plan!Plan!

More time for important/complexMore time for important/complex

Less time for simple pointsLess time for simple points

Decide Time:Decide Time:

1.1. [2:15] Introduction[2:15] Introduction

2.2. [5:30] Body[5:30] Bodya. [2:30] Zircon crystals and uranium-lead a. [2:30] Zircon crystals and uranium-lead

datingdating

b. [2:00] Oxygen isotope ratiosb. [2:00] Oxygen isotope ratios

c. [1:00] Rounded surfacesc. [1:00] Rounded surfaces

3.3. [1:15] Conclusion[1:15] Conclusion

Work on Your Working OutlineWork on Your Working Outline

Decide on pattern Decide on pattern – Experiment? Discovery? Problem Solution? …Experiment? Discovery? Problem Solution? …

Fill in bottom part of Working OutlineFill in bottom part of Working Outline– main points in phrases or sentencesmain points in phrases or sentences

Decide on Timing for Decide on Timing for – Introduction sectionIntroduction section– Each body pointEach body point– Conclusion sectionConclusion section

HomeworkHomeworkWrite a working outline for your talkWrite a working outline for your talk

Email it to your teacher. (See course website Email it to your teacher. (See course website to get your teacher’s email address.)to get your teacher’s email address.)

Required:Required:

Top info: Title, author(s), affiliation(s), source, Top info: Title, author(s), affiliation(s), source, date of publicationdate of publication, central idea sentence, , central idea sentence, pattern of organizationpattern of organization

At least the “a., b., …” level for Intro, Body, and At least the “a., b., …” level for Intro, Body, and Conclusion sections, plus timing for 3 sections Conclusion sections, plus timing for 3 sections

– For points, you may use phrases or full sentences For points, you may use phrases or full sentences (your choice)(your choice)

Homework: top info plus Homework: top info plus this level of detail in the bottom infothis level of detail in the bottom info

1.1. Introduction [2:15]Introduction [2:15]a.a. Previous best modelPrevious best modelb.b. Zircon crystalsZircon crystals

2.2. Body [5:30]Body [5:30]a. Zircon crystals and uranium-lead datinga. Zircon crystals and uranium-lead datingb. Oxygen isotope ratiosb. Oxygen isotope ratiosc. Rounded surfacesc. Rounded surfaces

3.3. Conclusion [1:15]Conclusion [1:15]a.a. Review: Zircons reliably dated 4.4 byaReview: Zircons reliably dated 4.4 byab.b. Earth suitable for life earlierEarth suitable for life earlier

Your Working Outline must include Your Working Outline must include a good Central Idea sentence!a good Central Idea sentence!

The central idea sentence is part of the The central idea sentence is part of the “Top info” for a Working Outline“Top info” for a Working Outline

– one good sentence 20-40 words longone good sentence 20-40 words long– Check carefully for spelling and grammar.Check carefully for spelling and grammar.– Choose your words well and you will be able Choose your words well and you will be able

to say this statement of your central idea in to say this statement of your central idea in your actual exam presentation.your actual exam presentation.