2.  Know your Audience
 Make it Clear!
 The Heart of the Matter: Sharp Figures &
Pretty Pictures
 Prepare & Practice
 Zzzzzz …
 How You Say it Matters
 Not Compatible?
 Closure

3.  In your field - can jump in with brief background;
non-experts - need more set-up
 Purpose of your talk (Convince? Update? Teach?)
 Communicate with your audience
* size matters
* formal vs. discussion format
 Convey your enthusiasm about your work
 Don’t talk over their heads; don’t talk down to them

4. OUTLINE FIRST!!
 Controls number of slides & provides balance
- Budget 2-3 minutes/slide (e.g. 30’ talk = 10-15
slides)
 Have one story to tell:
- decide on underlying issue to be addressed
- divide into logical, heirarchical subquestions
- talk should be series of answers to these questions
 Zoom-In (intro) and Zoom-Out (closure)

5.  Style & format
- use color to highlight & organize
- be consistent (audience knows where to look)
 Read through presentation and see if main points
stand-out
- Heading = WHAT or HOW
- Summary statement = CONCLUSION
 “Speaker Support”
- It doesn’t carry you -- you are the focus
- It supports your message

6.  Science talk vs. murder mystery -- don’t
keep you’re audience hanging!
 Know the fuzzy borders between
experimental evidence and speculation
(affects how you formulate your sentences)
 One concept per slide
- cluster examples rather than moving through
series too quickly
 Make sure you can be heard!
Frustrate your audience & you lose them!

7.  Clear title
 Highlight particular areas/words
 Don’t crowd with too much info
 Give credit where credit due
- reference published data; borrowed
figures

8. Show bad
showing a lot of unreadable info “for
effect” - bad!
if it can’t be read -- it’s a waste & it annoys
audience

9. Show bad

10. GOOD
(some showmanship here)

11. GOOD
Use one of Jen’s figure slides color-coded
parts, etc.

12. Timing (how many slides & length of talk)
Memorize intro and first few lines
Beware of overpracticing
* Don’t memorize entire talk -- stiff &
BORING!!
* 1X = 10-fold improvement
* 2X = twice as good
* 3X = polish

13.  Talk to your audience
(eye contact, conversational style)
 Engage your audience by asking
questions
 Keep it interesting:
- share interesting tidbits
- give unique examples/analogies
- humor disturbs slumber
 Tiny type kills (use at least 18 point font ... ?)
If you’re bored, you’re audience is
snoring!

14. VERBAL SKILLS
 Slow down!
 Don’t read your
slides - use as cues
 Vary voice tone
(conversational)
 Genuine
enthusiasm
 SPEAK-UP
BODY LANGUAGE
 Eye contact
 Stand straight -
breathe
 Don’t overgesture
with pointer, etc.
 Face your
audience

15. Ask ahead of time what equipment
provided:
- overhead projector vs. Powerpoint
What format used:
- PC vs. Mac?
What type of disk acceptable:
- floppy vs. Zip 100, Zip 250?
Emergency back-ups:
- overheads

16.  Summary of conclusions
 Zoom-out (relevance or application of
your work)
 Next steps (if appropriate)
 Acknowledgements

17. 1. Know your audience & their needs
2. Tell them a clear story developing each point upon the
previous
3. Show them the evidence (sharp figures)
4. Keep them awake by engaging them
5. Give them great delivery -- prepare, practice &
SPEAK-UP!
6. Share your enthusiasm for your work
7. Sell your message with a strong summary of
conclusions
Most importantly - Have