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Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Wolfgang F. Mader1
1 Institut fr Kern- und Teilchenphysik u TU Dresden

Proseminar: Key Experiments in Quantum Mechanics

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

The Audience

How much does your audience know in advance about your seminar topic? Determines time needed to spend on particular aspects The tone of your seminar: serious or informal Humor? How much is too much?

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Title slide, outline and introduction

Keep it simple Choose a level of scientic information that you want to convey Dont tell EVERYTHING you know about the subject Dont blow the introduction! People fall asleep immediately Start with clear statement about your topic and what you intend to do with it
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Title slide, outline and introduction

Give background why this work is interesting What key issues/hypotheses were tested How will results change the way of viewing the concept
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Structure of presentation

And now for something completely dierent

(Quote from Monty Pythons Flying Circus, BBC, 1969)

Clearly structure your presentation Make it clear when you address a new aspect of your presentation Helps audience to re-focus in case they have been lost

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Structure of presentation

And now for something completely dierent

(Quote from Monty Pythons Flying Circus, BBC, 1969)

Clearly structure your presentation Make it clear when you address a new aspect of your presentation Helps audience to re-focus in case they have been lost

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Choice of fonts and colors

Choose FONT SIZES appropriately Structure your slides by using dierent font sizes Choose FONT COLORS appropriately 7% of male population is red/green blind
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Choice of fonts and colors

Choose FONT SIZES appropriately Structure your slides by using dierent font sizes Choose FONT COLORS appropriately 7% of male population is red/green blind
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Diagrams

Avoid too complicated diagrams Keep it well structured and simple Complicated slides do not need to be un-understandable
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Diagrams

Avoid too complicated diagrams Keep it well structured and simple Complicated slides do not need to be un-understandable
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Animations

Dont!!!!!

Seldom helps to bring your point across Distracts the audience from the scientic message Just dont do it!

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Tables

Can you read (all of) this? I dont!!! Only show information relevant to your subject Make tables readable by
Extracting important information and display it in separate table Highlight the important information

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Tables

Can you read (all of) this? I dont!!! Only show information relevant to your subject Make tables readable by
Extracting important information and display it in separate table Highlight the important information

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Time Limit

Never go over time Seriously, NEVER EVER go over time Audience only able to focus on certain aspect for limited amount of time Adapt amount of details presented to scope of the seminar Spend on average 2min per slide
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Time Limit

Never go over time Seriously, NEVER EVER go over time Audience only able to focus on certain aspect for limited amount of time Adapt amount of details presented to scope of the seminar Spend on average 2min per slide
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Time Limit

Never go over time Seriously, NEVER EVER go over time Audience only able to focus on certain aspect for limited amount of time Adapt amount of details presented to scope of the seminar Spend on average 2min per slide
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

How to respond to questions

Be sure to leave time for questions Be ready for questions during your talk Try to anticipate potential questions and prepare Extra Slides Dont ever say something youre not comfortable with saying If you cant answer a question, politely say so and move on
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

...and before you give your talk...

Practice, practice, practice and ... ...practice But: dont recite memorized work! This can be disastrous! However: Memorize some aspects of your talk
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

...and before you give your talk...

Practice, practice, practice and ... ...practice But: dont recite memorized work! This can be disastrous! However: Memorize some aspects of your talk
Wolfgang F. Mader Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Summary

Dos
1 2 3 4 5 6

Practice Look professional Preview your slides Clearly state your objectives and goals Speak clearly and at a good pace. Rule of thumb: About 2 minutes per slide Always identify your axes, dene all technical terms and spend time on your data (graphs, tables) Quote appropriate references and distinguish your work from literature sources Make a lot of eye contact with your audience Conclude your talk with statements that address your objectives and nish your story

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Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Summary

Donts
1 2

Wait until the last minute to prepare Make slides that are impossible to read or understand, e.g. complicated gures, large tables, Picasso-like graphs. Read your talk verbatim, either from notes or from your slides!! Instead: Know your material well without reading. Make distracting gestures when you talk (play with a pointer, rock back and forth, play with your hair, pick your nose, etc.). Speak too rapidly, too slowly, too quietly or too loudly. Dont speak in a monotone and try not to mumble. Talk to one person or the screen. Panic. Staying calm and focused is very important, especially if you hate speaking publicly. Try to be too funny. Humor has its place in your seminar, but use it judiciously.

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Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Thanks for your attention

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

References
Senior Seminar - How to Give a Good Presentation Tips for preparing a great seminar Qualities of good seminar talks How to give a Seminar Talk How to Give a Good Scientic Seminar: Does, Donts and Strategy ...and many more on the web

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

Thanks for your attention

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=847

Wolfgang F. Mader

Dos and Donts in Seminar Talks