Some Topics to Consider When Critiquing Talks

Overall

In general, was the talk Excellent? Very Good? Good? Fair? Poor?

Content

• Central message is compelling (precisely stated, appropriately repeated, memorable, and strongly supported.)
• Good science
• Clear explanations
• Appropriate selection of information
• Appropriate amount of material for the length of the talk
• Slow beginning with sufficient background and definitions to understand the talk

Organization

• Organizational pattern (specific introduction and conclusion, sequenced material within the body, and transitions) is clearly and consistently observable, is skillful, and makes the content of the presentation cohesive
• Outline is given and followed throughout talk
  • Outline states messages of sections of the talk, not just "introduction", "results", "conclusion"
• Logical flow
• Clear
• 3-part framework (“Tell them what you’re going to say; say it; tell them what you said”)

Visuals (Slides)

Please follow these Presentation Guidelines when preparing your slides.

• Every slide has a title that is the main message of the slide
• Entire content of slide is visible from back of room under ambient lighting conditions (color choice, size of fonts, etc.)
• Layout of slides is simple
• Emphasis on important information
• Number (not too many or too few for content presented)
• Appropriate figures used to illustrate concepts
• Slides are polished: no typos, phrasing is consistent on entire slide (periods vs. no periods; complete sentences vs. phrases), etc.

Speaking Style (Language and Delivery)

• Speaker is knowledgeable, well-prepared, and well-practiced
  • Speaker appears polished and confident
  • Attitude (friendly, calm, enthusiastic,…)
  • Speaker answers questions well
  • Emphasis on important information
• Delivery techniques (posture, gesture, eye contact, and vocal expressiveness) make the presentation compelling
  • Speaker talks to audience instead of reciting memorized lines
  • Pace is not too fast, not too slow
• Language choices are imaginative, memorable, and compelling, and enhance the effectiveness of the presentation
• Language in presentation is appropriate to audience
• Optional: use of pointer is steady, not circling