PresentationsContentOrganizationStyle

Oral Communication

Requires excellent research, strong organization, & stage presence

Is interactive: Body language Vocal inflections Eye contact

Provides immediate feedback

Allows for on-the-spot adjustments

Audience & Purpose Analysis

If possible, find out your audience’s attitudes and biases towards your topic

What do they know, what do they need to know?

How will they use the information you’re presenting?

Is your purpose to inform, persuade, train?

Types of Presentations

Informative: Impartial presentation of information

Training Session: How to perform a specific task

Persuasive: Designed to change audience’s opinions Action plans: Encourages a specific action Sales Presentation

Components of Presentations

Introduction:

Capture attention: anecdote, question

Establish credibility

Preview your presentation and conclusion

Components of Presentations

Body

In a written report, readers can go back to find important information they missed. This is not possible in oral presentations, which require

Strong organization

Small chunks of information

Clear transitions

Components of Presentations

Conclusion

Remind audience of “big picture”

Restate main points

Give sources of further information & cite your sources

Three Components

Tell them what you’re going to tell them

Tell them

Tell them what you’ve just told them

Visual Aids

Slides

Presentation software (PowerPoint)

Handouts

Visuals should support the presentation; they should not be the presentation.

Handouts should be distributed at the end of presentation.

PowerPoint Debate

Advantages Ease of use Variety of formatting options Speaker notes, timing cues Create web pages and handouts

Disadvantages Oversimplifies complex issues Key points buried in lists Overwhelming use of effects

Before the Presentation

Practice: avoid nervousness by being confident in your material

Time your presentation

Know the layout of the room

Prepare for the technology to fail: have backups

During Presentation

Be ready to adapt to your audience

Make eyes contact

Do not read your presentation; use your memory and a brief outline of key points

Slides should support the presentation; they should not be the presenation

Checklist: Content

State a clear purpose

Show command of the material

Support points with evidence

Use visuals appropriately

Give the proper amount of information

Checklist: Organization

Begin with a clear overview

Present a clear line of reasoning

Transition from point to point clearly

Avoid digressions

Summarize in conclusion

Checklist: Style

Be confident and relaxed

Speak clearly

Look at the audience; make eye contact

Adapt to audience and respond to questions