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How to Give an Academic Talk Paul N. Edwards School of Information and Dept. of History This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The terms of this licence allow you to remix, tweak, and build upon this work non-commercially, as long as you credit me and license your new creations under the identical terms.Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License Quasi-permanent URL: pne.people.si.umich.edu/PDF/howtotalkslides.pdfpne.people.si.umich.edu/PDF/howtotalkslides.pdf 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Today What public speaking is for, and why its hard How to engage your audience Physical presence and vocal techniques Using presentation software Timing Rehearsal: the key to success Troubleshooting: handling difficult situations 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Today What public speaking is for, and why its hard How to engage your audience Physical presence and vocal techniques Using presentation software Timing Rehearsal: the key to success Troubleshooting: handling difficult situations 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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The awful academic talk Speaker sits down Speaker reads Monotone Sentences long, complex, jargon-filled Exceeds time limit 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Why are so many talks so terrible? Stage fright Academic culture(s) Public speaking skills arent taught Students learn from professors bad habits Most talks arent rehearsed 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Listening is hard work Conference audiences: many talks over many hours Job talks: many candidates Limits to human attention span (~40 minutes) Competing distractions Other talks Internet/email Other concerns 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Purposes of public speaking Communicate arguments and evidence Persuade audience that they are true 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Structures and contents A talk is not a paper Give away your punch line: summarize Claims and evidence What matters is why Focus on main points What do you want your audience to remember? What can your audience remember? 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Purposes of public speaking Communicate arguments and evidence Persuade audience that they are true Engage (excite, interest, entertain) The forgotten purpose Mistake: equate engaging with superficial 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Today What public speaking is for, and why its hard How to engage your audience Physical presence and vocal techniques Using presentation software Timing Rehearsal: the key to success Troubleshooting: handling difficult situations 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Why engage and entertain? To communicate and persuade You need your audiences full attention and your audience needs your help to maintain focus 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Engaging your audience Physical presence Sitting vs. standing Be the dominant animal Talking vs. reading Moving vs. standing still Always face audience Make eye contact! Or at least look like it Dont side the room 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Engaging your audience Vocal production Loud and clear! Talk to the back row Breathe! Use the diaphragm Speak from the belly, not the head Belly opens on inhale, contracts on exhale Use sound reinforcement 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Engaging your audience Vocal technique Things to watch out for: Uptalk Monotone Like, yknow, ummmm The sound of authority: speak at the low end of your range 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Engaging your audience Take control of the environment Temperature Light Noise and distractions 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Today What public speaking is for, and why its hard How to engage your audience Physical presence and vocal techniques Using presentation software Timing Rehearsal: the key to success Troubleshooting: handling difficult situations 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Using presentation software Less is more Text: keep it simple Use images! Slide backgrounds: simple, bright Avoid glitzy special effects 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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death by powerpoint

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About Powerpoint Less is more 20-30 words per text slide USE images USE ability to have many slides Practice! Dont watch screen -- use your laptop or notes Slide backgrounds: simple, bright Backup, backup

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About Powerpoint Less is more 20-30 words per text slide USE images USE ability to have many slides Practice! Dont watch screen -- use your laptop or notes Slide backgrounds: simple, bright Backup, backup Less is more 20-30 words per text slide USE images USE ability to have many slides Practice! Dont watch screen -- use your laptop or notes Slide backgrounds: simple, bright Backup, backup

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R s calculated using Ficks 1 o law of diffusion using Moldrup et al. 1999 model Critical parameters: CO 2 P Flux= -D s C z D s /D a = D s D a s s= silt + sand b m

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R s as a function of T,

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other ways to use powerpoint 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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a word 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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or an image 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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climate change 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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even more radical: 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan dont use it

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Using presentation software Less is more If you use video: keep it short Dont talk to the screen Use your laptop or notes 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Today What public speaking is for, and why its hard How to engage your audience Physical presence and vocal techniques Using presentation software Timing Rehearsal: the key to success Troubleshooting: handling difficult situations 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Timing Respect your audience, and your colleagues: finish on time!! Use a timer or watch Know what you can skip and its not your conclusions. Dont draw attention to mistiming Create a standard slide length 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Today What public speaking is for, and why its hard How to engage your audience Physical presence and vocal techniques Using presentation software Timing Rehearsal: the key to success Troubleshooting: handling difficult situations 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Practice, practice, practice! Rehearsal matters more than slide prep Time yourself Improvising? Practice, and account for the time! 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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practice!!!!!

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Murphys Law: planning for disaster Use your own laptop Backup, backup, backup!! Bring a printout Imagine (and plan for) the worst possible audience 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Summing up: usually better Talk Stand Move Speak loudly Face the audience Make eye contact or fake it Focus on main arguments Summarize at beginning and end Use visual aids Finish within time limit Rehearse Respond to audience 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Today What public speaking is for, and why its hard How to engage your audience Physical presence and vocal techniques Using presentation software Timing Rehearsal: the key to success Troubleshooting: handling difficult situations 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Troubleshooting Difficult people Interruptions Heckling Difficult vocal problems High-pitched voices Quiet voices Second-language issues 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Troubleshooting Difficult rooms Dark Large, without sound reinforcement Steep pitch Difficult audiences Very small Not your field Hostile 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Emulate excellent speakers Not just what they say But what they do 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan

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Whatever you practice, you get good at How to Give an Academic Talk (written version): pne.people.si.umich.edu/PDF/howtotalk.pdf 16 June 2015 Paul N. Edwards, University of Michigan