INSO - Industrial SoftwareInstitut for Automation | Faculty of Informatics | Vienna University of Technology

Jennifer Hetzl

Guidelines for Thesis PresentationsAn example

© 2005 by INSO

Scientific Coordinatrix

2Presentation guidelines | INSO 2005

Outline

Presentation guidelines2

Basics: concepts3

Basics: presentation4

Examples5

General remarks: the template1

3Presentation guidelines | INSO 2005

General remarks (1)

Slide types▪The title slide

Insert personal data Insert second supervisor‘s name (if applicable)Omit full academic titles (for TU-internal presentations)

−e.g. „Thomas Grechenig and Thomas Költringer“▪Table of contents

Follows the title slideCreate using „Summary Slide“ option

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General remarks (2)

Slide types (cont.)▪Presentation slides

Change the name and short title in footer area via „View—Header andfooter“ in the menu bar

▪Closing slidesSummaryAcknowledgements

−Name supporting personsQ&A, discussion

−Invite for questions after closing the presentation

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General remarks (3)

About this document▪Guidelines

Are for student presentations onlyCan show minor individual adaptations, e.g. in index slides etc.

▪LimitationsThe template provides a consistent layout, e.g. at final examinations,

thesis presentations, etc.The template is provided for INSO affiliates onlyCopyright INSO 2005

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Presentation guidelines (1)

Structural considerations: concepts▪Who are the addressees of the presentation?

Has an effect on the concept of the presentation−E.g. examination committee vs. public, university members vs. externalaudience

▪What audience’s knowledge can be assumed?Has an effect on the realization of the presentation

−E.g. concept and extent of the introduction, basics, methods, etc.▪What is the presentation scope/intention?

Has an effect on the description of the results and conclusion▪What is the focus of the presentation?

Is ideally defined before the concept is designed▪Recommended elements

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Presentation guidelines (2)

Structural recommendations: elements▪ Introduction (approx. 10—20%): What?

Provide ToC on one slideExplain motivation for the thesis (one, max. two slides)Get the audience’s attention and introduce the topic

▪Background and results (approx. 60—80%): Why and how?Describe problem, incl. scopeDescribe basics, incl. definitions, and methods, incl. approach

−E.g. development of a model.prototype, validation of a model/hypothesisDefine crucial aspects/questions of the projectArrange complex data in tables and figures

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Presentation guidelines (3)

Structural recommendations: elements (cont.)▪Closure

Summary and outlook (approx. 10—20%): What?−Summarize in one to three slides, covering fundamentals−Closing slides are the most memorized slides by the audience

Acknowledgements and questions−Thanks goes to the audience and …

−E.g. supervisor(s), other supporting persons−References are listed (if applicable)−Questions are welcome from the audience and …

−E.g. supervisor(s), other attendees

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Basics (1)—Presentations

Principles▪Layout: Clear and consistent

Consider professional recommendations−e.g. from http://www.facilitate-uk.com/pdf/GoodslidedesignUSApril2005.pdf

Arrangement of content−Few text per slide, using keywords for illustrations−Create additional slides rather than overload existing slides with content−Present detailed explanations orally, but do not recite−Avoid void or fuzzy statements, heavy use of technical language−Always explains abbreviations and symbols in use

Complex context−Use tables, figures, diagrams etc. for visualization

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Basics (2)—Presentations

Principles (cont.)▪Layout (cont.)

Animations must be limited to a minimumUse animations only sparingly when necessary for illustrations and

equipment, e.g. for audio, is availableMultimedia objects may distract the audience

▪Coverage: the KISS principleExtent

−10—15 slides are sufficient, incl. opening and closing slides−Adapt coverage to available time (see also next slide*)

Content−Check with supervisor and Science Coordinator−INSO archives

−Create PDF−Submit per email to ScAd@inso.tuwien.ac.at

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Basics (3)—Talk

Preparation and style▪Planning, concept

Language−Choose either German or English for slides and talk−Keep chosen language in slides throughout the presentation and talk−Ideally, talk and presentation language are identical

Time−Consider two to three minutes per slide

−Exceptions: opening and closing slides−Use stopwatch during preparation

Test runs−Receive feedback and get exercise in rehearsals−Prepare for possible audience’s questions−Check speech time, volume, etc.−Prepare notes (if necessary)

−Readable, neat−Short, clear−Handy, discreet

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Basics (4)—Talk

Preparation and style (cont.)▪Presentation, talk

Be clear and articulate−Concentrate on audibility, fluency, and tempo; avoid dialect, mumbling, andslang

Be calm and flexible−Get used to presentation experiences in private test sessions, work groupJours Fixes etc.

Be clear and precise−Answer questions during the presentation if necessary for understanding, e.g.abbreviations, or refer to upcoming slides

Be focused and attentive−Get the audience’s attention, maintain it using eye contact and questions, andobserve the audience’s reaction regularly

INSO - Industrial SoftwareInstitut for Automation | Faculty of Informatics | Vienna University of Technology

Acknowledgements

Thank you for your cooperation

Peter LeitnerThomas Költringer