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The Basics of Giving a Seminar Talk

Nicholas A. Gariano

Senior Graduate Student

LSU Chemistry Department

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Presentations

• The most effective ways I’VE found to connect with an audience and get positive results from a presentation.

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Good presentations start with good intentions.

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Choose a topic that interests you• Interest and enthusiasm come across easily

in your presentation.

• Major points and conclusions are far more interesting than details.

Why does anyone want to know about your talk?

• You need to choose a topic worth talking about

• Tell the audience why this work is importantMore importantly… why it’s important to you.

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Good presentations are made with hard work.

• Procrastination shows… and doesn’t reflect well

• Hard work IS worth it !!

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Building a great slide• Titles should be a complete sentence or

phrase

Good Good Good

• Flow should go from left to right if possible

• Colors should help not detractBadBadBad

http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/encyc_colorwheel.html

• Choose a font that is simple and size

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What should I put in the slide?

• Don’t put empty slides – simple with details

• There is such a thing as too much of a good thing

• Non-data pictures and sound should be used very sparinglyThis goes for transitions too

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An Example of what not to do

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Organization and content of a great talk

• Follow standard Intro, background, results, and conclusion format No Table of contents slide

• Format and presentation is just as important as content

Talks/slides need to be easy to understand and follow

• Background, background, background

• Numbering slides helps identify them during questions

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• Know your audienceDon’t talk above or below your audience

• Follow the same format on all slidesBullets, color schemes, font, etc.

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Time management

• Material based on timeDon’t smash too much into a short talk

• Don’t rush your slides1-2 min per slide

• Take 5 seconds before each slide to pace yourself and remind

• Always leave time for questions

http://amerihopealliance.com/blog/2012/06/tic-toc-the-bank-wont-wait/

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Practice and being prepared

• Practice at least 2-3 timesUse your fellow students / friends

• Do at least one full dress practice in the actual room

• Eat something before you talk and bring a bottle of water

• Always have more than 1 copy of your presentation

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The delivery of your presentation should keep the audience connected.

• Don’t memorize a talk word for word, talk to the audience.

• Don’t read off the slidesKnow what you know

• Don’t look at the screen/board when you talk

• Don’t fidget

• Don’t plagiarize

• Tell a story, don’t read data.

Dr. Russo

The Don’ts of Presenting

You are presenting yourself along with your work

• You need to practice your talk

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• If you don’t exude a calm, prepared, and knowledgeable facade, people will assume that you aren’t.

• Edit your slides and check for spellling also gramatical erross.

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You are presenting yourself as much as your work

• At least casual formal dress is expectedComfortable, but not too comfortable

• Look in the mirror before you give your talk

• Generally look presentableGuys…. shave

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There are other good sources of information too• http://macro.lsu.edu/

– http://macro.lsu.edu/msg/SeminarStuff/seminars.htm

– http://macro.lsu.edu/msgsa/• Professors• Older Graduate Students• Practice, Practice, Practice

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Does anyone have any Questions?