Suggestions for Presentations
(From the Faculty of the Department of Mathematical Sciences)
• Do not “bite off too much.” In a short talk, you cannot do everything that you would do in a real class.
• Understand and rehearse the material well enough not to have to look at any notes (except when complex formulas or numerical data arise).
• Strive for clear diction, and speak meaningfully.
• Be very alert to proper use of terminology and notation.
• Think of the material from your students’ perspective. Each time you consider an example or an explanation, ask yourself, “How will a student (who is not as up on this as I am) really interpret this?”
• Think carefully about the mode of presentation (chalkboard, transparencies, etc.). In particular, if there is a substantial amount of information to show, then there may not enough time to use the chalkboard.
• Even if there is no time to present the proof of a theorem, you should be able to talk intelligently about the proof if asked.
(1) Thou shalt know thy stuff.
(2) Thou shalt not attempt to snow, hoodwink, or deceive the audience in any way.
(3) Thou shalt face thy audience most of the time.
(4) Thou shalt not whip thy overhead slides on and off the projector without giving the audience a chance to read them.
(5) Thou shalt begin thy boardwork on the upper left portion of the board, and produce columns of writing as thou movest to the right.
(6) Thou shalt lessen thy difficulties by avoiding undue usage of technical terms.
(7) Thou shalt feel free to use colors in thy slides or in thy boardwork.
(8) Thou shalt not bite off more than thou can chew—10 minutes is not a long to enlighten thy neighbor.
(9) Thou shalt honor the trinity: Introduction, Body, Conclusion.
(10) Thou shalt be enthusiastic and cheerful.