How to Give TalksHow to Give Talks

Will G. HopkinsWill G. HopkinsPhysiology and Physical EducationPhysiology and Physical Education

University of OtagoUniversity of OtagoDunedin, New ZealandDunedin, New Zealand

will@deepsouth.co.nzwill@deepsouth.co.nz

©© 1996 W.G. Hopkins. Copying is permitted for individual 1996 W.G. Hopkins. Copying is permitted for individual nonprofit educational use only.nonprofit educational use only.

OverviewOverview

Giving a good talk is an essential Giving a good talk is an essential skill for researchers and instructors.skill for researchers and instructors.

You want feedback on your data or You want feedback on your data or ideas, so put them across well.ideas, so put them across well.

Conferences are fun - if you give Conferences are fun - if you give your talk well.your talk well.

ItIt’’s all a game. Learn the rules and s all a game. Learn the rules and youyou’’ll enjoy it more.ll enjoy it more.

Topics in This Topics in This PresentationPresentation

The Talk ItselfThe Talk Itself The DiscussionThe Discussion The SlidesThe Slides For the AudienceFor the Audience For the ChairpersonFor the Chairperson

The Talk Itself -The Talk Itself - GeneralGeneral Paint a big picture first, then zoom in on your Paint a big picture first, then zoom in on your

little pixel.little pixel. Impress by Impress by ininforming, not forming, not perperforming.forming. You know more about the topic than most of You know more about the topic than most of

the audience. Get down to their level.the audience. Get down to their level. Avoid jargon, be colloquial, but be precise.Avoid jargon, be colloquial, but be precise. A short relevant joke is great. Anything else A short relevant joke is great. Anything else

is tedious.is tedious. Never apologize.Never apologize.

[Down Under joke][Down Under joke]

The Talk Itself -The Talk Itself - PreparationPreparation

Rehearse!Rehearse! Check that your slides are in the Check that your slides are in the

right order and orientation.right order and orientation. Check out the controls for the Check out the controls for the

lights and projector.lights and projector. Tap the microphone.Tap the microphone. Check the pointer.Check the pointer.

The Talk Itself -The Talk Itself - Delivery (1)Delivery (1)

RelaxRelax…… Who will care in 100 years Who will care in 100 years time?time?

DonDon’’t read out the title if the chair has.t read out the title if the chair has. Avoid trivial opening remarks. Avoid trivial opening remarks.

Get on with it.Get on with it. DonDon’’t read the talk verbatim! t read the talk verbatim!

Ad lib it from notes of the main points.Ad lib it from notes of the main points.

The Talk Itself -The Talk Itself - Delivery (2)Delivery (2)

Speak slowly, loudly, clearly.Speak slowly, loudly, clearly. Keep your mouth near the Keep your mouth near the

microphone.microphone. Keep facing the audience.Keep facing the audience. Make eye contact with as many Make eye contact with as many

people as possible.people as possible. Avoid verbal or postural mannerisms Avoid verbal or postural mannerisms

that distract or annoy.that distract or annoy.

The Talk Itself -The Talk Itself - Delivery (3)Delivery (3)

Avoid long quotes on a slide, and donAvoid long quotes on a slide, and don’’t t read them out verbatim. read them out verbatim.

Point to detail on a slide as you explain it.Point to detail on a slide as you explain it. Explain the axesExplain the axes of a graph. of a graph. DonDon’’t go over time.t go over time. DonDon’’t finish with t finish with ““any questions?any questions?”” Finish with Finish with ““thank you.thank you.”” Then flick up a Then flick up a

black slide, especially with PowerPoint.black slide, especially with PowerPoint.

The Talk Itself -The Talk Itself - Using Hardware (1)Using Hardware (1)

Control the light pointer. Use both Control the light pointer. Use both hands to limit shaking.hands to limit shaking.

DonDon’’t use the blackboard or t use the blackboard or whiteboard during the talk.whiteboard during the talk.

For long intervals between slides, For long intervals between slides, put the lights on, and turn off the put the lights on, and turn off the projector or have a black slide.projector or have a black slide.

The Talk Itself -The Talk Itself - Using Hardware (2)Using Hardware (2)

Two projectors are for experts.Two projectors are for experts. Run different media in series, not Run different media in series, not

in parallel.in parallel. Make sure a video is ready to go Make sure a video is ready to go

with the touch of ONE button.with the touch of ONE button.

Question TimeQuestion Time

Make the most of it - you usually get Make the most of it - you usually get helpful suggestions.helpful suggestions.

Prepare answers for some questions. Prepare answers for some questions. Use a stooge to ask them. Use a stooge to ask them.

Have extra slides ready.Have extra slides ready. Be thankful and polite - employers Be thankful and polite - employers

and reviewers may be in the and reviewers may be in the audience.audience.

The Slides -The Slides - GeneralGeneral

Use 35 mm or PowerPoint at conferences. Use 35 mm or PowerPoint at conferences. Take a backup copy of PowerPoint slides.Take a backup copy of PowerPoint slides. Use OHP transparencies only for local Use OHP transparencies only for local

seminars and last-minute ideas or data.seminars and last-minute ideas or data. Think simple.Think simple. Use BIG standard fonts.Use BIG standard fonts. Run a spelling check.Run a spelling check. Avoid irrelevant slides of athletes.Avoid irrelevant slides of athletes.

[Sport vs science joke][Sport vs science joke]

The Slides -The Slides - ContentContent Title: include collaborators and funders.Title: include collaborators and funders. Next slides: e.g. background, research Next slides: e.g. background, research

question, methods, results, summary.question, methods, results, summary. DonDon’’t waste a slide on the above list.t waste a slide on the above list. A relevant joke slide is OK.A relevant joke slide is OK. How many slides? Count on about How many slides? Count on about

1-2 minutes per slide.1-2 minutes per slide. Use duplicate slides rather than back track Use duplicate slides rather than back track

to a previous slide.to a previous slide.

The Slides -The Slides - Tables and Tables and FiguresFigures

Never copy them 1:1 from a paper. Never copy them 1:1 from a paper. Enlarge or redraw.Enlarge or redraw.

Include a title.Include a title. Use a bare minimum of digits.Use a bare minimum of digits. Include SDs, not SEMs.Include SDs, not SEMs. Use Use * * and and * * * * rather than rather than PP values. values. Avoid test statistics (Avoid test statistics (t, F, t, F, ).).

sprintsprint enduranceendurance

femalesfemalesage (y)age (y) 22 ± 422 ± 4 26 ± 5*26 ± 5*

height (cm)height (cm) 172 ± 8172 ± 8   171 ± 8171 ± 8    

weight (kg)weight (kg) 66 ± 766 ± 7 63 ± 6*63 ± 6*

malesmalesage (y)age (y) 19 ± 419 ± 4 25 ± 4*25 ± 4*

height (cm)height (cm) 180 ± 9180 ± 9   177 ± 9177 ± 9    

weight (kg)weight (kg) 73 ± 873 ± 8 67 ± 8*67 ± 8*

N = 96-231. Data are mean ± SD.N = 96-231. Data are mean ± SD.

Characteristics of athletes in sprint and Characteristics of athletes in sprint and endurance sportsendurance sports

OO OO OOBB BB BB

MMMM MMMM MM MM MMSSSS SS SS SSPPPP PP PP PP PP

exerciseexercise

00 1010 2020 3030 4040 5050 6060 7070

time (min)time (min)

MM - map reading test- map reading testPP - Peripheral vision test- Peripheral vision testSS - Stroop color-word test- Stroop color-word testBB - blood lactate assay- blood lactate assayOO

SSSS

- oxygen uptake assay- oxygen uptake assay

Protocol for study of cognitive function Protocol for study of cognitive function in orienteersin orienteers

SS

The Slides -The Slides - GraphsGraphs Use graphs in preference to tables.Use graphs in preference to tables. Use the right kind of graph for the data.Use the right kind of graph for the data. Label individual lines or bars rather than Label individual lines or bars rather than

use a key.use a key. Use a bare minimum of ticks and numbers Use a bare minimum of ticks and numbers

on axes.on axes. Use LARGE symbols on plotted points.Use LARGE symbols on plotted points.

Vary symbol shape for the colorblind.Vary symbol shape for the colorblind.

This: Not this:This: Not this:

Effect of drug or placebo on maximum Effect of drug or placebo on maximum oxygen uptake during 16 weeks of trainingoxygen uptake during 16 weeks of training

Data are means and SDs.

drugdrug

placeboplacebo

* *

base-base-lineline

drug or placebodrug or placebo7070

6060

5050

00 44 88 1212 1616time (weeks)time (weeks)

maximummaximumoxygenoxygenuptakeuptake

(ml.min(ml.min-1-1.kg.kg-1-1))

Reaction time of novice and elite athletes in three phases of training

reaction time (ms)80

build-up

taper

taper

pre-season

pre-season

100 120 140 160

*†

novice

elite

build-up

Data are means and SDs.

For the AudienceFor the Audience

Get there on time.Get there on time. DonDon’’t snigger at foolish speakers.t snigger at foolish speakers. DonDon’’t annoy your neighbour.t annoy your neighbour. Make your questions pithy, and Make your questions pithy, and

dondon’’t show off TOO much.t show off TOO much. Ask a simple question: the answer Ask a simple question: the answer

will help other people understand.will help other people understand.

For the Chairperson -For the Chairperson -At the StartAt the Start

Check out the hardware beforehand.Check out the hardware beforehand. Meet the speakers and arrange a signal Meet the speakers and arrange a signal

to let them know when time is up.to let them know when time is up. Introduce yourself and the session. Introduce yourself and the session. Name the speaker and read the title.Name the speaker and read the title. Eulogize the big shots.Eulogize the big shots. Say when questions can be asked.Say when questions can be asked. Fix any problems during the talk.Fix any problems during the talk.

For the Chairperson -For the Chairperson -At the EndAt the End

Warn speakers when time is nearly up. Warn speakers when time is nearly up. Lead the applause. Lead the applause. Invite questions if time permits, or ask Invite questions if time permits, or ask

people to meet the speaker afterwards. people to meet the speaker afterwards. Have a question ready in case no-one Have a question ready in case no-one

asks any.asks any. Finish the session with thanks to the Finish the session with thanks to the

speakers and lead more applause.speakers and lead more applause.

In Conclusion...In Conclusion...

Be obsessional! Give it your best Be obsessional! Give it your best shot.shot.

Be creative - break the rules Be creative - break the rules sometimes.sometimes.

Will it help get the message across?Will it help get the message across?

•Yes:Yes: Do it.Do it.•No:No: Drop it.Drop it.