Public Speaking
Skills
THIS IS A LIFE SKILL
Purposes of Presentations

Describe a product, an invention, a place, people (e.g. myself, a
famous person)

Narrate important events (e.g. historical events, natural disasters and
their causes/effects, etc.)

Persuade by presenting arguments for & against an issue, expressing
our opinion on an issue, stating a problem & suggesting solutions,
political discussions, campaigns, etc.

Communicate in panels, debates, conferences, etc.
How to Structure a Presentation

Introduction, in which we greet the audience and introduce
ourselves and introduce the topic

Main body, in which we present the main points.

Conclusion, in which we summarize the main points.
Opening/Closing Techniques

Address the audience by asking a questions e.g. Who is your
inspiration?

Use a quotation/saying e.g. AS a native American proverb goes,
“Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned
and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.”

Ask a rhetorical question e.g. Doesn’t everyone want to be as polite
as possible when meeting people for the first time?

Make a statement e.g. The people we admire most are those who
have done incredible things to improve the world for everyone.

Narrate a personal or general story e.g. The first time I tried a home
remedy for a sore throat, I wasn’t sure it would work. However, …
Opening/Closing Techniques Pt2

Set the scene and stimulate emotions e.g. Picture this: you’re
walking around your neighborhood. The streets are dirty and littered.

Use visuals (photos, charts, pictures, films, etc.) e.g. Look at this
video showing…

Use humour (a joke, a riddle, etc.)

Use a rhyme or a short poem e.g. “Unless someone like you cares an
awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

ENDING: Use a quotation/saying e.g. After all, as the American
writer Bill Kelly once said, “Good manners are just a a way of
showing other people that we have respect for them.”
Opening/Closing Techniques Pt3

Ask a rhetorical question e.g. In the end, doesn’t everyone admire a
person who makes a difference in their community?

Make a statement e.g. Ultimately, it’s clear that the benefits of
voluntourism make it a rewarding holiday for anyone.

Narrate a personal or general story e.g. So, even though Mark
Zuckerberg first made his website for …

Stimulate emotions e.g. Finally, going on a volunteering holiday will
not only give you a feeling of pride…

Ask a ‘what if’ question e.g. What if we don’t act now? What will
happen to us and our wildlife?

Use a rhyme or a short poem e.g. Eat healthy food, breathe deep
and laugh until you cry.
Inspirational Figures
Organizing Ideas
Plan & Useful Language