Presenting an experiment-based, research proposal

Based on and modified from the notes “How to give a presentation focused on an experiment”, by Jeff Elhai, 2012

Purpose

Why present your proposal?

Overview

Sections of your presentation

1) Introduction 2) Method 3) Results 4) Synthesis and recap of question

Introduction

What question is the focus of your presentation? Why did you ask it?

Introduction

What question is the focus of your presentation? Why did you ask it? Start from general, work your way down

to the specifics

Introduction

What question is the focus of your presentation? Why did you ask it? Start from general, work your way down

to the specifics Don’t use “jargon”

Introduction

What question is the focus of your presentation? Why did you ask it? Start from general, work your way down

to the specifics Don’t use “jargon” Have a goal in mind: what information

does your audience need to know to understand your question?

Introduction

What question is the focus of your presentation? Why did you ask it? Start from general, work your way down to

the specifics Don’t use “jargon” Have a goal in mind: what information does

your audience need to know to understand your question?

MAKE YOUR CENTRAL QUESTION CLEAR

Method

How will your central question be addressed by the experiment?

Method

How will your central question be addressed by the experiment? Present logic of experiment and

underlying principles

Method

How will your central question be addressed by the experiment? Present logic of experiment and

underlying principles Explain how what you’re doing relates to

the question you’re asking

Method

How will your central question be addressed by the experiment? Present logic of experiment and

underlying principles Explain how what you’re doing relates to

the question you’re asking Only enough detail for conceptual

understanding▪ Method descriptions do not need to be

reproducible

Results

What observations do you expect (ALL possibilities)?

Results

What observations do you expect (ALL possibilities)? Remind your audience of the central

question

Results

What observations do you expect (ALL possibilities)? Remind your audience of the central

question Set up the result so that the audience

can engage, not just be told

Results

What observations do you expect (ALL possibilities)? Remind your audience of the central

question Set up the result so that the audience

can engage, not just be told Provide actual data▪ Modified from closely related results

Results

What observations do you expect (ALL possibilities)? Remind your audience of the central

question Set up the result so that the audience

can engage, not just be told Provide actual data▪ Modified from closely related results

Explain

*IMPORTANT*

Be careful when describing how results relate to a hypothesis

*IMPORTANT*

Be careful when describing how results relate to a hypothesis

Experimental results = observations show, indicate, suggest,

demonstrate, or support hypothesis Always true

*IMPORTANT*

Be careful when describing how results relate to a hypothesis

Experimental results = observations show, indicate, suggest, demonstrate,

or support hypothesis Always true

Hypotheses: May be true

Synthesis and recap

What has been learned?

Synthesis and recap

What has been learned? Return focus back to central question

Synthesis and recap

What has been learned? Return focus back to central question Summarize how proposed strategy will

lead to progress toward answer

Synthesis and recap

What has been learned? Return focus back to central question Summarize how proposed strategy will

lead to progress toward answer Potential problems/issues/alternative

explanations

Synthesis and recap

What has been learned? Return focus back to central question Summarize how proposed strategy will

lead to progress toward answer Potential problems/issues/alternative

explanations Reconnect to central question

Synthesis and recap

What has been learned? Return focus back to central question Summarize how proposed strategy will

lead to progress toward answer Potential problems/issues/alternative

explanations Reconnect to central question Finish strong

YOUR CENTRAL QUESTION SHOULD BE CENTRAL IN YOUR

PRESENTATION

And now…

Some notes on Presentation

Strategies

Graphics:

Use them

Graphics:

Use them Steal useful images, adapt to make

them relevant to your specific needs Obviously: Cite all images used▪ “Figure #A adapted from Bob, et al, 2009.”

If you use pre-existing images, almost always need to make them simpler.

Graphics:

Use them Steal useful images, adapt to make

them relevant to your specific needs Obviously: Cite all images used▪ “Figure #A adapted from Bob, et al, 2009.”

If you use pre-existing images, almost always need to make them simpler.

Make your own

Text:

Use as little as possible

Text:

Use as little as possible Present info as words or phrases

Avoid complete/complex sentences

Text:

Use as little as possible Present info as words or phrases

Avoid complete/complex sentences Small chunks of info at a time

Which looks easier to understand?

This:

It is important to make sure that every part of your presentation ties back in to the central question.

This brings your audience back to the main focus of your presentation and helps remind them of why you

are doing the experiment in the first place.

…or these:

In the words of Thoreau:

SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY!

For more:

HOMEPAGE TOPICS RESEARCH PROPOSAL “How to give a presentation”▪ Example presentations

“How to prepare for a panel”▪ “How to give a presentation focused on an

experiment” From Jeff’s email:

“Mock Panel Schedule”