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15 Strategies for Giving Oral Presentations
Tweet Share on Facebook February 24, 2010 Comment (9)More than death and taxes, the thing people fear most is speaking in public. Needless to say, college students are not immune from this terror, which, for you psychology hounds, even has a name: glossophobia. Unfortunately, in college, it's not always so easy to avoid public speaking. Some schools have required courses in speech. And even in colleges where speech isn't a subject, there often is a broad variety of courses that incorporate presentations or reports–and sometimes full-length seminars–into the regular class activities. Still, there's no need to lose your breakfast (or lunch or dinner) over your upcoming presentation. Our 15 tips for improving your public speaking will make even a garden-variety speaker into a real Cicero:
1. Do your homework. Nobody can give a good presentation without putting in some serious time preparing remarks. Many gifted speakers look as if they're just talking off the cuff, saying whatever comes to mind. But, in truth, they've spent considerable time figuring out what they're going to say. You should, too.
4-Star Tip. It's always a good idea to try out your presentation on your professor (or TA) before giving it in class. Office hours work well for this.
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8 More Research Tips for College Students
Tweet Share on Facebook February 17, 2010 CommentLast week, we offered our seven best tips for college research. The response was overwhelming. And so, this week, we have eight even better tips for doing A-plus research. Here they are:
1. Embrace the zen of research. All research—especially good research—is a process that involves considerable uncertainty, doubt, recasting, and, often, the lack of quick or black-and-white answers. That's how discoveries are made. Get used to it. All of these are signs that the research is going well.
2. Drive your sources (don't let them drive you). Always keep your investigation focused on the issue or problem you're studying. Just because some other guy makes some point—no matter how good it is—doesn't mean you have to include it in your paper, especially if the issue isn't really in the scope of your project. Keep in mind that you're the researcher here, so you're in charge of this thing.
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Writing a Paper? Try These 7 Research Tips
Tweet Share on Facebook February 10, 2010 Comment (18)Once in a while you get hit with it: the 15- to 25-page research paper, also called the term paper or semester project. This is your chance to join the community of the 20 percent or so of college professors who are actually doing research. How do they do it? And how can you? Have a look at our seven best tips for doing research like a professor:
1. Start from where you are. The professor has a research program; you have the course. Carefully consider all the assigned paper topics, trying to pick one that seems interesting to you and about which you think you'll have something to say. If the professor is requiring you to propose a topic of your own, scour all the course materials (e.g., lecture notes, readings, syllabus, handouts, discussion sections, and course bibliography) for possible topics. Then meet with the prof to see if your proposed topic is one you could actually do, given what you know and what there is to know. A bad topic will net not only weeks of frustration but a bad paper in the end.
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13 Tips for Prepping for Your Next Test
Tweet Share on Facebook February 3, 2010 Comment (8)How you prepare for tests can count almost as much as how you take tests. Sometimes it counts more. That's because in most cases, the professor is actually expecting you to have thought out the answers in advance of the test, not just when you get your test paper. Since there are as many different kinds of tests as there are professors, what's the best way to prepare? Here are our baker's dozen of tips for excellent test preparation:
1. Spread it out. Make sure you divide your studying time over a number of days, rather than leaving it all for the night before. If you try to learn it all at one go, you could find yourself in the same position as that Burmese python in Florida who tried to swallow an alligator whole. The result: not so pretty (for either the python or the alligator).
Professors' Guide
If you liked the advice in this column, you’ll love the 637 tips, tricks, and strategies in our new book The Secrets of College Success. You can order a copy here at a special discounted price.
Additional tips are available at the Professors’ Guide™ website. And if you have a question or a topic you’d like to see covered, we’d love to hear from you at professors@professorsguide.com
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