How to Give a
Good Presentation?
Cliff C. Zou
1
Outline

How to Read a Research Paper

Prepare Presentation Slides

Give a Presentation

Follow up

Online Resource
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How to Read a Research Paper

Find papers in high-quality conferences/journals


There are too many conferences/workshops!!
Different fields have different top-tier
conferences/journals
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How to Read a Research Paper


Glance through abstracts to find interesting
ones
Read introduction and one more section to
get the big picture
Understand the novel idea(s) provided by a
paper
 Read “related work” and glance over several
related papers if not familiar with the topic


Read the whole paper if the paper is worth it
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How to Read a Research Paper

Ask questions actively when reading:
What is the novel idea(s)?
 Can I do this research, too?


Some research are not doable by yourself

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E.g., require specific hardware, software, data
A bit frustrating , but keep you motivated
What are the weaknesses of the paper?
 Which point(s) can I do further research on?


Important to conduct your own research
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Outline

How to Read a Research Paper

Prepare Presentation Slides

Give a Presentation

Follow up

Online Resource
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Prepare Presentation Slides

Create examples/figures/animations to
explain
May not in paper, create by yourself
 Animations or step-by-step figures are best in
explaining a system, architecture, algorithm



Not in paper, must be done by yourself
Do not only put words in slides

Boring, too abstract
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Prepare Presentation Slides

Be focused

Success if you pass ONE single central idea of a paper


Audience cannot understand everything in 30 minutes!
If you cannot explain a point clearly, skip it

Some ideas/algorithms are complicated to explain


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Only use a sentence to say the name, and results
In most case, a complicated idea is not the novel point of a paper
Not too colorful Powerpoint template

Readable text: big font, clear color
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
e.g., no green/yellow text on white background
Readable figures

A project usually has fewer color, smaller resolution than a
computer screen!
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Prepare Presentation Slides

Concise, self-explanation text

Not too abstract, contain concrete information


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No need for complete sentences
Some people prefer to read slides than listen!
Good acknowledgement


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For others’ papers, put author names, publication place,
time in the first page
Then, “presented by: your name”
Copying others’ slides must have acknowledgement
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Outline

How to Read a Research Paper

Prepare Presentation Slides

Give a Presentation

Follow up

Online Resource
10
Give a Presentation

Dry run before presentation



Test timing
Get familiar (bad impression if you do not know what you talk!!)
Remember important words to say, be concise

But do not recite every word in speech!
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Especially important to non-English speaker


Monotone, no personal attachment to what you say
Less grammar error, fluent, clear and concise
Intense dry run for important presentation


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Write down talk notes for each page and remember them
Video tape yourself: body language, wasted words (tag)
Ask friends to listen your dry run, get feedback
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Give a Presentation
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Speak loud

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Force you to speak slow, looks confident
Force you to remove murmur, be clear & concise

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Emphasize
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Most murmur are wasted words, not confident words
Audience cannot hear your murmur
Pause after an important point
Even slower, louder on important point
Do not read slides

Slides are for audience to read
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Give a Presentation

Figures


Need to explain X/Y-axis; Don’t rush
Timing
Pay attention to time (put a clear clock in front)
 Prepare to jump slides for timing


Don’t be frustrated for questions or your
mistakes
Be friendly, confident
 Your mood affects audience’s mood!

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Outline

How to Read a Research Paper

Prepare Presentation Slides

Give a Presentation

Follow up

Online Resource
14
Follow Up

In job interview, always send “thank-you”
notes to interviewers
A brief email is good
 Online tutorial: google “thank-you notes”


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Thank, acknowledgement
Explain unanswered questions
Provide paper, reference information promised by
you
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Online Resource

How To Give A Great Presentation
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Presentation Skills


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http://www.editorsplus.com/members.html
For copyediting your thesis, paper
Best writing guideline book:

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http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/mleone/web/how-to.html
Western New England Editorial Freelancers' Network

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http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/dept/Tips/present/present.htm
Advice on Research and Writing

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http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/how-to-give-a-great-presentation/
The Elements of Style by William Strunk
Google: “resume”, “job hunting”, “give presentation”, …

You can find tutorials, samples for any topics through web search
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