Skip to Main Content

Scientific writing: Presentations

Defining Presentations

What is a presentation?

A presentation is a unique opportunity for scholars to share their findings and hard work regarding a study or a certain topic. 

Presentations come in all types of forms depending on the type of environment you are in. One of the most common types of presentations is a lightning talk. Lightning talks (also known as SparkTalks at UIC) are quick presentations that are usually five minutes or less. This form of presentation allows people to learn a diverse set of topics in a short amount of time.

A great presentation should not only inform the audience about a topic, but it should also transform the audience in some way. 

Watch this video if you want to learn some tips on how to prepare your presentation's content.

How to Prepare for your Presentation

Although there are different types of presentations that will call for different types of preparation, here are some general tips to help you get started.

 

Know your audience

Who are the people you are presenting to? When it comes to preparing for a presentation, you cannot give the same content to all types of audiences. For example, you cannot give the same talk about healthcare to high schoolers that you would give to Pre-Med students. This is because of the different expectations and levels of understanding that each group has. Some presentations are meant to introduce people to a topic while others are meant for professionals in that field.

By knowing your audience, you will know the expectations your audience has when it comes to your content's depth and amount of detail.

Not only is it important for you to know your specific audience, but also how people are able to obtain information in general. Watch this video to find out how to grab your audience's attention.

5 Things Every Presenter Needs To Know About People from Weinschenk on Vimeo.

 

Use structure to build on ideas and to create a story

If you tell your points in a random order, your audience can have a harder time remembering your content. Your presentation should not only present facts but tell a story. This makes it easier for your audience to comprehend complex ideas. By having your ideas and each section build on the previous ideas you have mentioned, your audience will have a better connection with your content.

 

Use visuals

A picture is worth a thousand words. People obtain information in different ways. While some people can capture information by hearing it, many are visual learners and would like to see the information you are sharing demonstrated in front of them. For some presentations, you might want to create visuals to portray your information in a way that makes it easier for your audience to understand.

Some examples of visuals that you can use:

  • charts
  • graphs
  • illustrations
  • news headlines

 

Be relatable

As a presenter, you want to be someone that your audience can relate to. Especially if you are an expert in your field, it is important to let your audience know that they can connect with you. Not everyone is going to understand the content you are presenting, so you have to create an environment open to questions and discussion. 

You also have to be enthusiastic about what you are talking about. If you are introducing a new topic to your audience, you want to show them why they should be excited to learn. Why is the information you are presenting important to you?

 

Repetition

When you are preparing for your presentation, repetition is important for two reasons.

The first way you should practice repetition is by practicing your presentation over and over again so you can memorize most of what you are saying. If you are looking down at flashcards/speaker notes during most of your presentation, your audience might not have confidence in you. Practicing your presentation allows you to become more familiar with the information and helps you build confidence. Speaking with confidence during your presentation lets the audience feel reassured about the information they are hearing. 

The second way you should practice repetition is by restating the main points throughout your presentation. When people are listening to presentations, their minds are processing new information and will be trying to find out what information they want to hold onto the most. Repetition makes you and your information memorable by reinforcing why your presentation's information is impactful. Your main points should be said at least 3 times. Do it in a way that feels natural and flows with the rest of your other points.

Watch this video to learn different techniques on how to stay calm during your presentation.

Explore More

Resources

Preparation

This handout contains information on how to be mindful of your audience and be impactful in oral communication.

Visuals

For presentations, PowerPoint is one of the most used programs presenters use to create visuals. This UIC guide highlights PowerPoint's features, how to download the program for free through the UIC portal, and tutorials to help beginners started.

Examples

Listen to this series of 3-4 minute SparkTalks from UIC.

Books

Articles

Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnIPpUiTcRc

https://www.csusm.edu/communication/undergraduate-scholars-research/preparing_presentation.html

https://youtu.be/yoD8RMq2OkU?feature=shared