Session 4

Session 4
October 6th, 14:50 - 17:50
Styles of English
Written English
Spoken English
 formal, indirect
 audience can go back
and re-read confusing
sections
 informal, direct
 audience hears
information only one
time
Styles of English
We performed analysis of the proteins
using electron microscope observation.
We analysed the proteins with an electron
microscope.
Styles of English
The government’s decision was for the
allowance of private companies’ building
plan proposals.
The government decided to allow private
companies to propose building plans.
Nouns （名詞） v. Verbs （動詞）
 NOUN occurs.
 NOUN is achieved.
 We conducted NOUN.
 We performed NOUN.
 We did NOUN.
 We made NOUN.
 There is NOUN.
 Something makes
NOUN.
 Something causes
NOUN.
Nouns （名詞） v. Verbs （動詞）
 VERB-tion occurs.
 Protein formation occurs in the cytoplasm.
Proteins form in the cytoplasm.
 VERB-tion is achieved.
 Growth acceleration is achieved.
Growth is accelerated.
 We conducted VERB-tion.
 We conducted an investigation into...
We investigated...
Nouns （名詞） v. Verbs （動詞）
 Formation
 System
 Structure
 Process
 Pattern
 Analysis
• Avoid NOUN + NOUN + NOUN phrases
• If you can delete the last noun without
losing or changing the meaning, then it’s
best to remove it
Examples
We hope for your participation in Friday’s
pre-meeting luncheon.
We hope that you can participate in the
luncheon before the meeting on Friday.
Examples
We conducted an investigation into how
plant leaf formation is achieved.
We investigated how plant leaves are
formed.
Examples
He decided on cancellation of his vacation
plan because of presentation preparation
pressure.
He decided to cancel his vacation because
he had pressure to prepare a presentation.
Sentence Structure
To cook pasta, you should start by making the sauce. Use
olive oil to fry some onions and garlic which you have cut up.
Add some diced tomatoes when they turn light brown. Put in
dried spices like oregano, basil, and parsley when the
mixture is boiling. Start boiling water for the spaghetti as the
sauce cooks over low heat. Add dry pasta after the water
comes to a boil. You can drain the water from the pasta after
it becomes soft, and serve it mixed with the sauce.
To cook pasta, you should start by making the sauce. Cut up
onions and garlic and fry them in olive oil. After they turn light
brown, add some diced tomatoes. When the mixture is
boiling, put in dried spices like oregano, basil, and parsley.
While the sauce cooks over low heat, start boiling water for
the spaghetti. After the water comes to a boil add the dry
pasta. When the pasta becomes soft, drain the water and
mix it with the sauce. It is ready to serve.
Sentence Structure
Old information  New information
Old serves as an introduction to New
Provides context
Practice
I isolated growth factor X. M cells secrete a protease
and it degrades this growth factor. If a protease
inhibitor inhibits the degradation, M cells and other
surrounding cells will proliferate and become
malignant.
I isolated growth factor X. This factor is degraded by
a protease secreted from M cells. If the degradation
is inhibited by a protease inhibitor, M cells and other
surrounding cells will proliferate and become
malignant.
Q & A Sessions
What role do questions have in a scientific
presentation?
What kinds of questions are frequently
asked?
What kind of questions do you like/not like
to be asked?
Why do many students shy away from
asking questions?
Q&A
 Making progress in research
 Questions lead to new hypotheses
 “Ideal question” - one that stimulates the
audience and encourages active thinking
 Any question is a good question
Asking Questions
Active Listening
Listen with a purpose
Make predictions
Find conclusions, compare them to the ones
the presenter makes
Keep the Key Question in mind
Asking Questions
Are there any logical mistakes?
Are there any gaps in the connections?
Are there alternative possibilities?
Are there any unanswered questions?
How does this relate to my own research?
Asking Questions
Motivation – why are you asking the
question?
Q: Have you studied their mating behavior
outside of the laboratory?
Asking Questions
Motivation – why are you asking the
question?
Q: If you use these frogs as a solution to
the Ogui fly problem, they need to be able
to maintain their population in the wild.
Have you studied their mating behavior
outside of the laboratory?
Asking Questions
Add background information
You mentioned…
When you were talking about ~ , you said that…
Q: Why don’t oocytes continue expanding
beyond threefold now that they have so
much more membrane available?
Asking Questions
Add background information
You mentioned…
When you were talking about ~ , you said that…
Q: You explained that even the LOLoverexpressing oocytes stop expanding in
fresh water at about three-fold their
original size. Why don’t they continue
expanding beyond that now that they have
so much more membrane available?
Asking Questions
Frame your question: start basic, then add
details
Are you planning more tests on the side
effects? It seems like the condition of having
their cells constantly swollen might have
serious consequences. You mentioned only
that they had wrinkly skin and some markings.
I don’t think you have enough generations yet
to confirm that there are no long term
abnormalities.
Answering Questions
Try to predict what kind of questions the
audience will ask
Audience wants to know your opinions and
ideas, even if you can’t back them up with
results
Techniques for Answering Questions
Confirm
I’m afraid I didn’t quite understand what you
meant.
Could you please rephrase your question?
I didn’t quite catch what you said.
You’re asking about…?
Do you want to know about…?
Techniques for Answering Questions
Give background when necessary
Q: Will the frogs be able to reproduce
without mangrove roots?
A: We are now researching about whether
the roots are essential in their reproductive
cycle.
Techniques for Answering Questions
 Give background when necessary
Q: Will the frogs be able to reproduce without
mangrove roots?
A: That’s an interesting question. First let me
just explain for those of you who don’t know that
Philippine saltwater frogs attach their egg
strands exclusively to the roots of mangrove
trees. We are now researching about whether
the roots are essential in their reproductive cycle.
Techniques for Answering Questions
“Frame” your answer
Start with a basic answer, then add details
Yes, it is possible.
No, that is not known.
The short answer to your question is…
Yes and no.
Techniques for Answering Questions
Q: You chose to increase the membrane, but is it
possible to decrease the concentration of solute in the
frog cells?
A: We believe that a potential target could be the
concentration of the impermeable solute in the cells.
If we could manipulate that,…
However, the frogs would be inviable in salt water.
This would mean that…
Techniques for Answering Questions
Q: You chose to increase the membrane, but is it
possible to decrease the concentration of solute in the
frog cells?
A: Technically yes, but practically no. We believe that
a potential target could be the concentration of the
impermeable solute in the cells. If we could
manipulate that,…
However, the frogs would be inviable in salt water.
This would mean that…
Techniques for Answering Questions
Audience misunderstanding
I think you may have misunderstood me when I
said…
I’m sorry. I think my original explanation was
too confusing, so let me try to explain that again.
Techniques for Answering Questions
Questions you can’t answer
Give a reason
Unfortunately I don’t have the data necessary to
answer that question with me right now, but if
you’ll give me your contact information after the
session I’ll send that to you as soon as I’m able.
I think that question deserves a very detailed
answer. Would it be alright to meet with you
after the presentation to discuss that?

Download Report