Talk Tips Chart (Basic)

T. R. Girill, Technical Literacy Project (basic)

Basic Technical Talk Tips
Audience
Problems Technical writing, where the audience can... Technical speaking, where the audience must...

Where are you going?
(STRUCTURE) Read in any order. Listen in the speaker's order of presentation.

Reveal (overtly summarize) your talk's structure at the start
(the audience cannot see your mental outline).

Announce structure milestones as you pass them
(use verbal headings ["the third problem..."] and proleptics ["by contrast..."]).

Where are you now?
(REVIEW) Reread any passage. Rely on the speaker to repeat when needed.

Remember the slogan "tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them."

Identify and manage your topic transitions with planned cues.

What do you mean?
(UNDERSTANDING) Study and gradually understand. Understand on the first hearing.

Choose your examples, comparisons, amount of detail to meet audience needs.

Use visual aids (slides, models) to avoid confusion.

What did you say?
(DELIVERY) Read at any pace. Listen and absorb at the speaker's pace.

(Before talking) spell out your list of claims (not just topics).

Rehearse privately:

With your notes
(to tune self-prompts).

Before a mirror
(to practice eye contact).

With a clock
(to check pace and length).

Speak

slowly enough to be understood,

loudly enough to be heard.

Basic Technical Talk Tips
Audience Problems	Technical writing, where the audience can...	Technical speaking, where the audience must...
Where are you going? (STRUCTURE)	Read in any order.	Listen in the speaker's order of presentation.
		Reveal (overtly summarize) your talk's structure at the start (the audience cannot see your mental outline). Announce structure milestones as you pass them (use verbal headings ["the third problem..."] and proleptics ["by contrast..."]).
Where are you now? (REVIEW)	Reread any passage.	Rely on the speaker to repeat when needed.
		Remember the slogan "tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them." Identify and manage your topic transitions with planned cues.
What do you mean? (UNDERSTANDING)	Study and gradually understand.	Understand on the first hearing.
		Choose your examples, comparisons, amount of detail to meet audience needs. Use visual aids (slides, models) to avoid confusion.
What did you say? (DELIVERY)	Read at any pace.	Listen and absorb at the speaker's pace.
		(Before talking) spell out your list of claims (not just topics). Rehearse privately: With your notes (to tune self-prompts). Before a mirror (to practice eye contact). With a clock (to check pace and length). Speak slowly enough to be understood, loudly enough to be heard.