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How to Give a Talk
Stephen GilbertJune 30, 2015
You’ll be giving a talk…
Wed, July 15, 1-4pm
to USC ICT’s REU site on interactive virtual experiences: http://ict.usc.edu/reu/
8 interns there, each with own talk. You talk in teams of 3.
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Doesn’t talking come naturally?
No.
It can be scary.
It can be boring, even soporific.
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Doesn’t talking come naturally?
No.
It can be scary.
It can be boring, even soporific.
PracticeTechnique
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What are you trying to tell to your audience?
You’re a passionate analytical authority.
Oh, and by the way…
Your message.
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Outline
Structure of a TalkTechniquePowerPointPractice Activity
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Messages
Please have 1-3 messages to convey.Each could be said in 30 seconds.
Our method of usability testing using bluetooth is better than existing methods.
Facebook Participation Increases Isolation Within
Rural Communities.
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Non-Useful Messages
I’m running out of time.
I’m sorry…
I did this, and this, and this, and that.
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Sample Outline for an Academic Talk
Title/author/affiliation (1 slide)Motivation and Problem Statement (1-2) Why should anyone care?Outline of talk (1) Suggest you have an innovative solutionRelated Work (0-1) Cover superficially or omit; refer people to your paperMethods (1)Results (4-6) Do not superficially cover all results; cover key result well. Do not just present numbers; interpret them to give insights. No large tables.Summary (1)Future Work (0-1)Backup Slides (0-3)
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The Real Outline
What’s the problem?
What have you done about it? (big
picture)
How are you different than other people?
What did you do really? (details)
How did you solve the problem?
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Outline for an 8-minute REU talkTitle/author/affiliation (1 slide)Motivation and Problem Statement (1 slide) Why should anyone care? Suggest you have a solution. Related Work (1 slide) Cover quickly; refer people to your paper.Methods (1, 2 if really needed)Results (2-3 slides probably) Do not superficially cover lots of results; cover 1-2 key results well. Do not just present numbers; interpret them to give insights. No large tables of numbersSummary (1) What have you just told them? What's your contribution? Future Work (0 -1 slides) Where is this going next? (only if there’s time) Backup Slides (0-3) Have these ready in case people ask questions. Usually charts/diagrams.
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Don’t delay the message
First, there was the mouse. Then other interfaces…I’m working on the iPhone…My contribution is…
A problem to be solved is…My contribution is…Why does this matter? First there was the mouse…
Worse Better
Build
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Story Arc with Signposting
What’s the problem?What’s the goal of this talk?
Where are we headed next?
Background – How does this help me?
Example 1Are we there yet?
Example 2Are we there yet?
Example 3Are we there yet? YES!
SummaryImplications, Next steps, Save the world
Thank you. Questions?
Level of interest
Time
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An effective academic talk must:
Communicate arguments and evidencePersuade your audience they’re trueBe interesting and entertaining
What’s that mean?
From Paul Edwards’ How to Give an Academic Talk
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Tips
FromPaul
Edwards’ How to Give
an Academic Talk
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Tips for your Voice
Breathe right (from gut, not chest)
When you inhale, your stomach
should push out.
puh! tuh! kuh!
Loud and deep
Silence
Repeat phrases
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Keep control of talk
Rehearse, including jokes & tech
Bring backup notes
No need to apologize
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Learn from Great Speakers
TED Talks (ted.com)Ignite talks (igniteShow.com)iTunes U
And from bad ones
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Slide Advice
David Byrne
PowerPointKeynote Prezi Google DocsSlide RocketImpress…
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Less is more
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Conscience decision
Right now,Should they look at me or the screen?
Do my words need any visual aid?
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Sometimes…
Good: Short, short bullet points
Next best: Headline, no bullets
Best: Just a picture, chart
Privacy: in public vs. private
Expectations of privacy depend on:ContextEase of access to dataThe person
Privacy: in public vs. private
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Another Example
Hello, Grandma?
Yes, hello Marco!
Do you like your birthday gift?
Why, yes, I do! The new iPhone is so
cool!I just jailbroke it and installed Linux on it.
Pedestrian Deaths
Highest in Florida overallLowest inDelawareoverall
Sorted by per capita
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Last tips
Use a remote control.
Never give a demo live.
Don’t look at the screen (your back’s to the audience).
Don’t read your slides.
Do look at someone.
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Sum Up
Passion & Style, not just content
Tight messages
Tell a story – Signposting!
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Improv Activity
Get in pairs. Each pair draws a topic from the bowl.Each pair has 6 minutes to prepare a 3-minute talk where both speak. Your outline: Here’s a problem, 2-3 solutionsListening pair gives feedback: 2 min
6 min 3 min 2 min 3 min 2…