How To Give How To Give a good good Technical Talk Technical Talk Bertrand Meyer Bertrand Meyer , ETH Zürich ETH Zürich
to my talk talk ! Welcome Welcome to my
The Plan Of My Talk The Plan Of My Talk � Part 1: What I am going to say Part 1: What I am going to say � Part 2: The problem Part 2: The problem � Part 3: Initial approach Part 3: Initial approach � Part 4: The basic idea Part 4: The basic idea � Part 5: Refinements on the basic idea Part 5: Refinements on the basic idea � Part 6: Some useful observations Part 6: Some useful observations � Part 7: Summary and conclusions Part 7: Summary and conclusions
The Plan Of My Talk The Plan Of My Talk � Part 1: What I am going to say Part 1: What I am going to say � Part 2: The problem Part 2: The problem � Part 3: Initial approach Part 3: Initial approach � Part 4: The basic idea Part 4: The basic idea � Part 5: Refinements on the basic idea Part 5: Refinements on the basic idea � Part 6: Some useful observations Part 6: Some useful observations � Part 7: Summary and conclusions Part 7: Summary and conclusions 4
Introduction In In this this talk talk I I am am going going to to discuss discuss how how to to give give a a good good technical technical presentation presentation. . I I will will go go over over different different techniques techniques and and tools tools and and try try to to share share as as much much of of my my experience experience as as I I can can. . You You should should not not expect expect a a perfect perfect recipe recipe for for success success but but I I hope hope that that I I can can help help you you achieve achieve enough enough proficiency proficiency to to become become an an effective effective technical technical speaker speaker able able to to carry carry his his or or her her results results to to a a broad broad technical technical audience audience and and maybe maybe even even to to the the point point of of starting starting to to enjoy enjoy giving giving such such talks, talks, while while the the audience audience is is benefiting benefiting greatly greatly from from your your insights insights. . I I will will talk talk about about many many different different aspects aspects of of giving giving talks, talks, including including some some having having to to do do with with substance substance and and some some with with form form. . For For example example I I will will describe describe the the best best way way to to organize organize and and present present your your slides slides and and some some of of the the common common mistakes mistakes that that people people make make when when presenting presenting their their talks, talks, and and which which can can ruin ruin the the presentation of presentation of even even the the best best ideas ideas. . That’s That’s really really a a pity pity because because it it is is not not so so hard hard to to become become good good at at technical technical talks talks as as long long as as you you have have the the substance substance to to support support your your presentation presentation techniques techniques. . In In fact fact that that is is the the first first thing thing I I will will start start to to talk talk about about: : that that what what matters matters most most is is content content. . But But even even with with the the best best content content it it is is essential essential that that the the presentation presentation techniques techniques be be good good enough enough to to support support the the concepts concepts. . Too Too many many excellent excellent research research efforts efforts have have been been damaged damaged by by lousy lousy slides, slides, lousy lousy delivery, delivery, or or the the violation violation of of elementary elementary rules rules of of public public discourse discourse that that every every 14 14- -year year old old should should master master but but that, that, for for some some reason, reason, even even seasoned seasoned presenters, presenters, not not to to mention mention professors, professors, continue continue to to ignore ignore. . I I hope hope you you won’t won’t be be one one of of them them and and intend intend to to give give you you a a kind kind of of laundry laundry list list of of techniques, techniques, dare dare I I call call them them tricks, tricks, that that won’t won’t necessarily necessarily make make you you a a Broadway Broadway actor actor but but should should at at the the very very least least enable enable you you to to deliver deliver the the results results of of your your research research clearly, clearly, forcefully forcefully and and effectively effectively. .
OK, let’s try again, seriously this time! 6 6
Technically Speaking! Bertrand Meyer ETH Zürich 7 Software Engineering
The bad news The key rule to giving an outstanding technical talk… … is something I can’t even begin to teach you in this presentation: …Content! Form follows function 8
More bad news! As to the rest… not everyone has it by birth! (or prior education) 9
The good news You can learn. Anyone can become a good technical speaker! 10 1
Talking about substance… Integrity is essential No need to be shy about your results, but don’t over-represent: � Never assert for a fact what you don’t know to be one. (Conjectures, working hypotheses etc. OK if labeled as such) � Never make a statement that you wouldn’t be able to defend if questioned Do mention limitations, uncertainties and doubts on your results; this is the mark of the professional Don’t imply that you came up with an idea if it’s from someone else; give credit. � (But don’t waste time acknowledging co-workers etc., this is for the paper) 11 11
For this course: reviewing a paper Understand the paper Present its key points clearly Do not parrot the paper: explain in your own words, for this audience Read some of the referenced literature The easier the paper, the deeper and more extensive your work should be If empirical paper: try to redo the experiments Do not hesitate to assess the paper and give your own opinions, but separate “news” from “editorial” Prepare your presentation like a technical talk 12 1
Your key resource and enemy… … is time. You won’t be able to say all you would like to. � The question is not whether to skip some of the material � The question is what to skip 13 1
Things to do in advance Answer the following questions (assuming your talk is scheduled for 30 minutes): � What are the three key ideas or results I want to convey? � If I have only 20 minutes, what will I cut? � If I had only 5 minutes, what would I select? Cut down on the number of slides; shorten remaining ones (Keep some of the extra material handy, for example after the conclusion) 14 1
A standard way to structure your talk � Start with a clear statement of the problem � State your essential contribution at the beginning � Then develop it � Keep a surprise for the final part � Conclude with a summary of results and openings for the future 15 1
Presenting: the basics Speak to your audience, not to your slides Face the audience, make eye contact: � Include all listeners � Stay with one person for one line of thought � Change to next person if you receive an acknowledgement (e.g. nodding) Control your movements, no funny or distracting gestures (Gestures should serve the content) Form follows substance! 16 1
The really basic basics You want* to be understood! � Structure your presentation � Keep sentences short � Talk loud enough � Vary your voice Use pauses for effect * (We hope) 17 1
The basics of the really basic basics You are telling a story! What characterizes a good story? 18 1
Of course, this is not just any story The technical talk is a genre in itself 19 1
Knowing your audience Relate to your audience Do a little research on your audience ahead of time (but be prepared to adapt) Know to walk the fine line between a little flattery and pandering 20 2
Managing time Determine a time per slide (e.g. two minutes) Cut, cut, cut! Get rid of anything that’s not essential. Get rid of platitudes. Get rid of irrelevant comments. Don’t hesitate to repeat the most important or novel statements. People don’t listen 100%. Don’t repeat the outline, as most people do – this is the best way to lose the interest of your audience 21 2
The Plan Of My Talk The Plan Of My Talk � Part 1: What I am going to say Part 1: What I am going to say � Part 2: The problem Part 2: The problem � Part 3: Initial approach Part 3: Initial approach � Part 4: The basic idea Part 4: The basic idea � Part 5: Refinements on the basic idea Part 5: Refinements on the basic idea � Part 6: Some useful observations Part 6: Some useful observations � Part 7: Summary and conclusions Part 7: Summary and conclusions
Managing time Plan your talk shorter than required � 2 minutes per slide � Include time for questions, discussion Skipping slides looks unprofessional (but you may keep extra slides for expected questions) Using too much time is rude 23 2
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