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“presentation tips”
PREPARING YOUR
PRESENTATION
initial planning Before you begin preparing your presentation, you’ll need to determine:
1. The type of talk (informal chat/ formal presentation)
2. Your audience – is it likely to be friendly/interactive?
3. Time allowed
4. Expectations for information content – will the concepts be new for your audience? If so, make sure the audience understands you.
preparing your material
1. Select a topic and a clear purpose. Here’s how:
a. brainstorm a list of topics that you know something about and/are interested in
b. choose a topic from this list (if the topic is too broad, brainstorm again)
c. determine your purpose – to inform/teach or persuade/convince
2. Analyze your audience – is it likely to be friendly/interactive? Estimate its knowledge of the topic.
3. Gather ideas on your topic to meets your audience’s needs and your purpose.
4. Organize your ideas into main points.
a. categorize and label ideas
b. develop a few main points
c. map your ideas in a hierarchy (tree)
5. Prepare your speech and outline (you may refer to the outline during your talk)
a. develop points orally or on paper
b. write out your introduction and conclusion. Intro should create interest, reveal topic and outline a few main points. Conclusion sums up by repeating main points very briefly.) You should try to learn the intro and conclusion by heart. Some people prefer to write the main points on cards.
important elements Keep these in mind while preparing. Practise your presentation to make it more natural and streamlined.
1. SPEED: optimal rate = 100 words/min Use pauses where necessary and repeat critical information.
2. OPENING: this should catch the interest of the audience
3. TRANSITIONS: link the successive elements smoothly and in a logical order
4. CONCLUSION: summarize the main concepts. Remember to signal the conclusion. (Eg “In summary…)
5. LENGTH: DO NOT RUN OVER THE TIME LIMIT! If your talk is too long, omit details, concepts and information DO NOT TRY TO DELIVER IT FASTER! You could add information in the form of handout with supplementary information if you consider this necessary.
6. QUESTIONS: When you have finished your talk, ask the audience if they have any questions. After answering any questions there might be, remember to thank the audience for coming/listening.
PRACTICE is the single most important factor contributing to a good presentation.
Take time for a few practice runs (with a friend/family member as audience if possible). The effects of practice will be apparent and will reflect on your attitude towards the task and your audience.
Make sure you practice the whole talk and not just the beginning. The middle and the ending are equally important!
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH! Gulp! So it’s your turn to give your presentation! Now what?
1. Breathe deeply and visualize the rehearsed opening statement.
2. Speak naturally and use moderate, automatic gestures.
3. Monitor your behavior, Avoid “tics” and pacing, or nervous gestures.
4. Involve your audience – make eye contact, smile, ask questions.
5. Be enthusiastic – but don’t overdo it!
6. Watch the time!
7. Don’t apologize for any aspect of your presentation.
8. When you have finished the concluding section, resist the temptation to add a few impromptu words – end firmly.
HANDLING QUESTIONS
This is the part of the presentation where you will demonstrate your ability to improvise and interact with your audience. You cannot always predict questions, so how to proceed?
1. Always repeat the question you are asked so the entire audience knows what you’ve been asked. It also gives you time to think.
2. Never begin to answer before the questioner has finished asking!
3. Avoid prolonged discussions – keep the answer short and to the point.
4. If you don’t know the answer – just say so. Don’t apologise! Offer to research the answer for a later date.
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