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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…