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

© © 20012001

OverviewOverview

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

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

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

It’s all a game. Learn the rules and you’ll It’s all a game. Learn the rules and you’ll enjoy it more.enjoy it more.

Topics in This PresentationTopics in This Presentation

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 little Paint a big picture first, then zoom in on your little pixel.pixel.

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

audience. Get down to their level.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 is tedious.A short relevant joke is great. Anything else is tedious. Never apologize.Never apologize.

[Down Under joke][Down Under joke]

The Talk Itself -The Talk Itself - PreparationPreparation

Rehearse!Rehearse! Present it to colleagues early enough to make Present it to colleagues early enough to make

major changes, if necessary.major changes, if necessary. Run through it again at the conference well Run through it again at the conference well

before your session.before your session. Check out the controls for the lights, Check out the controls for the lights,

projector, pointer, and microphone before projector, pointer, and microphone before your session.your session.

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

Relax… Who will care in 100 years time?Relax… Who will care in 100 years time? Don’t read out the title if the chair has.Don’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. Don’t read the talk verbatim! Don’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 microphone.Keep your mouth near the microphone. Keep facing the audience.Keep facing the audience. Make eye contact with as many people as Make eye contact with as many people as

possible.possible. Avoid verbal or postural mannerisms that Avoid verbal or postural mannerisms that

distract or annoy.distract or annoy.

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

Avoid long quotes on a slide, and don’t read Avoid long quotes on a slide, and don’t read them out verbatim. 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. Don’t go over time.Don’t go over time. Don’t finish with “any questions?”Don’t finish with “any questions?” Finish with “thank you.” Then flick up a black Finish with “thank you.” Then flick up a black

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

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

Control the light pointer. Control the light pointer. • Use both hands to limit shaking.Use both hands to limit shaking.• Or brace your hand against the lectern.Or brace your hand against the lectern.

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

For long intervals between slides, put the For long intervals between slides, put the lights on, and turn off the projector or have lights on, and turn off the projector or have a black slide.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 in Run different media in series, not in

parallel.parallel. Make sure a video is ready to go with the Make sure a video is ready to go with the

touch of ONE button.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. Use a Prepare answers for some questions. Use a stooge to ask them. stooge to ask them.

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

reviewers may be in the audience.reviewers may be in the 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 seminars Use OHP transparencies only for local seminars

and last-minute ideas or data.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 question, Next slides: e.g. background, research question,

methods, results, summary.methods, results, summary. Don’t waste a slide on the above list.Don’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 to a Use duplicate slides rather than back track to a

previous slide.previous slide.

The Slides -The Slides - Tables and FiguresTables and Figures

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

Better still: show likely range of true values.Better still: show likely range of true values. Avoid test statistics (t, F, Avoid test statistics (t, F, ).).

sprintsprint enduranceendurance

femalesfemalesage (y)age (y) 22 ± 422 ± 4 26 ± 26 ± 55

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

weight (kg)weight (kg) 66 ± 766 ± 7 63 ± 663 ± 6

malesmalesage (y)age (y) 19 ± 419 ± 4 25 ± 425 ± 4

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

weight (kg)weight (kg) 73 ± 873 ± 8 67 ± 867 ± 8

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

Characteristics of athletes in sprint and endurance Characteristics of athletes in sprint and endurance sportssports

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 in Protocol for study of cognitive function in orienteersorienteers

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 use a key.Label individual lines or bars rather than use a key. Use a bare minimum of ticks and numbers on axes.Use a bare minimum of ticks and numbers 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 oxygen Effect of drug or placebo on maximum oxygen uptake during 16 weeks of traininguptake 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. Don’t snigger at foolish speakers.Don’t snigger at foolish speakers. Don’t annoy your neighbour.Don’t annoy your neighbour. Make your questions pithy, and don’t show Make your questions pithy, and don’t show

off TOO much.off TOO much. Ask a simple question: the answer will help Ask a simple question: the answer will help

other people understand.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 to let Meet the speakers and arrange a signal to let

them know when time is up.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 people Invite questions if time permits, or ask people

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

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

speakers, then lead more applause.speakers, then lead more applause.

In Conclusion...In Conclusion...

Be obsessionalBe obsessional!! Give it your best shot. Give it your best shot. Be creative - break the rules sometimes.Be creative - break the rules 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.