ME 195: Senior ProjectProgress Presentations

Raghu Agarwal

October 5, 2011

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering DepartmentSan Jose State University

Topics of Discussion

1.Preparing the Presentation2.Making Slides3.Audience Interaction4.Contents5.Handling Questions

1. Preparing the Presentation

Go through a dry runJust the planning and thinking don’t workMany new thoughts and ideas interfere with

the substanceHard to keep track of the timeIt’s hard to distill everything in 15 minutes. Did

you practice the talk with your group before the presentation?

2. Preparing Slides

Make the slide uncluttered and easy to read. No flashy colors!

Use between 4 - 6 bulletsUse the bullets to expand on themDo not present long equations, tables, chartsDo not include long sentences for your

readingMake your talk entirely centered around the

bullet

3. Audience Interaction

Connect with the audienceLook at themAvoid monotone, vary the pitchDo not block the screen, stand on one side of

the screenNot everyone understand all your pointsNot everyone is interested in your topic, so

make it interesting and simpleDid you leave the audience with a clear picture

of the progress you have made?

4. Contents

Title pageAgenda: items to be presentedBrief introduction of the project leading to

the presentationProgress made

Detailed description of the work doneSupporting documents

Planned Future Work

5. Handling Questions

Be very brief and precise in answeringDo not deviate from the questionKeep the question in focus when answering

?