by Jonathan Shewchuk
These are my opinions on how to give a talk (using presentation software or transparencies) in computer science or mathematics, distilled for my students and for students attending Graphics Lunch. I go to conferences, see the same mistakes repeated by many a speaker, and write my reactions here. You are welcome to disagree with my opinions, as long as you think each issue through for yourself.
How does a professional writer discuss “The Elements of Style” without nervously looking over his shoulder and seeing Will Strunk and E. B. White (or thousands of readers of their book) second-guessing him? (Is “second-guessing” hyphenated or not? Is posing a question the same as using the passive voice?)
As a Ph.D student, I searched for advice on succeeding in grad school, and often thought that eventually I would repay the favor when I became a professor. I never got around to doing that, but now decided to give it a shot. So, here goes:
For impatient readers who don't mind spoilers, here are selected excerpts from my e-book The Ph.D. Grind, which is the first known detailed account of an entire Ph.D. experience.
"Tl;dr" means "Too long; didn't read"