Oral Presentation Skills

Announcements

  1. Gather the material

    1. Decide on your topic & identify the key points you wish to make.
    2. Identify the purpose of your presentation.
      Do you intend to:

      inform
      entertain
      persuade
      or stimulate interest?

    3. Gather supporting evidence for your key points. Choose supporting evidence that will help you achieve your purpose:

      explanation, statistical evidence, example, anecdote, comparison

    4. Select or create visual or audio/visual aids and activities to make your presentation lively and interesting. Aim to involve your audience as much as possible.

      Choices could include:

      whiteboard drawing
      poster
      photographs
      video clip
      overhead transparency
      models
      examples
      role play
      questions/ answer
      worksheets

    5. Keep in mind the audience when you choose your material

  2. Organise the material

    1. Earn audience attention with a stimulating opening statement.
    2. Introduce the topic, giving the scope and plan of the presentation. Set the mood of the talk (in accordance with the purpose).
    3. Present four or five main points in the body of the talk. Make sure they are ordered (choose a logical, chronological, special or topical sequence).
    4. Link your main points to create a smooth flow of ideas.
    5. Use visual aids and audience activities to illustrate your main points and maintain interest and pace in your presentation.
    6. Conclude your presentation by referring to the introduction (but don’t restate it) and summarising your main points. Include recommendations if you have been asked to do so.

  3. Present the material:

    1. Voice
      • Speak clearly and loudly enough to reach the back row
      • Check the pronunciation of new or foreign words, technical terms and people’s names
      • Maintain pace, but don’t rush
      • Use pauses and stress to emphasise main points
      • Vary the pitch of your voice
      • Speak confidently
    2. Physical presentation
      • Use appropriate gestures
      • Use eye contact to include all sectors of the audience
      • Avoid distracting mannerisms
      • Use cue cards – don’t read your presentation
      • Use large clear visuals relevant to the main points
      • Try to establish rapport with your audience – add explanation where needed, slow down or question where they may be uncertain of your meaning. Adjust your pace to suit the particular group.
      • Ask for questions/ invite discussion
      • End confidently – don’t ramble on

      [Stand up, speak out, sit down]