Front Cover

Presenting an Effective and Dynamic Technical Paper

Copyright Page

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Testimonials From Student Award Winners

1 Introduction

1.1 Focus and Scope of This Guidebook

1.2 Formal Oral Versus Poster Presentations

1.3 Special Features of This Guidebook

1.4 How to Use This Guidebook

2 Preliminary Considerations

2.1 Focus and Scope of This Chapter

2.2 The Presentation Format

2.3 The Venue

2.4 The Allotted Time

2.5 The Outline and Cue Cards for Your Presentation

2.5.1 Importance of Preparing an Outline

2.5.2 Value of Preparing Cue Cards

2.6 Dressing for the Occasion

3 Organizing Your Presentation

3.1 Focus and Scope of This Chapter

3.2 The Abstract

3.2.1 When an Abstract Is Needed

3.2.2 Content of an Abstract

3.3 The Title Slide

3.3.1 What It Must Include

3.3.2 What Else It Can Include

3.4 The Outline or Overview

3.5 The Introduction

3.6 The Review of Prior Studies

3.7 The Research Plan

3.7.1 Indicating the Design Considerations

3.7.2 Indicating How the Problem Will be Addressed

3.7.3 Research Plan for an Experimental Study

3.7.4 Research Plan for a Theoretical Development

3.8 The Discussion of Results

3.8.1 Showing Typical Results

3.8.2 Presenting Your Results

3.8.3 Providing Some Measure of Reproducibility

3.8.4 Emphasizing Interesting Observations

3.9 The Conclusions

3.10 A Future Work Slide

3.11 The Acknowledgments

3.12 The “Thank You” Slide

4 Making a Formal Oral Presentation

4.1 Focus and Scope of This Chapter

4.1.1 Importance of an Effective Presentation Style

4.1.2 Distinguishing Features of Making a Formal Oral Presentation

4.1.3 Developing Your Own Presentation Style

4.2 Preparing Your Slides

4.2.1 Preliminary Considerations in Preparing Your Slides

4.2.2 Making Your Visuals Easy to Understand

4.2.3 Choosing an Appropriate Font

4.2.4 Choosing an Appropriate Font Size

4.2.5 Choosing an Appropriate Color Scheme

4.2.6 Emphasizing Important Parts of Your Presentation

4.2.7 Use of Animations and Sounds

4.2.8 Choosing a Template

4.2.9 Numbering Your Slides

4.2.10 Proofreading Your Presentation

4.3 Scoping Out the Room and Facilities When On-Site

4.3.1 Scoping Out the Room for Your Presentation

4.3.2 Scoping Out the Facilities for Your Presentation

4.4 Use of a Microphone and Laser pointer

4.4.1 Use of a Microphone

4.4.2 Use of a Laser Pointer

4.5 Mastering the Mechanics of an Effective Oral Presentation

4.5.1 Your Appearance

4.5.2 Vocalization

4.5.3 Effective Eye Contact

4.5.4 Body Language

4.5.5 Use of Humor

4.5.6 Handling a Momentary Lapse-of-Memory

4.6 Stepping Through Your Presentation

4.6.1 Your Introduction by the Session Chair or Host

4.6.2 Generating Interest Early in Your Presentation

4.6.3 Pacing Your Presentation

4.6.4 Ending Your Presentation

4.6.5 Handling Questions Including Those You Cannot Answer

4.7 Handling Nervousness

4.7.1 Channeling Nervousness Into Projecting Excitement

4.7.2 Ways to Control Nervousness

4.7.3 Handling Mistakes That Cause Nervousness

4.7.4 The Easiest Way to Avoid Nervousness

4.8 Practice Makes Perfect

4.9 Critiquing Presentations Made by Others

4.10 Developing Your Presentation Style

5 Giving a Poster Presentation

5.1 Focus and Scope of This Chapter

5.1.1 Distinguishing Features of a Poster Presentation

5.1.2 Importance of Developing Your Own Poster Presentation Style

5.2 Preparing Your Poster

5.2.1 The Plan for Laying Out Your Poster

5.2.2 Organizing the Content of Your Poster

5.2.3 Designing Your Poster

5.2.4 Proofreading Your Poster Material

5.3 Printing Your Poster

5.3.1 Choices in the Format for Printing Your Poster

5.3.2 Proofreading Your Printed Poster

5.4 Checklist Before Arriving On-site for Your Poster Presentation

5.5 Scoping Out the Room and Posting Your Poster

5.5.1 Scoping Out the Room for Your Poster Presentation

5.5.2 Posting Your Poster

5.6 Using a Mechanical Pointer

5.6.1 Use a Mechanical Pointer for a Poster Presentation

5.6.2 Using a Mechanical Pointer to Control Your Audience

5.6.3 Avoid “Playing” With Your Mechanical Pointer

5.7 Mastering the Mechanics of an Effective Poster Presentation

5.7.1 Preliminary Considerations

5.7.2 Engaging Your Audience

5.7.3 Interacting With Your Audience

5.7.4 “Gimmicks” for Making an Effective Poster Presentation

5.8 Poster Session Courtesy

5.8.1 Courtesy Considerations for Poster Presentations

5.8.2 Courtesy Considerations Regarding Your Audience

5.8.3 Courtesy Considerations Regarding Other Poster Presenters

5.9 Developing Your Poster Presentation Style

Appendix A: Quick Reference Guide for Giving a Formal Oral Presentation

Appendix B: Quick Reference Guide for Making a Poster Presentation

Appendix C: Typical Criteria for Judging a Poster Competition

Technical

Nontechnical

Appendix D: Considerations When Critiquing a Presentation

Organization

Style

Appendix E: Web Sites for Outstanding Presentations

Al Gore

Del Harvey

Dr. Hans Rosling

Joe Wong

Appendix F: Overview of Online Materials

Index

Back Cover