Academic CommunicationAcademic CommunicationLesson 6Lesson 6

Pick up handout at front.Pick up handout at front.

One copy for each student.One copy for each student.

Please sit in pairs.Please sit in pairs.

Each person needs one partner.Each person needs one partner.

Course Website: staff.ustc.edu.cn/~acadcomCourse Website: staff.ustc.edu.cn/~acadcom

Listening to Conclusion Listening to Conclusion SectionsSections

Read your Conclusion transcript to your Read your Conclusion transcript to your partner.partner.

Listen to your partner’s Conclusion and Listen to your partner’s Conclusion and time how long it takestime how long it takes

Does it sound like a your partner is Does it sound like a your partner is actually speaking to you (good) or like actually speaking to you (good) or like they are just reading a paper’s text they are just reading a paper’s text (bad)?(bad)?

After listening to each other, trade After listening to each other, trade transcripts and check your partner’stranscripts and check your partner’s

Does your partner’s Does your partner’s Conclusion section Conclusion section

transcript…?transcript…? ……start with words “In conclusion,…” or start with words “In conclusion,…” or

something similar to indicate the talk is something similar to indicate the talk is ending?ending?

……summarize 2-4 main points of the body in summarize 2-4 main points of the body in one sentence each? Must be concise!one sentence each? Must be concise!

……emphasize the central idea – the most emphasize the central idea – the most important result of the research?important result of the research?

……remind the audience of the motivation or remind the audience of the motivation or give an application?give an application?

……mention an open question or give a future mention an open question or give a future research direction? Specific! (not “improve research direction? Specific! (not “improve our result”)our result”)

……end with “Thank you” and inviting end with “Thank you” and inviting questions?questions?

……last for 75-120 seconds?last for 75-120 seconds?

Checklist for Presentation Checklist for Presentation Part 4A: Detailed Planning Part 4A: Detailed Planning

OutlineOutline includes timing for each slideincludes timing for each slide may even include specifics like may even include specifics like

gestures or tone of voicegestures or tone of voice

Checklist Part 4B: Checklist Part 4B: Wording and/or TranscriptWording and/or Transcript

Exact wording for Exact wording for keykey points is vital points is vital for any presentationfor any presentation

Read the sentences out loudRead the sentences out loud difficult word combinations?difficult word combinations? difficult sound combinations (words)? difficult sound combinations (words)? Choose words that are easy to say when Choose words that are easy to say when

you’re nervous: e.g. Do you want to say you’re nervous: e.g. Do you want to say “x to the “x to the fifthfifth” or “x to the ” or “x to the power of power of fivefive”?”?

Checklist Part 4B: Checklist Part 4B: Wording and/or TranscriptWording and/or Transcript

Always write exact wording for key Always write exact wording for key pointspoints

Should you write a full transcript? Should you write a full transcript? (every word, for every slide?)(every word, for every slide?)

For this course: For this course: YesYes See handoutSee handout Bring to class for Lesson 8 (two weeks Bring to class for Lesson 8 (two weeks

from today) a printout of your from today) a printout of your transcripttranscript

Speaking of careful Speaking of careful wording…wording…

Informal conversation: Informal conversation: Most people use “think”Most people use “think”

Formal prepared presentation:Formal prepared presentation: Avoid saying “think” in the prepared part.Avoid saying “think” in the prepared part. ““Think” is OK in the Question/Answer part.Think” is OK in the Question/Answer part.

In a prepared talk, In a prepared talk,

more careful wording is expected!more careful wording is expected!

Useful Sentence PatternsUseful Sentence Patterns

See the reference sheet available on See the reference sheet available on the course website for Lesson 6.the course website for Lesson 6.

(http://staff.ustc.edu.cn/~acadcom)(http://staff.ustc.edu.cn/~acadcom) Feel free to use these patterns where Feel free to use these patterns where

you can in your presentation.you can in your presentation.

Examples from “Useful Sentence” Examples from “Useful Sentence” reference sheet (available on website)reference sheet (available on website)

1.1. As in <some previous time>, <something As in <some previous time>, <something was done>.was done>.

As in 1993, studies recommending As in 1993, studies recommending computerized coordination of traffic lights computerized coordination of traffic lights were ignored.were ignored.

2.2. As in <some previous time>, <somebody As in <some previous time>, <somebody did something>.did something>.

As in early 1993, people tended to ignore As in early 1993, people tended to ignore inconvenient traffic regulations.inconvenient traffic regulations.

Examples from “Useful Sentence” Examples from “Useful Sentence” reference sheet (available on website)reference sheet (available on website)

3.3. Because they <did something>, <the things Because they <did something>, <the things represented by “they”> <had some effect>.represented by “they”> <had some effect>.

Because they disobeyed traffic laws, taxi drivers Because they disobeyed traffic laws, taxi drivers caused many traffic jams.caused many traffic jams.

4.4. By <[month [day],] year>, <somebody> had By <[month [day],] year>, <somebody> had <done something>.<done something>.

By 1992, the traffic commission had realized By 1992, the traffic commission had realized there was a serious problem and started to there was a serious problem and started to investigate possible solutionsinvestigate possible solutions

By January, 1992, the traffic commission…By January, 1992, the traffic commission… By January 27, 1992, the traffic commission…By January 27, 1992, the traffic commission…

22 Examples on “Useful Sentence” 22 Examples on “Useful Sentence” reference sheet (available on website)reference sheet (available on website)

The reference sheet has 22 patternsThe reference sheet has 22 patterns

Use these to increase the number of Use these to increase the number of good English sentence patterns you good English sentence patterns you use in your presentationsuse in your presentations Impress your teacher!Impress your teacher!

Speaking of careful Speaking of careful wording…wording…

See “Degrees of Belief” on handoutSee “Degrees of Belief” on handout Use precise wording as on the Use precise wording as on the

handouthandout

Handout gives examplesHandout gives examples % numbers are approximate% numbers are approximate

Activity: Describe the new Activity: Describe the new animalanimal

Genetic engineering: Combine the Genetic engineering: Combine the DNADNA

What would the new animal be like?What would the new animal be like?

For different features, use appropriate For different features, use appropriate probability sentences.probability sentences.

Do not use the word “think”!!!Do not use the word “think”!!! Bad: “I think it would eat meat.”Bad: “I think it would eat meat.” Good: “Probably it would eat meat.”Good: “Probably it would eat meat.”

“ “It probably would eat meat.”It probably would eat meat.”

Activity: Describe the new Activity: Describe the new animalanimal

Can use present tense as if it were in Can use present tense as if it were in front of you:front of you: It may be able to swim.It may be able to swim.

Can use future or conditional tense Can use future or conditional tense as if you were predicting results of an as if you were predicting results of an experiment:experiment: It will eat meat.It will eat meat. It would probably be yellow with black It would probably be yellow with black

stripes.stripes.

Your new animalYour new animal NameName the new animal the new animal DescribeDescribe the animal to each other the animal to each other Use all degrees of belief sentence Use all degrees of belief sentence

patternspatterns E.g. What may or may not be true? What E.g. What may or may not be true? What

must be true? What certainly is not true?must be true? What certainly is not true? Lives where? Can swim? fly? climb trees? Lives where? Can swim? fly? climb trees?

Eats what? Dangerous? Make good pet? Eats what? Dangerous? Make good pet? Taste good to eat? Has stripes? wings? Taste good to eat? Has stripes? wings? How many legs? What size? Fast? Slow?...How many legs? What size? Fast? Slow?...

After a few minutes, After a few minutes, draw a picturedraw a picture

Tell another pair about your Tell another pair about your animalanimal

You are not allowed to say the word You are not allowed to say the word “think” when answering a question.“think” when answering a question.

Ask questions about the other Ask questions about the other group’s animalgroup’s animal

Answer questions about your animal, Answer questions about your animal, using the degrees of belief using the degrees of belief vocabulary and sentence patterns.vocabulary and sentence patterns.

Please give back all the Please give back all the animal cards at the end of animal cards at the end of

this class!!this class!!

Homework due 2 weeks from Homework due 2 weeks from todaytoday

Bring to Lesson 8 a printout of your full Bring to Lesson 8 a printout of your full presentation transcript.presentation transcript.

Must include Must include printouts of the slidesprintouts of the slides Must include what you will say for each Must include what you will say for each

slide. Split up the text according to slides.slide. Split up the text according to slides. ““Slide 1: <The sentences you will say>”Slide 1: <The sentences you will say>” ““Slide 2: <The sentences you will say>”Slide 2: <The sentences you will say>” etc.etc.

Write out on the transcript Write out on the transcript the exact the exact words you will saywords you will say while the slide is while the slide is showing!showing!

Not “I’ll read the slide” or “I’ll make Not “I’ll read the slide” or “I’ll make comments.”comments.”

Must include Must include the timingthe timing for each slide for each slide