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