PRESENTING SKILLS

Presenting research results at conferences is a key component of doctoral research. Along with academic journals, conferences are one of the main ways through which researchers share ideas and new developments. They also provide a useful platform for clarifying ideas and understanding related concepts. The aim of this workshop is to promote an understanding of what makes a ‘good’ presentation and to translate this understanding into individual presentations. One of the main challenges facing conference participants is translating one’s research from the written to the oral medium, i.e. compressing a substantial research paper into a short talk. While written material can be reread, oral material cannot be re-heard. Therefore it is important that both the delivery and volume of material are appropriate to the given setting and that the language used communicates well orally.

During the workshop participants will have the opportunity to give a 15-minute presentation on their own research topic, which will subsequently be refined using both peer and instructor feedback. Presentation skills covered include structuring a presentation, sign-posting, handling questions, rhetorical techniques, as well as improving one’s overall fluency. Participants will benefit from intensive interaction with other participants.

Aims

 • to identify and avoid traditional pitfalls in oral presentations
 • to implement appropriate tools for the oral medium, while carefully aligning
   structure, design and information content
 • to improve accuracy, sophistication and clarity
 • to understand the strengths (and potential weaknesses) of the personal
   presentation style.

Duration: one or two-day seminar