All of the "Academic Presentation" courses offer trainings in presentation skills for a variety of academic settings. Through practices, students will gain knowledge of how to apply these skills effectively to their presentations, have confidence in tackling real-life situations. Students will receive constructive feedback from the instructor, who would help students develop successful strategies toward presenting ideas in a clear manner. Moreover, as audience, students will improve their listening skills by learning to ask insightful and stimulating questions to their colleagues.
As a 400-level elective course, Academic Presentation in English 15 equips graduate students with the necessary tools to deliver well-informed presentations.
By the end of this course, students will be able to deliver individual presentations at academic settings, being aware of verbal and non-verbal messages while engaging the audience, followed by a question and answer session, fielding questions from the audience.
Presentation skills, listening skills, communication skills
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Each class, we will discuss lively readings that cover the history of scientific presentations and give pointers on techniques related to content, structure, visual aids, and delivery. Students will practice the techniques and give mini-presentations. Formal presentations will occur throughout the quarter, with extensive feedback from the instructor and peers.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Preface & Introduction | discuss text; practice techniques; mini-presentations; plan formal presentations |
Class 2 | Content: Critical Errors 1 & 2 | discuss text; practice techniques; mini-presentations; plan formal presentations |
Class 3 | Structure: Critical Errors 3 & 4 | discuss text; practice techniques; mini-presentations; formal presentations |
Class 4 | Structure: Critical Errors 5 & 6 | discuss text; practice techniques; mini-presentations; formal presentations |
Class 5 | Visual Aids: Critical Errors 7 & 8 | discuss text; practice techniques; mini-presentations; formal presentations |
Class 6 | Visual Aids: Critical Error 9 Delivery: Critical Error 10 | discuss text; practice techniques; mini-presentations; formal presentations |
Class 7 | Delivery: Critical Errors 11 & 12 | discuss text; practice techniques; mini-presentations; formal presentations |
Class 8 | Delivery: Critical Error 13 | discuss text; practice techniques; mini-presentations; formal presentations |
Michael Alley. The Craft of Scientific Presentations (2nd edition). New York: Springer, 2013.
ISBN 978-1-4419-8278-0
Suggested Web sites:
TED Talks https://www.ted.com/
VOA http://www.voanews.com/
NPR http://www.npr.org/
TED, VOA and NPR provide video transcripts.
Scientific American
(video and podcasts “60-second science”) http://www.scientificamerican.com/
BBC http://www.bbc.com/news
National Geographic http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
Participation in discussions based on the readings, 28%
Mini-presentations, 28%
Formal presentations, 44%
None
It is recommended that students take this course in sequence with LAE.E444.
Attendance at the first class is compulsory for students planning to take this course.