Some tips for preparing and presenting a seminar or a project report

[1.] Motivate well: use diagrams, examples from industry and everyday life; bring out
economic or scoial benefits.
[2.] Speak loudly and clearly. Don’t mumble.
[3.] Prepare the lecture site well before hand.
[4.] Slide should not spill over (outside) the screen. Adjust zoom lens or OHP location
to fix this. Also focus well.
[5.] Use a sharp pointer.
[6.] Keep to time (practice several times)
[7.] When (if) told to skip to last slide, obey promptly.
[8.] Look for feedback by eye contact and gestures from guide and others.
[9.] Distinguish between where work of others ends and your (original) work starts.
[10.] Take credit for what you have done; announce it loudly.
[11.] Don’t assume the questioner knows more than you. Don't assume question has a
deeper, sinister meaning; answer straightforwardly.
[12.] If you can’t hear a question or comment from the audience, come closer and ask.
[13.] Answer only the question asked. Answer in loud spoken words, not by gestures.
Don’t mumble or eat words while answering.
[14.] Make sure graphs have a) axes labeled with units, names, values, b) curves with
marking (symbols) and bold lines clearly distinguishable, c) a title at the top.
[15.] Keep a small alarm clock on the table to help you keep time. Don’t use your wrist
watch for this – it is disturbing.
[16.] Keep eye contact with your audience.
[17.] In oral presentations, don’t read out equations. Give the gist.
[18.] Before submitting, sign the acknowledgement page.
[19.] Have an exact copy of submitted report for your reference during presentation.
[20.] Avoid covering parts of your slide during your talk.
[21.] If you slide your slide upwards, check each time to see it is aligned.
[22.] In Nomenclature, give: abbreviation or symbol, name, defining equation, first ref
in text, as well as units. In addition, a Glossary of terms is useful.
[23.] In listing applications of the material/process being discussed, clearly distinguish
between potential application, and the actual application of the item under
study.
[24.] Be prepared for question on relevance of your topic/work to Chem.
engg/industry.
[25.] Speak slowly, don’t speed up to fit within time. It is better to cut our slides.
[26.] Smile and be confident.
[27.] Don't say "I don't know" ina hurry. Think and try to attempt an answer.
[28.] When your talk ends, say so loudly, e.g., "That ends my presenation. Thank
you." or "That concludes my talk. I shall try to answer any questions."