A Guide to Making Presentations

Anxieties are eased with practice as you develop your verbal and non-verbal communication skills. If you have done your preparation - you will know more than your audience.

Planning, preparation and practice are crucial.

Planning a Talk involves.Deciding what you want to talk to the audience about (clear objectives).

Considering what your audience will want to get out of it (the results).

Considering what you will want to get out of it (your results particularly if the presentation is being assessed) .

The points will you want to put over - the main headings and components points and their sequence.

How these points can be put over best?

Preparation includes

Scheduling your artwork, slide and /or handout preparation.

Obtaining/rehearsing with OHP, equipment, checking screen, room layout etc.

Inviting members of audience e.g. your client.

Sequencing your ideas Use a similar structure as for planning an essay:

introduction, main body, conclusion/summary- but remember you need to make contact with your audience to gain and maintain their interest. Try and involve them, you will enjoy yourself more and so will they.

Use of prompt cards.

Use of your OHP slides to structure and sequence your talk

Don't write out the talk. Reading from a script kills your voice and blocks contact with your audience!

Beginning

Be yourself: enthusiasm and interest are infectious

Involve the audience - look at them. Use your natural presence.

Don't talk to the wall or to your shoes. Nervousness is a feeling - it usually doesn't show.

Take a calm sip of water. Smile.

Remember

Don't be obsequious or fawning (too much thanks and praise of your audience).

Get confidence from your preparation but beware of TOO MUCH preparation.

Get the audience’s attention - introduce yourself and your topic.

Apply the rule:

First you tell 'em what you're gonna tell 'em
Then you tell 'em it
Then you tell 'em what you've told 'em

Outline the talk - what is it about and what will be the main structure. Note any treats in store or questions which may raise Above all.

make the beginning clear.

Apply the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid). Don't hurry - start and continue at an even pace.

Decide on taking questions during or after the talk. Explain this and stick to it politely and reasonably.

The Middle

Remember how people absorb information and get tired.

Change the cadences of your voice. Involve the audience with your smile.

Use your visual and other media to provide sequence and structure.

Plan your timing - allow enough time. Don't rush when you are over-running - SUMMARISE and STOP. Any matters not covered can be the subject of questions.

Use of Media

Visual materials will illustrate the points you are making. Plan to use flip-charts and OHP slides handouts -before, during or after the talk models experiments discussion - large or small groups questions.

The Overhead Projector (0HP) is useful for this:

AVOID putting too much information on an OHP slide

Ensure the "point" size of text can be seen by your audience

Your slides should be clean, no spelling errors etc

DON'T use too many Watch how other people use the 0HP and learn from them.

Question/Answer Stage

Change your position, move towards your audience but maintain eye contact with everyone.

Ask for comments and seek clarification if you do not understand a question.

Bring your audience into the discussion and control the discussion/questioning to keep questions broadly on the subject

If you really don't know the answer to a question - SAY SO - note the question and agree that youwill bring an answer to the question subsequently.

To close the questioning session ask for one or two final questions

Wind Up

Summarise the outline of the talk. Finish on a high note.

Assessment of Presentations

• Ensure you know what assessment criteria are being used and the standard required
• Content of the presentation - the facts and critical issues raised.
• Their sequence, explanation and the logic of the argument. The content reveals the depth of investigation and familiarity with the subject matter.
• Skill of presentation itself.
• Your public speaking skills: pace, voice (projection and cadence), your gestures and irritants
• Ability to communicate to an audience.
• Building of rapport, projection of warmth, confidence

• Handling of questions.
• Use of media aids to deliver your session

Some key points of assessment may emerge from processes you generate in the presentation e.g. your creativity and sensitivity to the audience. Be aware of who is in the audience and their critical focus.

Team Presentations

If you are asked to make a team presentation

Co-ordinate your activities to ensure that the presentation is a team effort and not a series, of individual presentations. Appoint an anchor person.

Prepare your stage. Ensure all team members have a seat. Rehearse each person's use of the OHP. Agree a 'you're time is up' signal.

GET EVERYONE THERE!
There will be an expectation that each member's contribution in preparation and in the presentation itself can be clearly identified and is sufficient for an assessment to be made.