BIOLOGY 580 Discussion Section

DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Morrill 349, Monday, 1:25-2:15, Spring 1997

Oral presentations

• 1. Write out an outline of the entire talk beforehand.
  • -Like every other type of encapsulated presentation, your talk needs a TITLE. The title is usually what attracts interested people to your talk!
  • -Plot out specific ideas to be presented as complete sentences.
  • -Revise the outline of sentences looking toward transitions.
  • -Remenber, spoken language can not be as complicated as written language. The ideas you present should be in simple or compound sentences but without to many subordinate clauses.
  • -Like an essay, a talk should have functional introduction, body and conclusions.
• 2. Never read the prepared talk to the audience!
  • -Read material will quickly lose your audiences attention.
  • -Speak from notes of key concepts that suggest the sentences you wish to present.
  • -Once you practice the talk a few times your notes will remind you of effective sentences.
  • -An effective talk strikes a balance of carefully structured wording with spontaneous delivery.
• 3. Observe your time limit! Taking time away from other speakers is frowned upon.
  • -Time your delivery of the talk with a stop watch.
  • -Nervousness may cause you to speak too quickly. Practice will allow you to become calm and use an unhurried pace. Make a conscious effort to avoid uninformative words like "Umm."
  • -Listeners need time to digest each idea so try not to rush.
• 5. Establish eye contact with your audience, it will calm you down and keep them attentive.
• 6. Use visual aids if possible. Remember each slide/overhead uses ~1-2 minutes.
  • -Are your visual aids large enough to be read by someone in back of the room?
  • -A blackboard can be a very helpful device to make spontaneous/planned illustrations. Think big; avoid too small illustrations.
  • -Overheads should be simple and uncluttered with meaningless details (text). Is their time for detail?
  • -Avoid illegible scrawl on an overhead or blackboard; it will confuse and detract from the talk.
  • -If you use slides, test them out before you use them in a talk. Are they in focus and contrasty enough? Is the room able to be darkened enough for your slide's contrast?
  • -Have blank transparencies available to allow you to use the overhead as a blackboard.
  • -Use projection grade marking pens or special overhead projection pens.
  • -Do not write on DryErase surface blackboards with permanent markers!
  • -For an informative seminar for specialists, prepare a handout of figures, diagrams and suggested reading list.
• 7. Be prepared for questions.
  • -Try to anticipate some questions and prepare answers.
  • -Do not bluff if you do not know the answer. Another expert may be in the audience.
  • -You are not expected to know everything. Admit not knowing the answer and complement the question if possible.