Communication 101

Choose Supporting Information Carefully

Let's say you structured your message into a 3-point message that is easy to present and remember. How do you link those points together and provide appropriate detail?

• Stick to the Points: Just because a term or methodology is easy to explain, doesn't mean it belongs in your presentation. Avoid introducing a term if you are only going to use it once in a while; keep your main messages in mind. Remember to choose the right words.

• Is That Table/Graph Really Necessary? The answer may be yes, but don't just copy and paste it straight from the published paper—make sure the labels use the same words you are using throughout the presentation and take out extraneous variables and/or data that aren't a part of your main points. If you have to define an additional variable or term that wasn't previously in your presentation just to show the graph, reconsider whether the graph is necessary.

The images below show how a figure from a journal article and a graphic designed for the public should differ. Note how the general public graphic on the right has been streamlined to highlight the major points.

optix Drives the Repeated Convergent Evolution of Butterfly Wing Pattern Mimicry (Reprinted from Reed et al., Science 333 (6046) 1137-1141.)	How Great Wings Can Look Alike (Reprinted from Carroll, Science 333 (6046) 1100-1101.)