How to give an effective presentation
Introduction
Students are often asked to give presentations at university (either individually
or as part of a group). This is a useful process because presentations
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offer different viewpoints on a topic
act as good practice for job interviews and the world of work
allow some people to present themselves better verbally than on paper
can get discussion going
can help you to boost your confidence
Often presentations are relatively short (between 5-15 minutes), therefore it is
important to:
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Be concise
Select a few key example
Structure the presentation clearly
Provide signposts or cues
Repeat the key points and to summarise them at the end
Preparation for the presentation
Prepare materials in the same way as you would prepare for an essay (more
information).
In summary:
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Analyse the question
Summarise the task
Organise and plan (identify the key topics, look at what resources you
have, find resources for the gaps)
Find sources of information (you may wish to start with something
general to gain an overview of the topic)
Read and make notes
Carefully structure your key ideas and take each one in turn to identify
key points to make in your talk
Some other points to consider for preparation of the presentation:
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Prepare only what you can deliver at a slow pace
Think about what your audience:
o What they already know
o What they will want to know
o How to attract their attention
o What relevant examples may engage them
Divide the information into the key areas (only cover general, key
points and provide a few key examples)
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Include a strong final summary
Think carefully about visual resources, for example handouts and
slides
Mindmapping
You may wish to try using a mindmap for planning your work. You could also
include a mindmap to present as an initial overview for your audience to show
the key points you are going to raise.
Prompts and visual resources
Think carefully about what will help to prompt you. Some examples are
included below:
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Index cards
Overhead transparencies
Powerpoint
Handouts
Artefacts
Music
Prompts
Think carefully about the type of prompt you use. You do not want to ‘read
out’ every word from a page or screen. It is important to be familiar with your
topic beforehand, which will both give you confidence, and also mean that you
are able to convey the information effectively without reading. Additionally, if
you struggle with reading, you may knock your confidence in a presentation
by putting pressure on yourself to read detailed information. Below are listed
some suggestions for prompts:
Index cards
This is useful if you know a topic well, but just want a few handheld prompts –
you could use bullet points on a series of index cards. It is wise to number the
cards in case they are dropped or become jumbled up
Overhead transparencies
You may wish to use these to provide a structure or overview of the topic and
to present them to the group. You could include some simple key points and
work through them in order. It is advisable to number them and to be clear
about:
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The availability of the projector on the day
How the projector works
Which way the slides go on
It is often possible to print onto certain types of overhead transparency
(acetate). There are several types of acetate available for:
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Handwriting
photocopying
printing
Powerpoint
You may wish to structure your talk to provide a step-by-step summary of
each of your key points in Powerpoint. It also offers the facility to produce
handouts taken directly from the slides you create. If you use Powerpoint, it is
advisable to:
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Use a large font (at least 32 point is recommended)
Keep it simple and avoid flashing or moving images/ graphics, unless
they are essential to your point
Use the Powerpoint slides sparingly (one for ever 3 minutes or so of
the talk)
The availability of a computer, and multimedia projector on the day
Practice using the technology
Have a back up plan in case the technology fails on the day
Visual/ supplementary aids
You may wish to present visual aids to the group, for example graphs, charts,
images, a few key quotes or an overview of what you hope to cover. Think
carefully about how you will present these. If you are using Powerpoint or
overhead projector as a prompt, you can incorporate these into that medium.
Other supplementary aids that you may wish to consider are:
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Handouts (you may want to provide each of the students and your
tutors with a handout to support the key points that you raise)
Artefacts (you may choose to hand out objects, artefacts or other
practical resources, for example for a graphic design presentation, you
may pass round examples of good design and poor design)
Music (this could set a certain mood as students enter the room, or you
may choose to use specific examples of music to illustrate a point if
you are giving a creative presentation). Again, check that the
technology to support this will be available on the day, and also
practice how it works.
Overcoming nerves
Some people find giving a presentation a nerve wracking experience. Careful
preparation and practice can help alleviate nerves. Some tips include:
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Produce a script to practice from (do make sure that you destroy it
before your talk, or there will be a temptation to ‘read it out’)
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Go over the information alone several times
Practice delivering the presentation alone and time it
Rehearse in front of friends or family and again, time it. You may need
to adjust the content to fit the timescale (see below for a practical
feedback checklist you may wish to use)
Alternatively, you may have access to a video camera and wish to
video record yourself delivering the presentation (see below for a
practical feedback checklist you may wish to use)
Make a conscious effort to relax –you may wish to try breathing
techniques
Make a task list of what you need for the presentation and check that
you have everything to hand on the day
Arrive early
Be in the room before everyone arrives. Smile at everyone as they
arrive
Have a glass of water to hand
Giving the talk
Consider how you will handle the following beforehand:
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how you are going to stick to the time – you may wish to make
someone your timekeeper and prompt you, for example after 5 minutes
has passed and 1 minute before the end.
How you will handle questions. Usually, it is easier to point out at the
beginning of your talk that you will take all questions at the end. Make
sure that you include time for this. You may also wish to consider
possible questions that your audience might ask and suitable
responses to them.
How you will organise your space – for example where you will stand,
where you will store any visual aids, how you will distribute materials,
seating arrangements for your audience.
Giving the talk - things to remember on the day
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Wait until all are quiet
Use a prompt (cards, Powerpoint, OHP slides), not reading
Speak slowly and loudly
Do not apologise
Make eye contact, or at least look up
Start by saying what you’re going to cover/ do
Go through your prompts in order
Stop and breathe after each point
Sum up at the end
End on a good line. If unsure, simply smile and say “Thank you”.
Presentation rehearsal checklist
For use by rehearsal observer, or if you are reviewing yourself on video.
Introduction
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Is it clear what your intentions are?
Do you make it clear what you are going to cover?
Structure
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Is it structured clearly?
Do you show the audience where you are going?
Content
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Are you answering the original brief that has been set?
Do you clearly address all of the points you have raised?
Conclusion
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Do you have a clear summary of what has been covered?
Body language and presentation
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Do you appear confident?
Is your voice clearly heard?
Visual aids and resources
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Do the aids supplement your talk, rather than detract from it?
Are your visual aids clear and easy to understand?
Reviewing your presentation
At the end of your presentation, it is often tempting to forget about it and ‘put it
all behind you’, but some reflection is advisable, in order for it to act as a
learning experience.
Some ideas for review and reflection include the following steps:
Immediately afterwards
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Congratulate yourself for bravery and getting through the experience
Try not to focus too much on the negative aspects
Shortly afterwards
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Think about your strengths – what went particularly well? What could
you draw on for next time? For example, if you found the use of visual
aids particularly useful as prompts, you could consider using more of
these.
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Think about your weaknesses – what did not go so well? Was it
structure? Was it content? Did you answer the brief?
Room for improvement?
Consider listing the areas where you need to improve and store it somewhere
safe for next time. Do you need more practice? Do you need to work on
relaxation techniques? Do you need to plan more carefully?
You could seek out support from Learning Development or Study Support
department at your university. Look out for whether your university runs
specific study sessions to support presentations.