Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- INTRODUCTION
- 1 THE BASIC PROBLEM WITH ORAL PRESENTATIONS, AND ITS SOLUTION
- 2 THE FIRST STEPS OF PREPARATION
- 3 SELECTING HELPFUL IMAGES
- 4 BEGINNING AND ENDING THE PRESENTATION
- 5 TITLING THE TALK
- AT A GLANCE: THE SEVEN SIGNPOSTS
- AT A GLANCE: 15 KEYS FOR SUCCESS BEHIND THE PODIUM
- IN CLOSING
- APPENDIX 1 FULL INTRODUCTIONS
- APPENDIX 2 POSTERS
- Index
IN CLOSING
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- INTRODUCTION
- 1 THE BASIC PROBLEM WITH ORAL PRESENTATIONS, AND ITS SOLUTION
- 2 THE FIRST STEPS OF PREPARATION
- 3 SELECTING HELPFUL IMAGES
- 4 BEGINNING AND ENDING THE PRESENTATION
- 5 TITLING THE TALK
- AT A GLANCE: THE SEVEN SIGNPOSTS
- AT A GLANCE: 15 KEYS FOR SUCCESS BEHIND THE PODIUM
- IN CLOSING
- APPENDIX 1 FULL INTRODUCTIONS
- APPENDIX 2 POSTERS
- Index
Summary
Our ideas are only intellectual instruments which we use to break into phenomena; we must change them when they have served their purpose, as we change a blunt lancet that we have used long enough.
– Claude BernardWe have witnessed hundreds of speakers both present more clearly and feel more confident when they follow the preceding guidelines. Good speakers all have similar traits. They draw a connection between their scientific work and the work of the audience. They introduce concepts and definitions before focusing on the more detailed aspects of the talk. Like effective teachers, good speakers logically present the data, and the thoughts behind the data, so that the audience learns the entire scientific process. Good speakers have a main theme, which is followed throughout the presentation and is encapsulated in a brief and memorable statement near the end. They use images to help the audience visualize data, yet they know that the pictures must always remain secondary to clear description. They share future plans and finish the presentation on a strong note. Good speakers do all of theabove while sharing their ideas with enthusiasm.
But there is a caveat to the techniques described in this book: They need not be followed all at once.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Speaking about ScienceA Manual for Creating Clear Presentations, pp. 111 - 112Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2006