Effective Oral Effective Oral PresentationsPresentations
Five areas for effective presentation strategies
Clear communication
Timing
Visual aids
Mechanics
Organization
ANBE/BIOL 356/656
1. Communication1. Communication
Introduce guiding question
Introduce outline of entire talk early
Reference outline repeatedly as mileposts
Match talk to audience
Follow a logical train of thought
Involve audienceTalk to individuals
2. Time2. Time
Fits time limit
Provide time to recover from unforeseen problems & to permit questions
Sufficient time for audience to absorb information on each slide
Don’t speak fast
Repeat key ideas
3. Visual Aids3. Visual Aids
Large text; limit number of linesLimit number of points made per slideConcise textLight-colored backgrounds
Avoid distracting active elements
Graph axes readable from rear of room
4. Mechanics4. Mechanics
Don’t read talk
Practice talk to refine flow & length
Don’t apologize
Project voice – face audience
Eye contact with individuals in audience
Avoid unexplained jargon/acronyms
Avoid distracting mannerisms
5. Organization5. Organization
Introduction is brief
Methods abbreviated (diagram useful)
Describe format of graphs
Conclusions crisp and concise
Questions, methods, results, discussion folded together
Bad ExamplesBad Examples
Travels in AfricaTravels in Africa
• I flew over Africa’s Kalahari Desert on my 4th flight since leaving Flagstaff, AZ over 35 hours ago on my way to Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Spent a day touring Soweto• Flew from Johannesburg to Windhoek, Namibia the following
day• My fellow voyageurs and I drove 3,450 miles (equivalent to
driving from New York City to Los Angeles and up the coast to Oregon) across Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe (40% of which in 4-wheel drive)
• Added over 100 miles of bus treks in South Africa, spent 53 hours in the air
• And way too many hours transferring through airports.
Travels in AfricaTravels in Africa
• Flew over Africa’s Kalahari Desert
• Drove 3,450 miles across Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe
• >100 mi of bus treks in South Africa
• Spent 53 hours in the air
• Many hours in airports
Travels in AfricaTravels in Africa
• Flew over Africa’s Kalahari Desert
• Drove 3,450 miles across Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe
• >100 mi of bus treks in South Africa
• Spent 53 hours in the air
• Many hours in airports
TravelsTravels in Africa in Africa
• Flew over Africa’s Kalahari Desert
• Drove 3,450 miles across Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe
• >100 mi of bus treks in South Africa
• Spent 53 hours in the air
• Many hours in airports
Travels in AfricaTravels in Africa
• Flew over Africa’s Kalahari Desert
• Drove 3,450 miles across Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe
• >100 mi of bus treks in South Africa
• Spent 53 hours in the air
• Many hours in airports
Travels in AfricaTravels in Africa
• Flew over Africa’s Kalahari Desert
• Drove 3,450 miles across Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe
• >100 mi of bus treks in South Africa
• Spent 53 hours in the air
• Many hours in airports
Example Outline of TalkExample Outline of Talk
Sequential Radiation: Detecting Sequential Radiation: Detecting Evolutionary Patterns Through Evolutionary Patterns Through
Genetics, Behavior, and EcologyGenetics, Behavior, and Ecology
Warren G. AbrahamsonWarren G. AbrahamsonDepartment of Biology
Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PA
Eurosta solidaginisGall-inducing Fly
Mordellistena convictaInquiline Beetle
OutlineOutline
I. Host-race formation & sympatric speciation
II. Goldenrod gall tri-trophic level system
III. Genetic, behavioral, & ecological evidence for host-race formation & speciation
IV. Sequential radiation