Oral Presentation

Why Should I Care?

The most universal method of learning is to hear someone talking. People still love to hear others talk, even if information is available on the Internet, or in books. Think of stand-up comedy, it is really low-tech, but people love it more than ever. Whether you would love to present or you absolutely HATE it, we've got some pointers to help you succeed on stage.

This lesson has 2 parts

• 10 Step Preparation
  
• Oratory Considerations
  

What is an Oral Presentation?

Although some people are naturally gifted in public speaking, it is a skill that most students can acquire. In a college setting, oral presentations are also an occasion to diversify the type of assessments imposed on students. Some students do well on tests, having a great memory. Some students do well on essays, having a knack for argumentation and storytelling. Some students may have more trouble with written assessments, so it is wise for instructors to use other formats, such as oral tests, and oral presentations.

Being an effective speaker may also be useful for your career, although there are lots of people who do just fine and stay far away from PowerPoint and conference stages. 

Self-Assessment for Anxious Presenters

Think of the best presentation you’ve ever seen or listened to, and remember what made this presentation so great. Make a few notes of what you appreciate in an oral presentation. How apprehensive are you about public speaking? Respond to the following statements using the ranking system below.
1 = Strongly Agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly Disagree•             I have no fear of giving a speech.
•             Certain parts of my body feel very tense and rigid when I am giving a speech.
•             I feel relaxed when giving a speech.
•             My thoughts become confused and jumbled when I am giving a speech.
•             I face the prospect of giving a speech with confidence.
•             While giving a speech, I get so nervous that I forget facts I already know.If you feel very anxious about public speaking, it's worth discussing this with your professor, team-mates, and even a school counsellor or therapist.

Mostly, speaking is a great way to master the material, and a great way to help others learn. Whenever new media technology comes around, like the radio, television, and the internet, public speaking has managed to remain. Humans love to listen to people talk.

The 3 Magic Ingredients of Amazing Presentations

• 10-Step Preparation
  

To help you prepare an awesome presentation, here is our 10-step preparation program. We are assuming that you have already done the background research, and may even have a paper written up. These steps relate only to the presentation.

DOUBLE-CHECK MP FOR CONTENT

1. State the topic
   The topic for your presentation may differ from that of a research paper. It's often times better to modify the topic a little. Write the topic out in a way that interests you.
   
   
2. Know your audience
   

   Why should we care about your work? Think in terms of interest, but also in terms of consequences. This topic might fascinate you, but does this issue have an impact on other people? This is a great way to get people's attention, and get them to care about the topic.
   

3. Sort through your research
   Oral presentations are not the best time to present a thorough literature review of everything that's been said about the topic. When people speak to each other, it's better if they get to the point. Your job is not to show every detail. Your job is to sort the information so that you get to the most critical aspects. Get to the point. Always critically evaluate your information. Is it current, fair, logical, objective? If someone disagrees, are you ready to respond? Integrate research into your speech, but always avoid plagiarizing someone else’s work.

   
   

4. Collect supporting material and visuals
   There are two medium in an oral presentation: audio and visual content. The audio is you talking. You've got to have something to say, and that means good research. Your voice does not need to be loud and booming. I simply needs to be interesting and compelling. So does the visual content. Look for compelling images that tell your story. This is will take some anxiety out of the 'speech' aspect. Let the audience see a great photo, an incredible graph, or a very telling map.
   
   
5. Develop your main points
   Take-aways are summary points and insights that people remember. Make a list of 3-5 major take-aways that you would like people to keep thinking about, after they've left the presentation. A good way to find some hidden gems, is to discuss the presentation with a friend, and ask them what they have kept, or taken away, from your talk.
   
   
6. Organize the slides
   Choose the software you prefer, and organize your slides. Keep the slides clean, using large font sizes, and large images.
   Once you have written up the slides, you can re-order them according to the strategy of your presentation. You don't have to follow the same organization as a scientific paper, or a thesis-based essay.
   
   
7. Word your speech
   Some people like to recite a carefully written speech, like Barack Obama does. However, you might not have a teleprompter, so reciting a speech means lots of memorization. It's not always a good idea to write the whole thing out and read it. But it is important to write. Now is your opportunity to write in a vivid, spoken form, where grammar and punctuation do not follow the same rules as on the white paper page. Try to include catch-phrases, metaphors, irony, puns, alliterations, and any other fun expression that your audience will appreciate.
   
   
8. Construct the intro and conclusion
   Speaking engagements should always start with thank yous. Acknowledge and thank the people who invited you, and the people who helped you in this project. Show appreciation for the people who are sitting in front of you. It is always a privilege to have an audience.
   
   You should also put some thought into the first minute, and the last minute of the presentation. Think of flying an aeroplane, it's the take-off and the landing that are the most critical. How do you want to start things off? Do you want a quick bang and get right into it? Would you rather ease people into the topic? How do you want to end, with a question, a hint of hope, or a laugh?
   
   
9. Rehearse
   Find the room where you are going to present and rehearse the whole presentation. First, check the technology. Make sure the file opens up and that the projector is working. Check the font sizes. Sit in the back of the room and make sure you can read everything on the screen. Second, check your timing. Make sure you respect the minimum and maximum time limits. Third, check the outlay of the room. Walk around, feel the environment.
   
   
10. Deliver
    
    

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• Oratory Considerations

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References and Further Reading

APA style references