Conference Presentation Sins: For conference presenters on behalf of conference audiences

Mortal Sins

1. Reading your paper/presentation to the audience

Reading/skimming from the original paper is unpardonable.

Reading a specially prepared text is usually boring.

Working semi-extemporaneously from a carefully planned and well-rehearsed outline is usually best.

2. Memorizing every word of your presentation

The presenter sounds as if he/she is reading (monotone) or he/she speaks too quickly (best described as sounding "plastic").

The presenter forgot what the next sentence is and spends 3 minutes shuffling papers to find his/her place.

See note above concerning speaking semi-extemporaneously.

3. Going over the time limit

Practice/rehearsal is the key here.

Have a clock/timer in sight.

Plan ahead for material that can be deleted if necessary.

4. Trying to tell the audience everything about your study

The presentation should not attempt to replace the paper; rather it should motivate the audience to read your paper for the details.

Focus your time on the purpose of the paper, the key research questions and relevant results, and the primary implications.

Generally it's best not to go into too much detail about your methods, sample demographics, or basic descriptive statistics. The lit review should also be limited to the key literature (with a minimum of cites).

With a 15-20 minute presentation, don't try and cover more than 2 or 3 related hypotheses/findings. Refer the audience to your paper for additional analyses.

Emphasis your findings, not your analysis. Report only what's necessary to provide credibility.

5. Using unreadable overheads

One of the most common and insulting things heard at conferences: "I know most of you can't read this, but..."

Use large type (probably a minimum of 24 point) -- using Powerpoint, Harvard Graphics or another good graphics/presentation package provides good discipline and easy formatting.

Consider graphs/charts that have more visual appeal than tables.

Leave complicated overheads up long enough to sink in.

Help the audience interpret your tables -- they aren't as familiar with them as you are.

6. Talking to the overhead projector of the screen instead of the audience

7. Leaving it to the audience to summarize or determine the implications.

Don't leave the audience wondering when/if the presentation is finished. End the presentation with a brief summary including any implications.

8. Knowing less about the topic than the audience

Then again, knowing absolutely nothing about the topic is worse.

9. Being unable to answer questions about the presentation

10. Talking about something that is totally different than what the subject of the presentation was supposed to be

11. Saying more "ummm's" and "ahhhh's" than can be counted on a scientific calculator

Venial Sin

Not having (enough) copies of the paper available.

Most of the above is based on the assumptions that you have a paper in which more detailed information is provided.

Try to have enough copies (at least 50 in most cases) on hand, and be prepared to send additional copies to those who request.

At least consider providing handouts of your key tables or overheads (easy to do with Powerpoint, Harvard Graphics, etc.)