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Are academic presentations a bit like this?
Usually no one thinks to tell you how to 'do conference' - even as badly as Sheldon from the 'Big Bang Theory'.
Your supervisor may assume you know what is involved. It's normal to not have a clue!
How do I write an abstract?
Exercise: In groups of four or less discuss the worst presentations you have ever seen and make a list of at least 5 things not to do when you present!
It’s tea time and you are standing there with no one to talk to… what should you do?
In groups of 4 or less discuss some possible strategies based on networking tips you know.
Pick your best three to share with the rest of the group.
Get a feel for the room before you present
If possible watch others present on similar topics to gauge audience reaction
Arrange your environment to best advantage
Don’t apologise: keep calm and carry on
Note good phrases used by others and employ them
Refer to your own previous work if possible
http://www.presentationmagazine.com/
http://www.presentationzen.com/
http://www.duarte.com/books/slideology/www
www.thethesiswhisperer.wordpress.com has a section on presentations
Rugg, G and M. Petre (2010) The unwritten rules of PhD research (2nd edition), Open University Press: Maidenhead (available electronically through the RMIT library)
Silvia, P. J (2007), How to write a lot, American psychological association: Washington DC
Kamler, B and Thomson, P (2006) Helping doctoral students to write, Routledge: New York
‘How to write less badly’ by Michael C. Munger http://chronicle.com/article/10-Tips-on-How-to-Write-Less/124268/
Prepared for the On Track program by:
This is a prezi
Click 'autoplay' or the arrows to follow the path I have set for you. Click on objects to zoom up on them
Dr Inger Mewburn (a.k.a @thesiswhisperer)
Research Fellow, School of Graduate Research
RMIT University, Australia
www.thethesiswhisperer.wordpress.com
Be the person people want to talk to
“Students are typically admitted into doctoral programmes because they have been good course‐takers. Yet, the PhD is awarded for doing independent research and making an ‘original contribution’ to knowledge. Graduate faculty acknowledge that the transition to independent research is hard for many students, and that they cannot predict who will successfully make the transition and complete the doctorate based only on students’ undergraduate records or even their performance in their first year of graduate school. Similarly, many graduate students feel unprepared to make the transition. Drawing on recent work on creativity, this paper provides a theoretical perspective on the factors that facilitate and impede doctoral students’ transition to independent research.”
Lovitts, Barbara (2005) Being a good course‐taker is not enough: a theoretical perspective on the transition to independent research, Studies in Higher Education , Volume 30, Issue 2
How do I get started?
The conference theme is important, but not a crucial, component of your abstract.
Kamler and Thomson (2006) claim there are 4 main things an abstract must do:
Tips for making a good impression
What sort of paper should I write?
How do I deal with Questions?
What is the call to action of your thesis?
What do you want people to be able to do or think differently as a result? Try to write it in a sentence.
Rugg and Petre (2010) suggest that there are eight different types of journal papers:
Understanding which type of paper you plan to write allows you to consciously adopt the right conventions.
For more on this attend the workshop "write that journal article in 7 days"
How do seasoned conference goers do it?
Who is the AUDIENCE?
Presenting the paper is the easy part! Dealing with questions can be more difficult.
Not all questions are equal – some are rants thinly disguised as questions!
Here’s some tips:
Have a pen handy and make a note
Repeat the question back to clarify it
Ask the questioner what they think
Ask the questioner to give you a shorter version of the question
Refer the questioner to the full paper for the answer
Tell them you will catch up at tea time
Do I need to practice?
A key part of conferencing is working the 'hallway track'.
YES
What sort of presentation?
Remember: the main point of the talk is to convince people to read your work.
Your presentation doesn’t have to be comprehensive, just interesting.
Work out how many words you can say comfortably in 20 minutes. You may wish to write your presentation out in plain language to that word length to time it
Then either:
Read it out as naturally as possible or
Reduce it to dot points you will follow as you talk
There are several formats for presenting your work:
Long papers of approx 1 hour (usually reserved for key notes)
Short papers of approx 20 - 30 minutes
Workshop panel participation
Poster presentations
All audiences are different
They will have expectations
based on who you are and where you are
Who pays for conferences?
(http://thethesiswhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/5-ways-to-poster-fail/)
The organisers / regulars
You
The Keynote speaker
You will probably have to fund some of the travel expenses... Write to the organisers and ask for a discount based on the distance you have to travel or offer to help out.
Your school has to let you know how much money they are prepared to give you - so ask!
Apply for the DVC R&I travel scholarship through the SGR
Speak slowly
Make pauses count
Watch the audience body language
Try to make eye contact as much as you can
Don’t have too much text on your slides
Put in some pictures and tables
Never put yellow text on a white background
Oh Dear!