Dissemination can be as important as the work itself
This can be written as well as verbal
Your presentation often is the only lasting impression of you and your work
Make them want to know more

Converting Your Work
Many have looked at the write-up
Be less formal and analytical
Time is short - make each word count
Get to the point quickly
Omit non-key materials
be intuitive and less detailed

The detail is in the written version
(intro, description, user’s guide, proofs, etc.)
They have come to learn from you - and sometimes find out if they wish to read your paper or buy your product
So - introduce, describe, and support the work
Avoid collateral material, acknowledgements
Don’t waste time with table of contents

Organizing the Material
Do not assume audience knows
Present only important points
Define, show, compare
Resist jargon and acronyms
remember - time is short

You’ve been working hard and understand it - what is clear to you may not be clear to others
You can only get a few points across to audience - remember that they can read about it later
If they do not understand things their attention may stray and you’ve lost them

Simple Outlines are Best
Introduction
Solutions and examples by others
Key ideas of your approach
Mention incorrect solutions
Brief but impressive demonstration
Advantages of this solution (Summary)
make them curious (or sold)

Intro - what led to this? Why is it neat? Goals?
Why are other’s solutions too limited?
Focus on key ideas in approach or solution and present conclusions and evidence supporting them
Save others from wasting time or buying bad stuff
Mention disadvantages and limitations of your solution

Visuals and the Talk
Audio is not the same as visual
Never read what they can see
Use graphs, etc. effectively
Match talking with visuals
30 seconds minimum per visual
effective mix of audio and visual

Eye does shapes, colors, spatial relationships
Ear does reasoning
Mix the verbal and visual - multimedia
Maintain context - use blank slides if needed
Remember all the stuff from the visuals talk

Rehearsal
Even experts rehearse
Know what you’ll say in advance
Use mirror, friends, family, colleagues
Practice with the A/V equipment
be prepared

The experts rehearse two or three times.
Write out the talk in advance - or prepare notes
Read the talk a few times, do it for yourself a few times, and then inflict it upon others
Don’t let the equipment ruin your presentation

Speaker’s Hints
Never read the presentation
Talk to the audience not the visuals
Monotone is booooring
Emphasize key points
Match speaking rate to familiarity
consider how you’d like your talk

The talk’s the thing - a bad talk can ruin wonderful slides. Present the visuals effectively
Don’t talk to the visuals - look at the audience. See the visuals in your mind - or have a copy in front of you to look at
Record yourself. How do you sound? Vary your speaking level with the material. You can emphasize things and make them jot it down.
Speaking speed should be varied too. Slow down when introducing new stuff - then speed up
AGAIN - don’t lose them by speaking poorly
You want a clear and complete presentation

The Presentation
Begin with thanks
Integrate talking with visuals
Talk about material, not the slide
Pointers can distract the audience
No nervous habits
Let them know when you’re done
it’s a presentation not a slide show

Thank the chair and audience first - this marks the beginning of your talk and gets their attention
Let the talking flow - talk is a river and visuals are boats on the river (unless you’ve got a movie)
Do not say ‘this slide shows’ or ‘on this slide’
Please: do not bounce from side to side. It is distracting (do it). Do not wring your hands - if you must, hold the lectern.
Tell them when you’re done - this ends the talk

And, Finally:
Make it exciting
Interact with the crowd
Do not lose them
Know the time
easy, right?

Maybe have some stunts or moving visuals - but too much can ruin it. (Guitar player once found that if he played behind his head it brought down the house. So he began to play every song that way)
Pretend that you’re really there - move out into them and look at them.
Watch their eyes (in the OJ trial an expert always watched the jury for glazed-over eyes)
Never try to speed up at the end to save yourself. (Once a job candidate found himself halfway through his talk at the end of the time)