=================================================================== Suggestions specific to our 7-minute format =================================================================== Use an initial slide that lists the title, authors, and journal reference. Feel free to use your own timer to help with your timing. Feel free to keep some notes nearby, e.g., on a piece of paper. No need to memorize everything! Put a pdf copy of your talk at /d/users/youraccount/ directory. We can grab it from there. It's ok to provide some commentary, e.g., why you liked or disliked it, if it helped you learn the material better, etc. It's great to provide a brief big-picture summary and/or introduction. =================================================================== General suggestions (some more appropriate for longer presentations) =================================================================== ==================================== Do ==================================== Outline Refer to it again and again Provide an intro that puts the work into a larger context, and provide a summary that describes the main result(s) 1-3 minutes/slide Slides are to enhance, not provide everything (I slightly prefer to) Use dark backgrounds Figures Large axis labels Describe axes! Who/Why/How/What Elegant finish: "Thank you" which is a cue for clapping; otherwise audience unsure Excellent way to convince the audience that you are honest with your data and analysis: show them your best five and worst five examples. Know your audience in advance! Start out slow to make it accessible to entire audience, and then ramp up. Avoid jargon when speaking to the less-experienced (e.g., students, physicists, etc..) Know your technology in advance! Check technology Have pdf as backup (reliable way to invoke slide "animations") Test how easy it is to see color images in the dark. I've heard way too many presenters say, for example, "Wow, that doesn't look good on the screen". Double view using laptop But be prepared for last-minute surprises in technology/viewing! Have back-up slides for anticipated questions Finish on time ==================================== Don't ==================================== Go too fast AAS disaster example: 45 minute talk in 5 minutes Overcrowd with text Belabor co-author help unless particularly illuminating (e.g., your student did a lot of work and he's/she's looking for a job!). Explaining co-authorship is a bit tedious. Simply include them in first slide text Get carried away with animations ==================================== Standard public speaking tools: ================================= Practice to friends/peers Anticipate questions Joke to get comfortable Eye contact Face the audience when speaking