Research Proposal Presentations

Preparation

• Condensing a complex body of information• 15 minute presentation (and 5 minutes for

comments or questions)– speaking rates should not exceed 100 to 150

words per minute– about 1500 to 2000 words– 12-14 slides

Types of Presentations

• memorized speech• read from manuscript• EXTEMPORANEOUS

Extemporaneous Presentation• Audience centered and dynamic• made from minimal notes or outline• Slides should contain the primary concepts

or ideas being introduced– But, level of detail not the same as speaker

notes (have a copy of your slides and write the notes on margins)

– Don’t skip important elements without some visual representation in the slide

Extemporaneous Presentation• include key phrases, illustrations, statistics,

dates (and pronunciation guides for difficult words)

• along the margin, place instructions, cues, such as SLOW, EMPHASIZE, TURN CHART, GO BACK TO CHART 3

• Dictum: better to have fewer slides that don’t cover all the things you want than to have too many slides and have to go fast.

Speaker Problems• Too soft, too fast• do not let your words trail off as you complete a

sentence• do not “uhs”, “you know”• no rocking• no fiddling with clothes (or change in your

pocket)• In general, avoid things that distract attention for

your presentation

Title Page

• Title of Research• Your name• The date• For whom and by whom it was prepared• Collaborators, etc.

Selecting a Title• Brief• include the variables included in the study• the type of relationship among the variables• the population to which the results may be

applied• Avoid … “Report of,” “Discussion of,”

single-word titles (and probably double word titles)

Outline & Organization

• Provide one– tell the audience where you are taking them

• Major Parts– Opening– Background– Design– Schedule / Plan– Deliverables

Opening• About 10-15% of the time• Motivation, setting the stage

– explain the problem, its context, and why it is important to solve it

• Explaining the nature of the project– what it attempts to do (goals)– your proposed solutions and your hypothesis– why/how is it novel

2-3 slides

Background• Remember the audience may be unfamiliar

with the area, so basic concepts are necessary – provide the necessary definitions

• Use an illustrative example to explain complex concepts

• Discuss the prior work in the problem and how your proposed research will result in a different or a better solution (explain the gap)

A couple of slides

Research Design• Research Methodologies (and why)• Data collection and characteristics (if any)• Experimental designs • Analysis including metrics used to determine

if proposed solutions are successful• Tie all of this to how you will verify your

hypothesis and your claims• 3-4 slides

Schedule and Deliverables

• Schedule– Only the important steps– Leave the details in the proposal

• Deliverables– What do we get out this study?

1 slide

Conclusions and Ending• Have one slide for Conclusions• Include some ideas for extensions or future

work• End the talk cleanly, do just not fade away

– a bad ending is : that’s it, that’s all I have say.• Wrap up the talk with a positive spin

Question Time

• Try to anticipate questions• Respond positively and honestly to all

questions• don’t try to bluff• no one knows all the answers – don’t try to

make things up• never be rude

Comments on Class Presentations

• Slides– not too much information; break up busy slides– not so little (important concepts should not be

hidden in the notes behind the slides).– Don’t use

• Dark font on dark background• Light font on light background• Font sizes smaller than 20 pt.

Comments on Class Presentations

• Questions & Answers:

– Stop and ask if there are questions• especially in transitions from concept to concept• Maintain eye contact with your audience

– Come up with questions to generate some discussion• put them explicitly in the presentation• helps you remember to stop, and helps audience to focus

Comments on Class Presentations

• Questions & Answers:

– Anticipate questions and discussion • may result in going over your allotted time • This mean you must have back up plans• select portions of the presentation or specific

slides that can be skipped if necessary

Comments on Class Presentations• Use of Analogies and Examples:

– Simple examples or analogies are extremely important to aid understanding of complex concepts• but they should be supplemented with realistic

examples that illustrate the complexities as well as the basic concepts

• Use the following model:

concept simple analogy realistic example concept+

Comments on Class Presentations

• Use of Analogies and Examples:

– When presenting abstract concepts or definitions• try to come up with your own supplementary

examples• especially from a paper or academic source