Magic Rules For Giving An Illustrated Talk
by David Pearson, Ph.D.
Biology Department, California State University at Los Angeles

It should not be very difficult to organize yourself to communicate effectively if you have - the following...

  1. a good idea of how your work fits into the "big picture" of a major scientific researchprogram. In other words,
    • why is it important ?
    • A definition of what you were attempting to investigate.
    • Define your project.
  2. knowledge of the methods you used and why you used them.
  3. a clear description of your findings, even if (as is often the case) the work is incomplete.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
  1. Gather your references, lab book, other data, scratch paper, and writing tool. Sit in a quietplace with a large surface so you can spread your materials.
  2. Make a rough outline with a few words or statements under each heading. At each point make anote of the visuals you might want to use. You might want to include quick sketches of the visuals.introduction and, background- Here you include the "big picture" information and define your project.
  3. methods- How did you proceed?conclusions:What does the above mean? Why is it important ? Whatwill happen next?
  4. acknowledgments: It is always better to give too much credit to those who helped you than notenough.
  5. Take the outline to your mentor and let her/him critique it. Come to an agreement on whatshould be included.
  6. When you've decided what will be presented, refine the outline. Do not write the talk outword for word: the best talks usually come from the briefest outlines.
  7. Prepare your visuals.
  8. Practice, practice, practice:
    • Go into a room alone with your outline and your visuals.
    • Stand.
    • Decide on an opening sentence or two and memorize them.
    • Speak aloud even though no one can hear you.
    • Stop and start over as often as necessary to make it sound right. Practice using yourvisuals as you talk.
    • Use a pointer to direct attention precisely.
    • If necessary, decide what to eliminate to pare your talk down to the required length.
    • Practice the talk until you are comfortable with it.
    • Finally, work with audiences such as science classes, science club, teachers, mentors, andfamily who will listen and give you feedback on your presentation.
PRESENTING IT: Here are a few special things to remember.
  1. voice: Don't shout, but do speak up and project.
  2. eye contact: Try to establish individual eye contact with as many people aspossible.
  3. body language: Stand straight; smile; move around a little; have a good time.
  4. pointer: Remember to use it effectively.
  5. audience questions: It's great if you know the answer; if you don't, don't fake it.Just say "I don't know."
  6. visuals: Place 2 x 2 slides correctly into your carousel so they do not projectupside down! Transparencies should have simple diagrams/outlines.

PEARSON'S MAGIC RULES FOR PRESENTING A GOOD ILLUSTRATED TALK

  1. Start planning early.
  2. Establish yourself as a person with your audience before you have the lights turned off andstart showing slides.
  3. Neither write out your talk word for word nor memorize it.
  4. Use effective graphics.
  5. Do not try to impress anyone with how much you know by using scientific jargon or manytechnical terms, especially if you haven't clearly defined them.
  6. Don't PANIC! Look out at the audience, take one more slow, deep breath and SMILE before yousay a word.

"EVERYTHING ELSE WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF." D. Pearson

*presented at a meeting of the Southern California Junior Academy of Sciences at California StateUniversity at Los Angeles in March, 1991; modified by Gloria J. Takahashi