Oral Presentations
COMP3040 > Common Applications > Oral presentations
Introduction
Admittedly, public speaking can be stressful and overwhelming. In addition to careful planning, attention must be paid to the delivery and the needs of the audience. However, oral presentations are one of the most fruitful sources of personal growth. They develop communication skills and confidence in expressing opinions and facts. This section discusses all the useful techniques for delivering a good presentation.
Contents
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...by studentsI think oral presentation is an art and a science. You can follow specific steps and get good at it, but you also need to practice. Like an art, such as painting, the more you practice, the better you become. - Ali
Students Contribution... Important Tips for giving powerful presentations
Summary
Oral presentations are similar to the writing process regarding the use of the ABC format. When presenting, remember to:
These simple yet crucial steps provide a strong foundation to a fabulous oral presentation. Oral PresentationThe purpose of an oral presentation is almost the same as any piece of writing. An oral presentation often includes at least one of the following purposes:
Similar to writing, the key features of a successful oral presentation are:
Following these principles will greatly increase the chance of a great presentation. However, there are also significant differences between an oral presentation and writing. These include:
Guidelines for preparation and delivery1.Think about your audienceIt is crucial to answer these questions when preparing your presentation.
TIP: Make sure you address the lowest common denominator in your audience and adjust the presentation’s technical level appropriately.
TIP: If they are new to the topic, their level of absorption may be lower than an expert audience.
2.Preparing the presentationIt’s important to give your presentation a structure like your writing. As stated above, oral presentation has lots of common features and principles as writing. One of these features is the way you organize your speech using the ABC approach like you would for a piece of writing. This is to grasp your audience's attention and help them follow closely. Here is an indication of how to organize your speech using the ABC format:
Goal: Tell them what you are going to tell them Main points to include are:
Goal: Tell them what you said you would tell them The most important part of the presentation where you expound, discuss and support the points stated in the introduction in the same order.
Goal: Tell them what you just told them The presentation should conclude with a well-planned ending. The following are the key points to include in your presentation.
3. Stick to a few main pointsDo not try to include too much content in the time allowed. Audience’s short term memory has limited capacity so organise the presentation around few major points.
4.Put your outline on cards or paperIt is important to remember that the best presentations are extemporaneous, where the presenter conveys his/her depth of the material by relying less on written materials during the presentation except for occasional reference. This also allows last-minute changes in phrasing and adding emphasis that improve delivering. However, the appropriate use of notes for reference makes a presenter look more natural.Depending on personal preferences, there are different materials for writing speech notes. Refer to table 1 below to see the pros and cons of using each of these materials.
5. Practice makes perfectPractice is the most important factor in making a good presentation. The effects of practice will be apparent on your attitude towards the material and the audience. Some effective techniques of practising for speech are:
6. Speak vigorously and deliberatelyVigorously means enthusiasm You have a limited amount of time and audience’s short attention span to work with - so it’s crucial to convey your interest in the topic and demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm. Remember: Engaging audience’s attention and maintaining their interest is just as necessary as informing them about the subject matter.
7. Avoid filler wordsFiller words like ‘um’s, ‘uh’s, ya know, ‘like etc tend to be common in people speeches. In fact, in most cases you would be surprise to find out how much you use them and not even realize it. However, filler words are distracting and irritating to the audience. To avoid using filler words in your presentation:
Best way to evaluate yourself is to use the videotaping technique once again.
8. Use rhetorical questionsRhetorical questions are those that you ask to get listeners’ thinking. You don’t expect them to answer it but rather make them think about it and prepare them for the important information you are about to discuss. When is it most effective to use rhetorical questions in your presentation?
9. Maintain eye contactFrequent eye contact is one of the key strategies for maintaining audiences' interest. It allows you communicate personally with the audience and this makes the audience feel obliged to listen. Remember: to visit every section of the audience as much as you can.
10. Use appropriate gestures and postureIncorporate appropriate gestures in your presentation. This reinforces your speech and helps in maintaining the audience’s attention. What is expected from a good speaker?
SummaryReferencesFurther Readinghttp://people.engr.ncsu.edu/txie/publications/oral_presentation_skills.pdf http://www.scivee.tv/node/2903 |