Some Topics to Consider When Critiquing Talks

Overall

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

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

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”)

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.

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