Writing &

&
Writing
Presentation (Part
(Part 2)
2)
Presentation

Writing aa Research
Research Paper
Paper
Writing

Basic considerations
Finding a good topic
Finding suitable literature materials
Evaluating literature
Presenting research methodology
Compiling experimental data
Analysis & discussion
Formatting & illustrations
A sample of research paper

Basic Considerations
Considerations
Basic
R e s e a rc h P a p e r
B e f o r e W r itin g P r o c e s s

W h i c h P u b li c a t i o n ?

G o o d P a p e r?

S t e p s in W r i t i n g

F o r m a t g u id e lin e s
P a g e a llo w e d
A u d ie n c e

The paper
T h e p u b lic a t io n
T h e p u b lis h e r

S in g le a u th o r ?
D is s t r ib u t io n o f w o r k
P u b lic a t io n P r o c e d u r e

Criteria of
of aa Good
Good Research
Research Paper
Paper
Criteria

Published in a flagship refereed journal

Subject on frontier of knowledge
Research findings are original
Significant area of study
Published at the right timing
Minimum mistakes
Methodologically sound
Analytically sound
Grammatically sound
Clear diagram
References are up-to-date & significant
Correctly formatted

Name List

Name List (continued)

Name List (continued)

Name List (continued)

Example
The water quality index introduced by the Department of Environment
(DOE) is being practiced in Malaysia for almost 25 years. The index need
to be considered during sample taken is the six parameters. The Malaysian
Water Quality Index (WQI) is an opinion-poll formula. A panel of experts
was consulted on the choice of the parameters and the weightage was
assigned to each parameter. The parameters which have been chosen are
dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical
oxygen demand (COD), suspended solid (SS), pH value (pH) and
ammonical nitrogen (AN), (Khuan et. al, 2002).
However, a few limitations and disadvantages were identified
while reviewing the Malaysia water quality index procedure and the long
term data recorded in various river basins in Malaysia. One of them the
pH is not a problem for most of the Malaysian rivers and thus can be
eliminated from the existing WQI equations. In reality, pH should be
monitored to assess the suitability of water for other usages as required by
the National Water Quality Standards (NWQS).

PRESENTATION IN
IN SEMINAR
SEMINAR OR
OR
PRESENTATION
CONFERENCE
CONFERENCE
Outlines:

Effective presentation
Preparation
Message structure
Audience
Channel of Communication
Problem of Anxiety & Stage Fright
Summary

Effective Presentation
Presentation Based
Based on:
on:
Effective
The speaker (speaking style,
motivation, credibility)
Message (content, style, structure)
Audience (e.g., age, sex, education,
career)
Channel of Communication (verbal,
nonverbal, pictorial)
Feedback (reaction, response)
Noise (coughing, talking, ventilation)
Setting (room, projector, screen)

Preparation
Preparation

Research the audience

Devise the presentation channels
Organize presentation aids
Check the setting
Rehearse

The Message
Message
The
The Message: EVERYTHING
Structure:
Intro/body/conclusion
Content of Message
Style: Informal/formal

The Message:
Message: Structure
Structure
The
INTRODUCTION
An opening message
(e.g. quote,
statistics)
Objective
Introduce the subjects

The Message:
Message: Structure
Structure
The
BODY

Describe your approach and

methods
Present the results
Focus on your main points
or ideas
Discuss the implication or
results for the discipline
of study

The Message:
Message: Structure
Structure
The
CONCLUSION
Summary
Question & answer
Classic advance
Tell them what youre
going to tell them, tell
them and tell them again

Format
Slide should be visually appealing
varied versus standard format
Quality control
Spell check slide
Check for grammatical error
Check for accuracy of data
Make as many slide as possible in
advance to give yourself enough time
for corrections and practice

Slide layout

Maximize contrast for best visibility so

slide are easy to see and read, even
under less than ideal lighting condition
Light text/foreground on dark background

Slide layout

Maximize contrast for best visibility so

slide are easy to see and read, even
under less than ideal lighting condition
Light text/foreground on dark background

Color scheme

Do not use more color that is needed is

to be effective

Effect
Use animation and sounds judiciously
Animation can be particularly useful in
background ad model slides when you want
to build a story.
Sound are mainly cute and so too many
can be distracting

Slide tips

Speaking style

Volume

Speak loudly enough but dont yell

Dont drop you voice at the end of
sentence
Pause silently when gathering your
thoughts
Its always better to think silently before
answering a question

Mannerisms

conclusion

The Audience
Audience
The
A
U
D
I
E
N
C
E

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

Analysis: who are they? How many?

Understanding: knowledge?
Demographics: age, sex, education?
Interest: why are they there?
Environment: where will I stand?
Needs: what are their needs?
Customised: specific needs? Presentation aids?
Expectations: what to learn?

The Channel
Channel of
of Communication:
Communication:
The
Verbal
Tone of voice, variations in pitch

Nonverbal
Gestures, facial expressions, body movement,
posture

Pictorial
Diagrams, charts, graphs, pictures

Organise Presentation
Presentation Aids:
Aids:
Organise

Integrated into your style..

Moves the presentation on..
Professional appearance..
Appropriates to the moment..
Communicates to the audience..
Technically sound.

Check the
the Setting:
Setting:
Check

What are the facilities available

Visit the venue & room
Test the facilities
Change the environment ?

How to
to Rehearse
Rehearse
How

Devise the presentation

Practice in your head
Say it out loud
Do it in front of the mirror
Use a cassette recorder or video
Try it in front of other people
Rehearse it on site

Ways to
to Make
Make Your
Your Body
Body Speak
Speak
Ways
Rid yourself of Distracting
Mannerism
Build self-confidence by being
yourself
Let your body mirror your
feelings
Build self-confidence through
preparation
Use your everyday speaking
situations
Facial expressions
Eye contact

How to
to Gesture
Gesture Effectively
Effectively
How

Respond naturally to what you think, feel,

see.
Create the condition for gesturing, not to
gesture.
Suit the action to the word and the occasion.
Make your gesture convincing.
Make your gestures smooth and well-timed.
Make natural, spontaneous gesturing a habit.

How to
to Remember
Remember Material
Material
How
Memorizing
Reading from complete text
Using notes/Prompts
Using visual aids as notes

Effective Prompts
Prompts
Effective
Keywords
Pictures
Mind maps
Logos

Using Computer
Computer LCD
LCD Projectors
Projectors
Using

Read LCD projector manual

Practice setting the equipment
Set up well in advance
Check the LCD projector bulb life
Bring a spare bulb and cables
Check your colour combinations
Check your font sizes

Using Overhead
Overhead Transparencies
Transparencies
Using

Practice giving your presentation using it

Stand off to one side
Do not face the projected image
Cover the transparency when you are done
Place the overhead to your right (for righthanded)
Place your screen on a diagonal
Tape the power chord to the floor

How to
to reduce
reduce Anxiety
Anxiety &
& Stage
Stage Fright
Fright
How

Know the room become familiar with the place

Arrive early and walk around the room, the speaking
area
Stand at the lectern, speak into the microphone
Walk around where the audience will be seated
Walk from where your will be seated to where you
will be speaking
Know the audience
Know your material
Practice your speech or presentation and revise it
Learn how to relax
Sit comfortable with your back straight

Summary -- Criteria
Criteria for
for Success
Success
Summary

Does not exceed the allotted time

The subject is well introduced
Clear scope and objectives
Focused on no more than 3 major points
Implications for the discipline of study
Ideas are brought to closure
Overheads/slide/screen are clearly visible
Presented in clear voice
The speaker is enthused by his topic

Tips for
for Effective
Effective Oral
Oral Presentations
Presentations
Tips

A new design or a fresh idea is only the

beginningeffective communication of
ideas is as important as the idea itself.
Three basic elements: You, the idea, and
the audience.

Tips for
for Effective
Effective Oral
Oral Presentations
Presentations
Tips
Three basic elements: You, the idea, and the
audience.
You are the expert. Your appearance, manner,
and words should project authority.
Ideas should be organized in such a way that they
will be easy to understand. Planning and
practicing your presentation before hand and
including visual aids will make it more effective.
You should know your audience, anticipate their
questions, and monitor their understanding.

Tips for
for Effective
Effective Oral
Oral Presentations
Presentations
Tips
Three stages of preparation: Plan, practice, and
present.
A well-organized presentation comes across as natural
because the ideas are organized and presented in such a
way that they are easily understood; an unplanned talk is
often tedious and difficult to follow.
Practice makes perfect. It really does. And the PCC (1st
floor Swearingen) has a presentation practice room.
Practicing allows you to discover problems before they
matter.
Be prepared for devastating equipment failures and audience
disinterest. Then, if things go better as you present, you will
feel confident with your level of preparedness.

Tips for
for Effective
Effective Oral
Oral Presentations
Presentations
Tips
Three stages of presentation: Introduce,
substantiate, and summarize.
Tell them what you are going to tell them. Oral
communication limits the pacing of the audiences exposure
to information. A thorough introduction to the ideas you are
presenting helps the audience to keep up with your pace.
Tell them. Important ideas should be supported with data
or examples. Here, visual aids can be very effective in
giving the audience a clearer understanding of what you
are saying.
Tell them what you told them. The audience will remember
your conclusions/summaries best.

Tips for
for Effective
Effective Oral
Oral Presentations
Presentations
Tips
Three non-content factors: Posture, voice, and
attitude.
Dress professionally, face the audience, move about (but
not mechanically), breath deeply, and relax.
Project your voice to the audience. Speak at a steady
pace, pausing before and/or after important points. Talk to
the audience, not at them. Make regular eye contact with
them.
Try to project yourself as relaxed and confident. You are
not personally on trial, but your general attitude will
determine if and/or how the ideas you have are received.

Tips for
for Effective
Effective Oral
Oral Presentations
Presentations
Tips
Slides and/or Handouts
Slides and/or handouts can be very useful in
facilitating the transfer of ideas from you to the
audience. But they should not distract from the
content of your talk. Keep visual aids simple.
One slide, for instance, should have a short
heading followed by one piece of information (a
graph or table) or one group of related ideas (no
more than five bullets with no more than ten
words per bullet).

References
References

David Lindsay, A guide to Scientific

Writing, Longman Publisher, T11 L56 1984
Herbert B Michaelson, How to write and
Publish Engineering Papers and reports,
T11 M54 1982 n2
Edward P Bailey, Philip A Powell, Writing
Research Papers A Practical Guide, LB
1047.3 B34 1987 n2

Thank you
you
Thank