Physics 367
Outlines and Presentations

Purpose of Presentations

Problems

Solutions

Outlines

Common Problems

 

Presentations

Communication: Have a clear message

Issues
Background information
Solutions
Controversies

Problems: Don't try to do too much

You can not cover the entire article
You have a time constraint
You have a message
You have to get your points across
You have to keep the crowd interested

Previous Comments

Concentrate on getting across your main points.
Need to focus better.
Mannerisms need work.

Presentation a bit too detailed.
Concentrate on getting across your main points.

Enthusiusm good.
Points well chosen.
Need to finish arguments.

Good introduction although a bit too detailed.
Focus on major points.

Too long, too much overlap with other speakers.
Needs to focus on major points.
Need better expalnations of points.

Excellent extra research.
Well chosen points and focus.
Nice overall job.

Good outside information.
Good class discussion.
Could focus better on major points.

Good talk.
Need to focus a bit more.
Good use of graphs

Talk ok.
Need to focus better on main points.
Need to deliver points better.

Talk ok.
Explain terms before you use them.
Need a bit more focus.

Good talk.
Try to talk more to the audience.

More Previous Comments

Need to focus better, give big picture first.
Talk vague, need more details.
Need to support arguments.

Ok talk, but a bit flat.
Transparencies hard to read.
Information seemed outdated.

Need to focus better, no real structure.
Talk vague.
Need to support arguments.

Talk ok but a bit flat.
Need to focus better on main points.
Watch mannerisms.

Good talk with good points.
Strayed from main points at times.
Transparencies hard to read.

Good talk.
Too long.
Need to focus better on a few main points.

Need better direction, focus on a few main points.
Identify information.
Explanations need work.

You made many good points, but then seemed to contradict them.
Need to focus on the main idea.
Need to come to a conclusion.

Excellent talk.
Excellent use of graphs.
Good outside references.

 

Solutions: Focus, focus, focus

Give the big picture, where do you fit in
Choose your points carefully - focus
Finish your arguments - use science
Look at the audience - what do you see
Identify the outstanding issues
Practice beforehand

Outlines

Each student is asked to prepare an outline of the assigned topic before making his or her presentation.

    Example: (Correct style)  40% of petroleum consumed in the U.S. is imported.
              (Incorrect style)  Petroleum, U.S. imported
              (Incorrect style)  40% P US Imp.

Outline of Talk

  • The outline should be written in standard outline format, i.e, Roman numerals denoting major headings, capital letters for the first level of subheadings, Arabic numerals denoting the second level of subheadings, etc. If a given level of heading is subdivided, it must always be subdivided into at least two subheadings.

  • The outline should cover the entire topic, but it may give more details about the part of the topic assigned to you.

  • The outline should contain pertinent material you have obtained from other sources, such as texts or notes from other courses, reliable information from newspapers, TV, or information from acquaintances employed in or majoring in the subjects under discussion. Such material should be clearly noted as having been obtained from an outside source, and the source should be named in an aside or in a footnote on your outline.

  • The outline must be submitted on the day on which you give your presentation.

Outline Example

 

I. Climate Models

A. Why climate models are created

  1. Climate is constantly changing
  2. Society influences the climate
  3. Predictions influence public policy
  4. Society must be prepared

 B. Elements of the models

  1. Mathematical representation of physical processes
  2. Variables
    a. Temperature
    b. Pressure
  3. Grid size
    a. Global versus local
    b. Speed of result versus precision
  4. Parameters

Some suggestions regarding the preparation of your outline:

  1. Read the articles through fairly quickly to get a general idea of what the topic is about. Do not try to make your outline at this time. If there are unfamiliar words, you may wish to stop to look them up in a dictionary or a textbook.

  2. Look at your part of the topic and keep this in mind as you read the articles again, this time more slowly. As you read, jot down in sequence the facts and ideas that seem most important to you in making your presentation. This series of statements becomes your outline. When you have outlined the articles, you should then add information you have obtained from other sources on the subject. You should then add any ideas, questions or conclusions of your own.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU APPEAR ON THE SCHEDULED DATE OF YOUR PRESENTATION. It is the responsibility of each student to schedule his or her two presentations. There will be no opportunity to make up a missed presentation.

Presentations

You will work in groups of three for the presentations. Each group will be allowed approximately 21 minutes for the presentation, with whatever time thereafter for class discussion that the topic seems to warrant. Your presentation will be cut off at 24 minutes to allow the next group to begin.

  • You may not read from your outline.

  • There will not be time to cover the entire subject. In your presentation, you should cover only the facts, ideas, and conclusions or controversial matters that seem most important to you.

  • You may wish to have something in your hand or a transparency to remind you of the main subjects about which you wish to talk.

  • Speak slowly and clearly, as you would to a group of intelligent people who know less about the subject than you do. (You will have prepared much more carefully than they have.) The measure of your success will not be how much you have said, but how much your audience has understood, remembers, and finds interesting. In case of doubt, give less information and spend more time trying to make what you do give clearer.

  • Your outline and presentation will be graded on the following:
    -Scientific content
    -Organization
    -Discussion of the ideas in the article
    -Your own ideas concerning the article
    -Interest to audience
    -Demeanor, clarity of expression