Do’s and Don’ts of Technical Presentations in Petroleum Engineering
DO
PLANNING YOUR PROJECT
• Make sure your project is directly related to
petroleum engineering.
• Present on an independent study for which you
did most or all of the work.
ORGANIZING YOUR PRESENTATION
• Begin with a title slide that has a headline-style
title that concisely states your argument. Think
“Solution Solves Problem.”
• Continue with an “Overview” that clearly
conveys your problem, its solution, and its
value to the oil and gas industry.
• Consider economic feasibility as part of your
statement of value, if appropriate.
• Use descriptive slide titles. For example,
instead of “Results,” write “Coreflow Tests Show
Increased Recovery” (or other relevant specifier).
• Carefully and legibly cite on slid all ideas,
words, and images that are not your own.
• Make sure your Objectives focus on learning,
not on doing.
• Include a separate “Methods and Resources”
slide only if needed.
• Include a “Safety” or “Information Security”
slide only if your topic is on safety or
cybersecurity in the petroleum industry.
• Ensure all graphics are legible and labeled.
• Conclude with a “Summary” slide. Recap what
you did and learned. Finally, provide strong and
clear conclusions.
• End your talk with your repeated title slide.
FORMATTING YOUR PRESENTATION
• Use the departmental template with the
aspect ratio set to 16:9 (widescreen).
DELIVERING YOUR PRESENTATION
• Use the mouse pointer to accommodate views
on multiple screens.
• Use animations to highlight parts of slides or to
make bullet points appear one by one.
• Orally indicate when you have completed your
presentation.
DON’T
PLANNING YOUR PROJECT
• Rely on your advisor or collaborators.
• Deviate from your topic.
ORGANIZING YOUR PRESENTATION
• Include an “About Me” slide or any other
personal information.
• Include an “Outline” slide.
• Include separate “header” slides for sections.
• Use complete sentences or paragraphs on
slides.
• State objectives as tasks.
• Include separate “Materials,” “Equipment,”
“Limitations,” or “Future Work” slides.
• Include a “Thank You” or “Questions” slide.
• Include “Thank You” on your end-title slide.
This slide should be an exact duplicate of your
title slide.
• Include a “References” slide. Cite on slide
instead.
FORMATTING YOUR PRESENTATION
• Change the aspect ratio of the template.
• Present overly crowded or overly empty slides.
DELIVERING YOUR PRESENTATION
• Call for questions at the end of your
presentation. It is the moderator’s job to ask
for questions.
• Use flashy animations that are distracting.
REMINDERS FOR VIDEOCONFERENCING
• DO dress as if you were presenting in person.
• DO use the mouse pointer.
• DO set a neutral background using the most
stable filter or tool in your software.
• DO make sure you have a professional profile
picture and login name.
• DO practice your presentation using your
videoconferencing software ahead of time.
• DON’T use distracting backgrounds or those
with motion. They consume bandwidth.
• DON’T have any unprofessional content open
on your device or in your profile.