{"id":73002,"date":"2024-05-29T00:02:08","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T04:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=73002"},"modified":"2024-05-29T00:02:08","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T04:02:08","slug":"do-you-read-or-talk-your-conference-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/do-you-read-or-talk-your-conference-paper\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you read \u2013 or talk \u2013 your conference paper?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

You\u2019re going to a conference!! Your abstract has been accepted. Yippee. All that remains now is to pack your bags, sort out funding and actually write the paper. Simple.<\/p>\n

Well no. Presenting at a conference involves lots of decisions \u2013 there are Serious Things to consider.<\/p>\n

One of the decisions that you have to make is whether you are going to read your paper, write a version of the paper specifically designed for reading at the conference,\u00a0\u00a0or talk to your paper (most often using slides to keep you and the audience on track).<\/p>\n

Now, there\u2019s a lot of opinions about each of these options. Some people are entirely wedded to the talking to the slides option, while others swear that reading the paper is likely to lead to the most thorough and well-evidenced argument.\u00a0And keep the audience awake.<\/p>\n

I have a view too. Mine is that it\u2019s possible to do any one of these options.<\/p>\n

You may decide that writing and reading the paper is the best way to deal with your nerves. Or to present your argument in the most cogent and comprehensible way, to do it justice by giving it the full scholarly treatment. You may decide that you want to\u00a0\u00a0be more conversational and informal and appear to be having a casual chat. It\u2019s up to you.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you prefer different options for different occasions. Most often I am conversational. But not always. I tend to read\u00a0a written text the more nervous I think I am likely to be. (I am always nervous BTW despite having done a lot of presentations)<\/p>\n

But whatever you do, you want to do it well.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure we\u2019ve all been to those presentations where the presenter has a load of slides and rambles on and one and then has to skip through several to make up time. Or the paper reader who consistently stumbles over their own text. Or the presenter who sits, head down the whole time, reading in a dreary monologue, like the world\u2019s worst bedtime story.<\/p>\n

One of the ways to avoid at least some of these horrors is to be prepared.\u00a0How? Well here\u2019s a few ideas for starters. Please add more in the comments.<\/p>\n