Every research project aims to influence other people and ultimately make the world a bit better than it was yesterday. You must, however, be a proficient communicator in order to influence others.
Transferring knowledge gained through research is just as imperative as conducting research.
Taking advantage of the direct communication method of academic presentations is a convenient way to transfer such knowledge.
There is a common belief that most researchers are not competent presenters since they lack knowledge of the basic features of a great academic presentation.
A presentation is not only required in academia; it’s a commonplace in the industry, too. Therefore, it is a skill you will need for the rest of your professional career.
Regardless of the situation, presenting can be challenging. In addition, many of our roles are largely performed from home, so presenting online over video calls is an added challenge.
Also, you may have to change your theme and presentation style depending on your audience, the objectives, etc.
Nevertheless, there should be a basic structure for any presentation that will make it more efficient.
The purpose of this blog post is to explain the basic features of a great academic presentation and to offer a universally applicable academic presentation framework.
Tell people what you are going to tell them
“Tell the audience what you’re going to say; say it;
then tell them what you’ve said.”
Dale Carnegie
Even 65 years after this influential speech, communications professionals still criticize the advice given here. Some people recommend presenting your data as a story, so you don’t have to outline what you’re going to present at the beginning. No matter what presentation you are giving, the first part of this advice is always true.
However, mentioning what you are about to present early in your presentation is more important than you might think; this would improve your presentation’s clarity, especially in an academic setting.
The first thing you need to do is to deliver an opening statement that is clear and precise. Remember, audiences don’t know where you’re headed. So give them a glimpse of the big picture, then talk about specifics.
Then tell them how you can solve that problem together by framing your topic in terms of the audience’s needs.
When you begin your speech, the audience is always trying to gauge your level of confidence from the tone of your first couple of sentences. Therefore, ensure that your opening statement is well prepared and strong.
Persuade your audience that you have the confidence to be the center of attention for the next 10 minutes. Having your audience believe you are confident will allow them to relax and know they are in good hands. Depending on the situation, you may also wish to express your thanks to your host.
As an example:
Welcoming and greeting the audience
Hello, everyone. I’d like, first of all, to thank the organizers of this meeting for inviting me here today.
In this talk, I/we would like to concentrate on
Let me introduce myself. I’m Jan Novak from Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
Explaining why your topic is relevant to your audience
Today’s topic is of particular interest to those of you who…
Keep things as simple as possible. Using complicated words or complex sentences is not necessary to make an impact. You just need confidence and precision.
Tell them the material
The next step is to tell your story. Storytelling is one of the essential features of a great academic presentation, and it is the most engaging and emotionally fulfilling tool you can use as a speaker.
This is where you can get the most out of your storytelling skills. The audience can see the logic behind your actions if you follow the “We did this and then we did this” process. Think of yourself as an usher when thinking about this process.
It’s your job to guide them through obstacles to their destination. A poorly done presentation will leave your audience lost in their thoughts, eventually resulting in them losing interest in your talk due to the mismatch between your story and their thought process.
Your point should be illustrated with examples, comparisons and metaphors, visuals, case studies, and personal experiences. This is, of course, presenting the topic in the same manner as you introduced it. Essentially, you will fulfill your promise to your listeners.
Tell them what you told them
In the next and final step, you would summarize your findings and close your presentation.
The lack of a memorable closing when speaking in public is one of the most common flaws. A speech without a conclusion leaves listeners hungry for a last satisfying mouthful. Putting so much effort into your introduction and the body of your presentation is pointless if you do not finish it correctly. Hence, a strong ending with a concise statement can make or break an academic presentation.
Generally, closing a presentation involves recapping the main points of your speech. However, refrain from using the same language as before. This way, the audience will quickly realize how everything came together.
One might argue why it is so important to tell them what you told them in the beginning since you have already covered everything throughout the presentation. If you think about when you are done with the main body of the presentation from the audience’s perspective, they have been exposed to all this information a couple of minutes ago.
In contrast, you were familiar with the things you presented during that period, possibly for more than a year. Therefore, you should repeat what you said at the beginning so that the audience is on the same page as you.
“Quit while you’re ahead” is a well-known saying that embodies the principle that a speech should end as strongly as it began. Remember, listeners will likely remember the last thing you say. So you don’t want to end weakly with a presentation that falls to earth like a leaking balloon.
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