Presentations require good preparation. They are fundamentally different from a paper or thesis. A bad presentation is an ordeal for the speaker and the audience. A good one, however, enlightens the audience and helps them understand the conclusions drawn from the research. Below you will find some pointers that can help you prepare a good presentation.

Before you start, ask yourself what your aim is. The most common aims are transferring information, receiving feedback and testing the validity of your conclusions through debate. Once you have established which goal you aim to achieve, think about the type of presentation needed to accomplish this. Are you going to talk about your whole paper or thesis, or zoom in on one particular aspect? The best approach depends in part on the allotted time. Keep all these considerations in mind.

Start by writing down what you wish to convey. There are many ways to prepare in writing. Some people write out their whole story from beginning to end and bring that to the presentation. Others use just a number of key sentences or key words, and some even learn their entire text by heart.

It is best to practice your presentation several times before the actual event. This helps you take some distance from your written version and enables you to talk about your research more loosely and confidently. Practicing will teach you where to pause, when to switch to the next slide (if you use them) and when to ask your audience a question. Bring your written version to the real presentation as a ‘crutch’.