How to give a good talk

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A collection of 'good'and 'bad' example slides

O. Behnke, Heidelberg, 10.10.2006

Paul Laycock, Liverpool 12.10.2006

Warning: this is subjective by definition!

It only reflects some personal tastes and views

Nevertheless it is absolutely 100% correct

Rules and Regulations

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● You can please some of the people all of the time● The details of your talk (the bulk of the facts and figures) are what the experts want/need to know

→ Make sure the important details are clear

● You can please all of the people some of the time● Think around the subject to see what are the most important messages for the whole audience

→ Think about your subject matter, be creative

Examples of a 'good' contents slide

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Examples of a 'good' contents slide II

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What makes them ‘good’:

• They are brief (both have only 4 bullet points)

• The bullet points usedescriptive language, so they’re both accurate and interesting

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● Motivation

● Theory

● Data samples

● MC samples

● Calibration

● Purity/Stability

● Systematic errors

● Results: Measurement of D* cross sections

● Helicity analysis

● Double differential results

● Summary

Why is this ‘poor':

● Too many points! The listener anticipates a long and exhausting talk and is already demotivated and tired after one slide!

● So many points cannot be remembered anyway

● Remember this is not the contents page of a book!

Content:

Example of a 'poor' contents slide:

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Example for the ideal introduction transparency: J. Dingfelder, xtalk 2001 on exotic searches after the the upgrade

→ Don't be afraid to use your creative side!

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Example of a 'good' physics results slide:

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Why is it ‘good’:Follows the recommended structure:

1. Few simple explanations2. Plot3. Conclusion

• No unneeded distractions• Not too many figures• Simple text using keywords• Not too many coloursDeliver the detail!!!

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Example of a 'poor' slide:

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Why is it ‘poor':

● Confusing background (e.g. the sun in the upper left corner and all the colours distract the eye)

● Too much detail

● The important points are simply lost

Undelivered message!!!

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Another example of a 'poor' slide:

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Why is it ‘poor':

Sometimes you will need to write text

BUT:

● It should be readable!

● It shouldn’t look like a Technicolor version of the proceedings!

● Use keywords

● Avoid distractions

● Restrict the number of bullets to 6, ~12 lines of text

Some general talk recommendations

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No's:

● ‘Bad’ colours, e.g. light green, and colour combinations

● More than 4 plots on a page (1-2 is best)

● More than 12 lines of consecutive text on a slide

Yes's:

Use graphical illustrations such as Feynman diagrams, event displays etc.

● the human brain processes these ~1000 times better than words

● they avoid any possible language barrier

Use your imagination to engage your audience, e.g.

● Be creative in your descriptions

● Throw in a joke (not necessarily on the slides)

Summary

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Never forget to have a summary slide!!!!