To present a paper

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

2009-10-15 Presentations/JG Sida 1

To present a paper

• method (technology)

• how to present it

• stage fright…?

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 2

Technology

• orally

• whiteboard

• slides

• computer projector

A good idea is to sometimes mix media

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 3

Slides

Consider: not too many slides per minute not too much text and graphics on each page large and easily readable text avoid mixed fonts use short sentences or keywords.

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 4

Software

• The standard for a while has been PowerPoint

• If you use LaTeX, you can– generate pdf-pages with pdfLaTeX and show with

Acrobat Reader in full page format– Using ppower4, you can add extra features to your

pdf-slides

• Yet an alternative is Flash

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 5

Computer projector

Advantages: simple way to generate professional looking pages can change up to last minute, even during the talk animated pages sound mix ”usual” slides with web pages, graphics

generated from programs, movies etc.

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 6

Computer projector

Dangers: do not fall into the "PowerPoint-trap" - a lot of

whirling symbols, animated text etc avoid many colours that overload the page the method must be subordinated to the message!

Moreover there are the same traps as for slides.

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 7

Presentation

• Tell them what you are going to tell them.

• Tell them.

• Then tell them what you told them.

– Ian Parberry

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 8

The purpose

• To awake interest

• To make people read the paper later

• Not to go thru the paper!

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 9

Presentation

– start from the listeners!

– figure out what they want to know

– select the important parts of your paper

– be prepared to skip parts of it

– you may present it in another way or order compared to the paper.

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 10

A few don’ts

Don't impress with hairy theory. avoid a lot of technical details.

use a motivating running example instead.

Don't present more material than you have to

Don't hide the problems with your method.

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 11

The news bill method (löpsedelstekniken)

Presentation News bills (the message) Contents Background and introduction Related work

• The main part

• Summary

• Thank you. Any questions?

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 12

An example talk (own result)

– Put on a slide with title and name(s).– Make yourself ready (slides, microphone, clock).– Have the opening sentence well memorized.– Present yourself.– Present the message.– Define the problem.– Show an example demonstrating the problem.

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 13

Cont.

– Prior work on the subject.– Summarize your contribution.– Present your results.– 1--2 technical slides with your method.– Conclusions– Open problems– ”Thank you. Any questions?”

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 14

An example talk (overview paper)

– Put on a slide with title and name(s).– Make yourself ready (slides, microphone, clock).– Have the opening sentence well memorized.– Present yourself.– Present the message.– Define the problem.– Show an example demonstrating the problem.

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 15

An example talk

– Others work on the subject (main part)• Approach 1

• Approach 2

• …

– Conclusions– Open problems– ”Thank you. Any questions?”

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 16

Important tips Have a supporting material Speak clearly Turn to the audience Have extra material available Master the technology Prepare answers to questions Practice before (alone and with audience)!

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 17

Timing

• Give practice talks to time your presentation.

• Never ever run over!

• Put a ”check time” paper in your stack of slides.

• Plan to leave some slides out.

The chairman will usually warn you when time is up

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 18

Questions and Answer sessionThree types of questions:• The self-admirer

– ”Have you read Dr. Putz' paper?”

Compliment the guy, then move on.

• The attacker– ”Your work is boring/irrelevant/wrong/old!”

Be polite and ask to continue afterwards.

• Genuine interestDon't be afraid to say ”I don't know” when you don't!

Department of Computer Engineering, IDt - Computer Science Lab, CSL

Presentations/JG Sida 19

Stage fright…?

• some nervousness OK => you are sharp

• be well prepared

• training gives skill.