Scientific Writing/ Presentation Skills Dipl. Ök. Jens K. Perret, M.Sc. Schumpeter School of Business and Economics Bergische Universität Wuppertal Gaußstraße 20 42097 Wuppertal
Contents Scientific Writing Thesis Presentation Skills Literature and Data 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 2
Scientific Writing Thesis 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 3
Scientific Writing Thesis Title Page Introduction Main part Conclusions Lists Appendix Citations 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 4
Overall Design Length 15 pages, not including: Font: Font Size: Title Page Contents Any lists or Bibliography / References Appendix Line Spacing: 1,5 Margins: Times New Roman or similar 12 Point 2,5 cm left / right 2,0 cm top / bottom 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 5
Title Page Contains: First Name, Surname (of all participants) Info on who wrote which parts Immatriculation Nummer Title of the lecture Title of the thesis Submission Date Name of the lecturer Semester 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 6
Introduction Length approx. 2 pages Motivation of the main topic Suitable introduction: What is interesting in the topic? Why has the topic been selected? Why has the topic been selected as it is? Which are the main goals of the thesis? Structure of the thesis: What has been done? What has not been done? Why has it been done? What is the structure of the thesis? 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 7
Introduction Relevance of the topic Research Question Objects of interest Research Goals Hypotheses Plan Methods Novelty of the research Motivation 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 8
Main part Discussion and analysis All topics introduced in the introduction are discussed here Possible divisions: Definitions Theory Empirics Literature Review Theory Empirics Pro Discussion Contra Discussion Definitions Problem Solutions 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 9
Conclusions Summary of the research findings The conclusions part does not contain new insights Comparison with the goals stated in the introduction Show posibilities to take action (Policy Options) Which problems arise from recent politics? What should policy makers do? Open Research Questions 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 10
Lists Contents Bibliography / References List of tables List of figures Lists of symbols List of abbreviations 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 11
Contents Titles of all chapters and sub-chapters of the thesis Sensible numbering: Every chapter is numbered Page numbering: Roman numerals before and after the main part of the thesis (lists) Arabic numerals in the main text Contains neither the title page nor itself 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 12
Bibliography / References Contains all sources used in the thesis Contains only the sources used in the thesis Entries need to be sorted alphabetically Entries should match the citation style Consistent citation style A numbering and arrangement according to the type of source is optional Consistent format: Names (Year), Title, Publisher, Place of Pub, Edition, (Pages) Names (Year), Title, Journal, Issue, Pages Names (Year), Title, URL 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 13
Citation style All ideas and data taken from anywhere else need to be marked by citing their source A broad range of citation styles exist: Examples: Decision on one citation style Consistent use of the selected citation style The citation style needs to match the references Cited Text (Name, Year, Pages) Cited Text (Name1/Name2, Year, Pages). Name (Year) 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 14
Appendix Contains: Additional information Detailled descriptions Large data sets Databases do not need to be included (Additional) Tables and figures Mathematical proofs and deductions Laws Internet source Can be added to the thesis on a CD 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 15
Presentation Skills 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 16
Overall Rules Take the presentation serious Prepare the presentation for the audience Always have a plan B Get to know your environment There are not boring topics only different ways of presenting them Work on a topic unless it becomes interesting Fulfill expectations 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 17
Overall Rules People perceive information in different ways: Visual Perception (60%) Auditiv Perception (30%) Fictitious (Semantic) Perception (10%) Combine visual and auditiv signals 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 18
Formal Structure Title Page: Analogous to the thesis (Name, Immatriculationnumber, Title of the lecture, Title of the presentation, Date Introduction: (10-15% of the time) (Effective Introduction) Greeting Presentation of the topic Definition of problems Make additional information available (Hand-Outs) Overview over the presentation (Motivation) 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 19
Formal Structure Main part: (75 85% of the time) Presentation of facts Structure similar to the thesis Presentation of theoretical models Explanations Arguments Examples Refutations 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 20
Formal Structure End: (5 10% of the time) Summary of the presentation (if time > 15 minutes) Conclusions and outlook Leave-taking (Put a definitive end to the presentation) Invitation to start the discussion 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 21
Presentation Design Color Schemes (Black-White, Red-Green, Similar Colors) Gradual buildup Animations and sounds only in rare cases Use of a legible font (Type, Style, Size) Consistent design 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 22
Tools of Presentation How to transfer the content? PowerPoint Projector Black Board White Board More interaction possible Flip Chart Pin Board Hand Out 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 23
PowerPoint Color Schemes: White, blue, red, creme, black Fonts without serifs: Arial, Calibri, ComicSans MS Big Font Sizes: 24 Points Thick Lines: 2 Points Consistent discreet layout and design Use tabulators Simple animations No overstuffed slides (ideally 7 rows) Plan two to three minutes per slide Hyperlinks 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 24
Black Board, White Board etc. Use of colors (e.g. colored chalk) Large letters Keep the middle part of the letters big Take three steps back to read Keep a steady pose Flip Chart: Use a pencil to pre-write the text. During the presentation use a marker 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 25
Hand-Outs To the point (No additional pictures) Headwords Advantages: Audience can keep notes Definitions, Models, important facts are always available Suitable to prepare a discussion Nice gesture If PowerPoint slides are distributed, use a simple design 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 26
Reminder Cards Headwords, no full sentences Mark keywords Number the cards Small cards are usually better (Maximum A6) Something to hold on to Do not forget to switch cards 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 27
Critical Aspects Well-rested? Practised the presentation? Suitable outfit? Mobile phone switched off? Watch / Clock (Someone to remember the time) available? Pointer / Laserpointer (Laserpointer only in larger rooms)? Own markers, chalk, laptop available? Slides for the projector available, sorted and numbered? Cards available, sorted and numbered? Enough (sorted) Hand Outs available? Something to drink? Been to the toilet? 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 28
Critical Aspects Name / End Eye Contact Pronounciation Smiling Mimic Hands / Gestures Stress Stable Stance Voice / Intonation Structure Time-Management Technical organization & competence Handwriting Available media Content Foreign words Short Sentences ähm, hmm and other fill-in words 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 29
Critical Aspecte Hold the pointer steady with closed hands No laserpointer in small rooms Time problems? Use friends for remembrance Give room to think Formal adress Anecdotes 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 30
Mishaps To avoid mishaps beforehand: Take the presentation serious Practise the presentation Keep a plan B Get aquainted with the location If something happens: Keep going on Nonchalance 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 31
Data- and Literature 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 32
Types of data Numerical Data: Cross-sectional data e.g. different countries in one year Time series data e.g. one country over different years Panel data e.g. different countries over different years Non-nummerical data Qualitative data e.g. answers to interview questions Alphanummerical data e.g. street numbers 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 33
Forms of Literature Books Journals Working and Discussion Papers Law Texts (Primary Sources) Internet pages (reliable) Other forms of official publications (e.g. from firms) Articles from daily or weekly papers Other forms of unofficially publications Use as much as possible + Reliability - Use as little as possible 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 34
Literature Sourcing Find one basis book or article Scan the references and mark related articles Get the related articles Search the library, journals, authors for related topics Search the internet for related topics: http://scholar.google.com 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 35
Thank you for your attention! 25. April 2013 Perret / Udalov Folie 36