The document discusses effective and ineffective uses of slides in lectures. It notes that while bullet points and outlines are commonly used, they are not always the best way to communicate complex topics. Quotes provide perspectives on using text slides to highlight key concepts and sequences versus frustrating audiences. The slides also touch on themes of arousing audience interest at the start and fulfilling their expectations.

1. lecture slides

3. Photograph: typeweight

5. “ Scientists and engineers - and everyone else for that
ma er - have communicated about complex ma ers
”
for centuries without hierarchical bullet outlines.
—Edward Tu e

12. “ Slides of text (outlines, lists, sentences) make up 75%
of all visuals. An effective text slide can highlight
important concepts, sequences; poorly designed text
slides can frustrate and confuse the audience.
”

13. “ Bullet points lack agency.”
—Edward Tu e

14. Photograph: Bob Daemmrich

16. Photograph: Russ Campbell

17. Photograph: hi hatswitch

18. “ I think people have to
stand up and say,
you know, you’re an idiot.”
—Scientist

19. Kenichiro Mogi and the wonder of science

22. I’m really ashamed to
This is really interesting,
show you all this.
isn’t it?
This is the Holy Grail of
neuroscientists today.
The great ocean of truth
is always before us.

24. audience
slides

25. Outline
• Introduction
• Statement of problem
• Data
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion

27. How long can you expect to keep
your audience’s attention?

29. Photograph: Tamás Mészáros

30. “ In jazz, in the jazz club, a soloist is allowed maybe
three or four verses to warm up his solo, so he
makes this organic curve, and he’s allowed to
wander around and find this avenue and then
je ison that and go somewhere else.
-- Sting ”

31. “ In rock music,
you have to burn from the first bar.
”
-- Sting

33. “ When it comes to mass communications, it’s as
simple as two things: arouse and fulfill.
You need to first arouse your audience and get
them interested in what you have to say; then
”
you need to fulfill their expectations.
—Tom Hollihan

34. What is
science?

35. Charles Anderson Dragonflies that cross oceans

36. What’s the main question or theme?
Are there ‘mysteries’ that arouse your interest?
Is there a strong take-away point?
Are any of these ideas ‘sticky’?

37. Outline
•
•
•
X
O
Introduction
Statement of problem
Data
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion

38. “reverse-engineer” the structure

41. Photograph: abbey*christine

42. Exercise!
Write a haiku that encapsulates the main idea
of one of your research projects.

43. 5
7
5

45. Photograph: Dave Meko

48. trees thirst for water.
if their roots drink from summer,
another tale told.