158 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    160 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Having the ability to speak confidently; engage the audience; make a clear, well-argued case; and handle any tricky situations, is rarely a natural talent, but it can be learned through application and practice. Scientists Must Speak, Second Edition, helps readers do just that.

    At some point in their careers, the majority of scientists have to stand up in front of an inquisitive audience or board and present information. This can be a stressful experience for many. For scientists, the experience may be further complicated by the specialist nature of the data and the fact that most self-help books are aimed at business or social situations. Scientists Must Speak includes sections on:

    * targeting your talk - knowing your audience and how to pitch to them
    * organizing your presentation - aligning your points logically around a central key theme
    * using visual aids effectively - how to avoid a random slide show
    *'practice, practice, practice' - it's a rare orator that does not need to practice
    * taking control - preparing the room, using eye contact, and checking the audience is with you
    * voice and language - developing a good speaking style, and help for those for whom English is a second language
    * body language - the messages your posture, mannerisms and facial expressions convey to the audience
    * handling question and answer sessions - taking the fear out of these
    * expecting the unexpected - how to cope with unforeseen mishaps
    * adapting material for different situations - how to avoid reinventing the wheel
    * organizing a session with several speakers - how to organize or chair sessions

    Written by authors with many years' experience of teaching presentation techniques, this engaging text will help readers make the best of their presentations and remove some of the fear that makes them a daunting prospect.

    Part I: Preparation

    Target your talk
    Introduction
    Who is your audience?
    What brings them together?
    Ask questions about the audience in advance
    How technical is this audience?
    What does the audience want from this presentation?
    What do you want to accomplish?
    Learn from the experts
    How can you meet your listeners’ needs and accomplish your goals?
    A brief, dynamic introduction to your presentation
    Your regard for the audience
    Your obvious enthusiasm for the topic
    Emphasis on significant conclusions
    Words that reach every person in the audience
    Minimize details about techniques and methods
    A succinct, clear summary and reiteration of the take-home message
    Allow 5 to 10 minutes for questions
    Summary
    Exercises

    Organize your presentation
    Introduction
    Five formulas for structuring the presentation
    Introduction–body–conclusion formula… or tell, tell, tell
    The introduction
    The body
    The conclusion
    Transitions
    Four other formulas for organizing your presentation
    Question and answer
    AIDA
    Borden’s ho-hum method
    The motivated sequence
    Collecting, arranging, and focusing your ideas
    Outlining
    Mind mapping
    Start at the end and work backward
    Storyboards
    Revising and refining your talk
    Flow
    Zing
    Timing
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercises

    Visual aids
    Introduction
    What should and should not be in a visual aid
    Types of visual aids
    Advantages and disadvantages
    of different kinds of visual aids
    Projection technologies
    Write as you go
    Models or products
    Handouts
    Designing and preparing visual aids
    Presentation software makes it easy—too easy?
    Layout
    Using text on your visual aids
    Graphs and drawings
    Special effects
    Using visual aids
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercise

    Practice, practice, practice
    Introduction
    Let the words flow
    Watch your timing
    What about notes?
    Get feedback
    Integrate your visual aids
    Get comfortable with your setting
    And now for something really scary…
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercises
    Speaker evaluation guidelines and checklist

    Part II: Delivery

    Take control of the situation
    Introduction
    Before you start talking
    Check the room setup
    Talk to the people who arrive early
    Take a few moments for mental preparation and relaxation
    Have your opening sentences firmly in mind
    As you begin talking
    Have we been introduced?
    What should they expect from you?
    What do you expect from them?
    Throughout your presentation
    Attitude
    Make eye contact
    Watch the time
    Give a strong ending and then stop talking
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercise 

    Voice and language
    Introduction
    Voice
    Volume
    Pacing
    Vocal variety
    Language
    Choice of words
    Pronunciation
    Back to Babel
    Language issues—you are not speaking
    your native language
    Language issues—members of your audience
    are not native speakers of your language
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercises

    Body language and gestures
    Introduction
    First impressions
    The importance of nonverbal communication
    Facial expression
    Posture
    What to do with hands and arms
    More ways to be interesting to watch!
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercise

    Handling question-and-answer sessions
    Introduction
    Tell everyone what the rules are
    How to handle questions
    How to handle hostile questions and questioners
    Think about your audience
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercise
    Part III: Special situations

    When the unexpected happens
    Introduction
    Extemporaneous speaking
    When the extemporaneous situation strikes
    Can you practice for an extemporaneous talk?
    The job interview as an extemporaneous situation
    When crisis strikes
    Stay calm
    Plan ahead
    Deal with the situation as directly as possible
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercise

    Adapting material from one situation to another
    Introduction
    What has changed?
    Adapting written material to an oral presentation
    Adapting a talk from one audience to another
    Adapting a long presentation to a shorter one
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercises
    Adapting material: a checklist

    Organizing a program with several speakers
    Introduction
    Coordinating the messages
    Choosing the speakers
    How many?
    Symposium program
    Technical sales program
    Departmental seminar program
    Organization
    Chairing a program
    In preparation
    How to introduce a speaker
    Running the show
    After the show is over
    Summary
    Some key messages from this chapter
    Exercise
    Concluding remarks
    The speaker’s bookshelf

    Index

    Biography

    D. Eric Walters, Gale C. Walters