Oral presentations

These are the main steps when preparing a presentation:

Research

Consider:

What kind of presentation do you need to give?
What sort of speaker are you?
Who is your audience?

Task: What kind of presentation do you need to give?

Researching material for a presentation is similar to researching for an assignment. Visit the library in person or online to research your topic.

Skim readings to pinpoint relevant sections for your presentation. Consider a variety of materials to incorporate:

YouTube
Images
Physical objects

Write notes and create a concept map of how ideas tie together. Use the concept map to consider the relationships between each piece of information.

Audience: Who is your audience?

Consider the audience:

How much do they already know?
How much is too much information?

Speaker: What sort of speaker are you?

How much do you already know about the topic?
Use information and resources you feel comfortable with
Include small facts that you find fascinating – The audience will be more receptive if they see you enjoying yourself

What is your speaking style?
Lawyer

Enjoys argument and debate.

Asks the audience questions.
Comedian

Enjoys making jokes.

Allows time to interact with the audience.
Politician

Enjoys inspiring people.

Highlights the impact of ideas in broader domains.
Teacher

Enjoys educating.

Uses different modalities, e.g. sound, sight, touch to engage the audience.

Once you have a collection of notes, ideas, objects, multi-media content etc, it is time to write the presentation itself.

Select tools

Lectern or table
Paper/writing tools
Posters/flip charts
White board and pens
Video? CDs? DVD's?
PowerPoint slides
Summary notes (Pamphlets/posters? Given out how/when?)

If you are using any technology for your presentation, test it well before the presentation, on the actual equipment you will be using.

Write

Writing a presentation means putting together a logical sequence of ideas to satisfy the task.

Go to the following presentation structure’s section to learn about how to write the presentation.

Practice

Practising a presentation is as important as editing an essay:

Rehearse two or three times - at least once with full equipment.
Become so familiar with the material that key words on a page or cue cards will trigger a key point for you, and you can talk while maintaining eye contact.
Rehearse in front of a practice audience and get them to critique it for you.
Record an MP3/video of yourself talking and learn how to speak more clearly
Time yourself
Check non-verbal communication. Be mindful of physical habits like touching hair or pacing up and down
Become familiar with the technology you need to use

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How to give an awesome presentation

An effort to eliminate "death by PowerPoint."

2:53

The structure of a presentation is much the same as that for an essay:

Introduction
Body
Conclusion

You start by introducing the topic overall, then each aspect of the topic is presented in the body of your speech and, finally, you finish by summing up and restating the topic in your conclusion.

This structure is important for your audience to be able to follow what you are presenting. You have to introduce the general topic in order to set the context for the points you want to put forward in the body of your speech. You also need to restate the general topic at the end so that your audience hears the most important points last and are more likely to remember them.

Introducing the presentation

Grab their attention

A good presentation often begins with something that will grab the attention of the audience. This may be something funny like a joke or cartoon, it may be a story or it may be an interesting quote. Often, saying something controversial like “we should ban all cars in Brisbane and make everyone use bicycles” can make people sit up and listen.

State your purpose

The first thing you should talk about once you have their attention is to outline the main point (or thesis) of your presentation. People are more likely to remember things they see or hear at the beginning or the end of a presentation. Therefore, the main point you want them to remember should be made first. Likewise, this main point should also be the last thing you mention in your conclusion.

Tell them where they are going

People are able to follow a presentation if they already have a ‘road map’ in their heads of the points that will be covered in the body of the speech. This overview enables them to fit the details of your presentation into an overall context and they are more likely to understand your arguments as you present them. Therefore, it is good to give your audience an outline of your speech. For example: ‘I will concentrate on the following points: First of all…Then…This will lead to… And finally…’

“

The structure of a presentation is much the same as that for an essay – introduction, body and conclusion.

The body of the presentation

Structure each point

The body of a presentation should clarify your message and develop your arguments. Each point should be structured like a little mini presentation where you state the point first and then explain and expand on it. You need to back your points with evidence and often real life examples are useful to clarify. You should finish with a concluding sentence that restates the point again.

Order your points

Order your points logically so that they make sense and build a sequence or ‘story’ for your audience. Organise your material according to some ‘organising principle’. This may be organising facts in chronological order, by theme, or in the order of importance.

When presenting an argument, some people recommend that your strongest points should go at the beginning and end and leave your weaker points to the middle of the presentation. This way, people are more likely to hear and remember your stronger points and will be more convinced by the argument you put forward.

Link your points

Try to link each of the points you are making so that your presentation moves smoothly from one point to the next. This can be done by using ‘transitional words’ like:

furthermore
likewise
however
on the other hand

Also, sequencing your points by using words like ‘firstly … secondly … finally’ signals to your audience that you are starting another point and where they are up to in the presentation.

The conclusion

Sum up your points

It is important in your conclusion to leave your audience with a clear summary of everything you have covered. Restate each point and explain its connection to the other points made and to the main point of your presentation. This should leave your audience with a clear overview of what you have been saying. Finally, you need to leave them with a strong restatement of your main thesis so that it is the last thing they hear and therefore is the point they are most likely to remember.

Finish strongly

There is a risk that you can lose your audience towards the end of a presentation if you do not know how to finish strongly. Many people concentrate of preparing a snappy beginning to their presentation but then don’t know how to finish. They either just stop leaving their audience confused or keep repeating themselves leaving their audience impatient.

Prepare a strong statement to finish with before you get up to speak. It may be a quote or a joke or even just restating your main point in a different way. This way you will not run the risk of dithering at the end and you will leave your audience satisfied with a strong conclusion.

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Greatest communicators

TEDxEast - Nancy Duarte uncovers common structure of greatest communicators

18:11

According to some surveys, the fear of speaking in public is one of the most common fear among people. (The fear of dying comes out lower!)

Almost everyone feels nervous when giving a presentation or speaking in public so if you feel nervous, it is perfectly natural and understandable.

"The trick is to be well prepared, then smile and

get in and do it."

Tips to deal with anxiety

Be organised

Make sure you have well prepared your presentation and your notes and your visual aids are all in order. Ensure that you know the room and the equipment so that you are confident about how everything works.

Practise

The secret to being able to perform even when you are nervous is to practise, practise, practise, practise. Present your speech to your friends and family, for your cat, in front of the mirror. The more you practise, the more you are able to do your presentation well even if you are feeling nervous.

Breathe

Breathe slowly in and out about 6 times before you stand up to give your presentation. Do it as slowly as you can. This helps to slow down your heart rate and increase the amount of oxygen to your brain and makes you calmer. Nerves make us talk more quickly. Don’t be afraid to pause, slow down and breathe.

Act confidently

When you first stand up - Smile! Your audience will react warmly to you if you smile and at least look relaxed.

Giving an oral presentation is a performance—you have to be like an actor. Don’t ever tell your audience that you are nervous or apologise for your presentation. If you act the part of someone enjoying themselves and feeling confident, you will not only communicate these positive feelings to the audience, you will feel much better, too.

If you think your hands might shake use cards instead of paper for your notes. A4 sheets held between two shaking hands will draw your own and everyone else's attention to the fact that you are nervous and will distract from the content of your talk.

Imagine it

A good technique is in the weeks/days leading up to your presentation, do some positive visualisation. Sitting quietly or lying in bed, imagine yourself standing in front of the group, feeling very calm and relaxed, speaking in a loud, assured voice. Run this through your head over and over and your mind will tend to remember and repeat it when you do the actual presentation.

Most people deal with nerves before a presentation, even professional speakers and performers. The trick is to be well prepared and rehearsed, smile and get in and do it.