Giving a Talk

Abstract

1 " Studies show that fear of public speaking ranks higher than fear of dying. I guess this means that most people at a funeral would rather be in the coffin than delivering the eulogy. Often in your career you will be faced with the prospect of " giving a talk, " that is, making an oral presentation before an audience. These notes are a collection of a few simple guidelines for preparing and delivering a " talk. " The basic principles are applicable in defence of your thesis, at conferences, in giving research progress reports and the like. These notes are intended to supplement—rather than replace—standard texts on public speaking and effective oral communication. The suggestions given here have worked well for the author and his friends; perhaps they will work well for you too! 2 The Basics Define your message. If you have nothing to say, you cannot give an effective talk. Assuming that you do have something to say, it is important to identify at the outset just what it is that you are trying to communicate. Write down a short list of important points that you want to make (no more than 3 or 4). These points are often called the " takeaway message, " that is, the message that the audience should be receiving if your presentation is to be effective. Your entire presentation should focus on presenting the takeaway message in a clear and convincing way. Guard against making your takeaway message overly complex, as this will only overwhelm the audience. Know your audience. To be effective, your talk must be delivered at a level that is appropriate for your audience. You must analyze the background and expectations of the audience to deliver the takeaway message in the most effective manner. This may mean modifying the takeaway message, if the concepts involved are beyond the level of your audience. Knowing your audience, you can begin to decide how much background material is needed to deliver your takeaway message effectively. Your audience will influence your choice of vocabulary (technical jargon) and may even influence how you dress! Prepare well. The best way to give the impression that you know what you are talking about, is really to know what you are talking about. This means that you should understand your subject well, and be able to answer related questions. On the other hand, it is …