Metatalk in American academic talk: The cases of "point" and "thing"

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/88138/1/swales-metatalk_american_academic.pd

A handbook on oral presentations for speakers in engineering

Designed for native and nonnative speakers of English, this book is suitable for novice as well as expert speakers in Engineering discipline, both in and outside the classroom. It provides useful instruction in translating results of research studies and observations at professional meetings into tangible oral presentations. The treatment throughout the book is not prescriptive, and the many options are presented for individual choice. Since oral presentation standards are often undocumented, this book highlights and reveals the structural model of such presentations along with observed variations. Structural summaries in many chapters provide readers with specific guides. While making clear differences between spoken and written delivery, this book clearly points that communicative intent shapes the structure and delivery of oral presentations. Common terms used to analyze the oral presentations in the text are Introduction, Body and Termination. These readily understood terms are explained and illustrated based on actual presentations. This book emphasises that delivery is an important as the scientific content of any presentation. In addition, abstract, visuals, and their incorporation into the text are treated. Most importantly, all models are authentic, based on research findings