Ice Cream Talk on Thesis Research

Audience ... Audience ... Audience

• are your peers, often friends, but not in your field;
• assume you have done interesting research that is new to them;
• expects you to do three things:
  1. explain enough background to understand why it is interesting;
  2. clearly set out the problem and essential methods you are using;
  3. demonstrate what you have achieved in as simple language as possible.

The talk will succeed if short, focused and exceedingly clear.

• Short means time (23 m) and volume (6-10 slides).
• Focused means each slide delivers one point necessary to move the story forward.
• clear: simple figure deftly illustrates idea of slide.

But ... but ... you say: normal talks are not like that.
        They go a mile a minutes, bury you in detail and never make one clear point!
              All too true.
Treat your classmates like you wish fancy outside speakers would treat you.

Display your science with the respect, clarity and vigor it deserves.

Title Guide in Plain Type

Rules for preparing talk/viewgraphs

• Decide on take-home message.
   What do you want listeners to carry away? Design talk to that aim.
• Pick figures and illustrations that deliver take-home message.
• On each viewgraph, put
  • Title that summarize subject of viewgraph.
  • Carefully formulated argument.
  • Conclusion of argument at bottom of viewgraph.
• Practice for:
  • Length. Shorter is better.
  • Connectivity. Cleanly segue from one viewgraph to the next.
  • Clarity . Formulate your ideas accurately and concisely.