How to pick a good paper -- and then prepare to present it

Michael Richmond
Feb 6, 2017

  1. Some reasons to choose a paper:
    1. you are very familiar with the topic
    2. it is short and sweet
    3. lots of pretty pictures
    4. it has been in the news lately
    5. you really enjoyed reading it
    6. it addresses a fundamental scientific question

  2. Some reasons NOT to choose a paper:
    1. you don't know much about the topic
    2. it is long and has lots of equations
    3. you thought it was boring
    4. you didn't understand what it said

  3. Once you have decided on a paper
    1. read the title and abstract
    2. skip to the conclusions -- skim for bullet points and the first sentences of paragraphs
    3. flip pages looking for figures
    4. skim the introduction very quickly, look for summary of motivation
    5. skim the rest of the paper, making notes of good bits
    6. if there are any sections which completely stump you, make a note; IF this section comes up in the presentation, state briefly "I didn't get this part -- can someone help me?"

  4. Before you make your presentation
    1. Estimate what your audience already knows, and doesn't know, about the material.
    2. Check the time available. Plan to use half of it
    3. Is this an observational paper, or computational, or theoretical, or what?
    4. Write down a 30-60 second summary of the background and/or motivation for the project
      5. and the first sentences of paragraphs
    5. Note the 1 or 2 or 4 spots in the paper where you will leave the display while you talk. You should jump from one of these to the next during your presentation.
    6. Prepare your 30-second summary of the results, and practice saying it out loud once or twice. If something happens to throw off your timing, you'll at least be ready to give a good ending