How to give a good talk

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How to give a good talk
Alan Lee Xyz Consultants October 2, 2002
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Contents

• Golden Rules
• Organisation
• Slide tips
• Technical issues

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3 Golden Rules (i)

• Keep it simple!
• Keep it simple!
• Keep it simple!
• (keep level of audience in mind)

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More Golden Rules (ii)

• Use slides/powerpoint/pdf
• Organise subject matter
• Non-verbal is important!
• Dont have too much/too little material
• Keep to time
• Rehearse!

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Golden Rule use slides

• Chalk and talk obsolete
• We have technology use it
• Use data projector, but have transparencies as
  backup

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Golden rule Organisation

• Use same principles as report
• Tell them what you are going to say
• Say it!
• Tell them what you have said!
• i.e. introduction, main stuff, summary!

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Golden rules Non-verbal

• Seem confident!
• Speak clearly, make sure everyone can hear
• Eye contact with audience
• Be aware how its going
• Dont obscure screen

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Golden Rule Too much-too little

• Have the right amount of material for the time
• Practice timing until you get more experience
• Dont speed up to finish
• Keep to time- others are following

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Organisation

• Slides usually organised around bullet points
  (powerpoint influence!!)
• Be concise
• Use headings, indenting
• Main point
• Detail on main point

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Slide tips

• Not too much on each slide
• (Like this one!!)
• Slides must be clear and no spelling errors
• (se how obvious they are
• you look like a dick! )
• Use graphics and pictures
• Not too much maths hard for audience to
  understand instantly unless simple
• Use animation sparingly, but effectively
• Have the correct number of slides for the
  allotted time

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Slide tips

• Not too much on each slide
• (Like this one!!)
• Slides must be clear and no spelling errors
• (se how obvious they are
• you look like a dick! )
• Use graphics and pictures
• Not too much maths hard for audience to
  understand instantly unless simple
• Use animation sparingly, but effectively
• Have the correct number of slides for the
  allotted time

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Graphics and pictures
xtarget
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Too much maths??
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Animation from hell
here is my title!
Here is some text!
Here is some more text!
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Technical issues

• Choose colour, background to contrast
• Choose font to be visible at back
• This is very hard to read
• Include maths in a big font
• Powerpoint or pdflatex
• Powerpoint easy
• pdf good for maths, can be included in powerpoint

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asdfhasfhkasf

• ghdfhdfgh

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• kfkjfkahfkhasfk

• cvzxvzxv

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• lkjflfjldfgjlgh

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Math stuff
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A pdf page
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Summary

• Keep it simple, suitable for audience
• Prepare well and rehearse
• Have clear legible uncluttered slides
• Use pictures and graphs
• Have a logical structure
• Enthusiasm, confidence, eye contact
• Finish on time