Presentation Seminar EAP Anne Groß Talk of october, 30 th a presentation is the process of presenting the content of a topic to an audience it is a way of communicating ideas and information to a group carries the speaker s personality better than a research paper can do 1. Structure all speeches should have a definite structure or format usually, a presentation has a logical beginning, middle and end like other text types have. (e.g. term paper, an essay, ) Preparing the Presentation Introduction - icebreaker to start, such as a story, interesting statement or fact, joke or quotation - need of an objective, that is, the purpose or goal of the presentation body of the presentation - only an outline is needed Questions: What is the purpose of the presentation? Who will be attending? What does the audience already know about the subject? What is the audience's attitude towards me (e.g. hostile, friendly)? a 45 minutes talk should have no more than about seven main points 1
several options for structuring the presentation: Timeline: arranged in sequential order Climax: the main points are delivered in order of increasing importance Problem/Solution: a problem is presented, a solution is suggested, and benefits are then given Classification: The important items are the major points Simple to complex: Ideas are listed from the simplest to the most complex. Can also be done in reverse order closing: - time to ask for questions - provide a summary - thank the participants for attending the presentation must be sequenced and paced so that the audience can understand the topic and follow the content easily a presenter will be remembered much more better after a good presentation than after a bad one 2. Content contains information that people need to understand the topic is the actual words or symbols of the message which is known as language the spoken and written words combined into phrases that make grammatical and semantic sense 3. Context Within the context the way the message is delivered, is described paralanguage, contains the tone of the voice look in the audience s eyes body language 2
hand gestures and state of emotions 3. Context we often trust the accuracy of nonverbal behaviours more than verbal ones This includes: (1) The voice (2) The body (3) The nerves (4) Habits (1) The voice - probably most valuable tool of the presenter - four main terms used for defining vocal qualities: A volume B tone C Pitch D Pace Speaking Hints be clear about what you say make sure your words match your tone and body language make sure your words match your tone and body language do not ignore signs of confusion Speaking Hints there are two well-know ways to communicate your points effectively: - the first is to K.I.S.S. (keep it simple and stupid) - repeat key insights (2) The body - the body communicates different impressions to the audience. People not only listen, they also watch the presenter: - e.g. displaying good posture tells the audience that you know what you are doing and that you care deeply about it 3
throughout the presentation display: A- eye contact B- facial expression C- gestures D- posture and body orientation E- proximity F- voice (3) The Nerves the main enemy of a presenter is tension the speaker locks in on the notes and starts to read directly from them do not fight nerves, welcome them! pick up and continue, so will the audience (4) Habits we all have a few habits e.g. if we say "uh," "you know, or put our hands in our pockets distracts from the message we are trying to get across feedback is necessary 5. Feedback purpose: - to break distracting habits - to change and alter messages - to practice controlling your nerves 5. Feedback Carl Rogers - five main categories of feedback listed in the order in which way they occur most frequently in daily conversations 5. Feedback 1. Evaluative: judgement about a statement 2. Interpretive: explaining of a statement 3. Supportive: assistance of a person 4. Probing: to gain additional information 5. Understanding: to discover the meaning of a statement we make judgments more often than we try to understand 4
6. Questions Questions do not mean you did not explain the topic good enough but that the person s interest is deeper than the average audience 6. Questions When a question is asked: 1. repeat the question 2.direct your answer to the entire audience 3.if you do not know the answer do not waffle 4.answers that last 10 to 40 seconds work best General: - keep characters large enough, minimum 18 pt font - use bullet points sparingly - avoid tables with too many rows and columns - keep only a few points on each page Microsoft Power Point: - keep the slide layout and color scheme constant; use only two or three colors - use transitions and animations sparingly - do not put all of your information onto a slide - use colored backgrounds Handout: - do only hand out when needed - ask the audience to keep the visual face down or direct their attention to a specific page - always number the pages if there is more than one Speaker: keep eye contact with the audience and not the visual do not block visuals with your body practice the presentation so that it is pulled off with ease 5
Questions: Whilst you may prepare some questions to ask the audience, you should also be aware that the audience may also ask you questions How to Give a Bad Talk David A. Patterson Ten commandments: I. Thou shalt not be neat II. Thou shalt not waste space III. Thou shalt not covet brevity IV. Thou shalt cover thy naked slides V. Thou shalt not write large How to Give a Bad Talk VI. Thou shalt not use color VII. Thou shalt not illustrate VIII. Thou shalt not make eye contact IX. Thou shalt not skip slides in a long talk X. Thou shalt not practice Commandment X is most important. Even if you break the other nine, this one can save you. 8. Tips and Techniques For Great Presentations do not wave a pointer around in the air like sword, use the pointer for what it is intended do not lean on the podium-if there is one-for long periods speak to the audience...not to the visual aids 8. Tips and Techniques For Great Presentations do not stand between the visual aid and the audience speak clearly and loudly enough for all to hear do not speak in a monotone voice get to the presentation before your audience arrives; be the last one to leave 8. Tips and Techniques For Great Presentations when writing on flip charts use no more than 7 lines of text per page and no more than 7 word per line (the 7 7 rule) consider the time of day and how long you have got for your talk time of day can affect the audience 6
9. Sources Collins, John. Perfect Presentations. Landsberg am Lech: mvg, 2001. http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~markhill/confer ence-talk.html http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader /leadpres.html 7