All of you, of course, know how to give the perfect talk, so you don't
need this, but read it anyway.

** General:
* know your subject 
    -- don't choose a topic that goes beyond your expertise

* know your audience
   better aim too low tahn too high
    (more explanations is better)

* decide on message for audience to take home
  - not more than one important message per 10 minutes

* practice a lot so you are fluent with your words

* respect allotted time
      (<1 slide per minute)

* structure of talk (for 10 min. talk)
    introduction   2 min
    body           7 min
    conclusion     1 min

** Slides:

* readable font

* use variations in font size, style, color to highlight
  important concepts

* avoid gimmicks (flying in, sound effects without function,..),

* avoid wild backgrounds

* ensure good contrast between background and writing

* every slide should have a clear message - header

 * judiciously chosen figures, pictures can help a lot
  (note that figures need a caption stating what is shown)
  (it is good practice to show source of figures)

* figures must serve a purpose --- not just decoration

* avoid jargon, undefined acronyms

* make sure you have an overview slide
   -- it is helpful for the audience to know what is coming

* limit amount of material to what you can cover in the allotted time
   (about one information slide per minute)
    (not counting title, overview, summary)

* no need to have a final slide with "questions?" on it.
   Showing a summary and/or outlook  slide conveys to
   audience that this is the end.

* do not read your talk from notecards or from the slides
   -- try to speak freely, guided by the keywords on your slides

* make sure that all essential concepts, ideas, definitions,
  facts are on your slides

* slides should not have complete sentences on them
   -- not a narration, only essential keywords
   (you provide connecting words to make complete sentences)

* slides should have enough information/explanation on them
  to allow somebody who only sees your slides (without hearing
  you) to understand the gist of your message (and get  a good
  idea of what it is all about)

** Delivery:
*  speak clearly, not too softly and and not too fast;
    
   watch your enunciation;  don't mumble or slur

   avoid fill-words like "like", umm, uuh,....

* make sure there is correspondence/synchronicity
    between  spoken word
    and information on slide

* do not read a story from your slides

* use pointer

* appropriate posture

* Look at your audience;  interact with audience
 

* note that there is an incompatibility between MAC and Windows versions
   of MSOffice software. Graphics pasted into MSWord or PowerPoint on one
   platform may not be decipherable on the other platform
   (leading to the error message about "TIFF decompressor needed to view
    this image") If you use a MAC, you have to follow the proper image
    inserting procedure, otherwise iut will not be possible to see the
    images when using a PC running windows to show the presentation.
    Here are some websites discussing this problem and giving instructions
    on what to do:
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00534.htm
http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/18789
http://www.thrrrust.com/~pclark/blog/2004/12/quicktime-and-tiff-lzw-decompressor.html
http://ls.berkeley.edu/mail/micronet/2007/0463.html
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-934745.php
http://www.mackb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/excel/2657/Mac-to-PC-tiff-decompressor-pics-won-t-appear-on-pc

Regards,
and good luck with your talks,

HDW