Chapter 15
Presentations
Steps of the presentation process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Determine a topic
Limit the topic
Determine the purpose
Research the topic
Organize and outline
Select supporting information
Prepare notes and manuscripts for
delivery
Rehearse the presentation
3 elements of presentations:
1.
2.
3.
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
The Introduction:
5-10% of the presentation
 1st impression
The 5 purposes:
1. Get audience’s attention
2. State the thesis
3. Establish your ethos as a
speaker
4. Orient the audience
5. Preview the main points

Attention Device:

Tool used by a speaker to grab
the interest of an audience
7 popular attention devices:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Humor
Quotations
Stories
References to the
occasion,audience, or topic
Rhetorical question
Startling statement
Personal experience
PRACTICE:


Develop three different attention
devices for a topic
Use any of the seven
Thesis statement:


Simple sentence of question
that states the point you expect
to make in your presentation
Should guide your entire
presentation
Establishing Ethos:



Provide information about
yourself, your specific expertise,
or research you have done
Not all need to share their
expertise
Some people are introduced by
someone else that gives this
Audience Orientation:


1.
2.
3.
Provides audience members
with information they likely do
not already have, but will need
to understand the rest of the
presentation
3 types:
Definitions
Background information
Motivation (make them want to
listen)
The Body:



Make up of 2-5 main points
Each with supporting details and
each connect with smooth
transitions
75-85% of presentation
Determining the main points:
Consider the purpose of the
speech
2. Refer to your thesis
3. Availability of information
- have a topic you can back up
- must have evidence
1.
Transitions:


Join main points
Link introduction to conclusion
Weak – leave audience feeling
lost or wondering what the next
point will be
Smooth – shows relationship
between two points being linked
Transitions can help you:







Put ideas together
Illustrate a point
Compare or contrast points
Emphasize a point
Arrange points in order
Repeat or emphasize the main
point
Relate points through location or
time
The Conclusion:
3 purposes:
1. Summarize main points
2. Restate the thesis
3. Provide a clear ending
Special strategies:




Give different ending to the story
Give a quote again
Issue a challenge
“What’s for lunch?”
Patterns of Organization:







Chronological
Spatial
Sequential
Topical
Cause-Effect
Problem-solution
Monroe’s motivated sequence
Chronological Order:



Arrange according to time of
occurrence
Main points pattern: past,
present, future
Can be used in formal or
informal presentations
Sequential order:

Arrange according to the steps
of a process
Example: Steps in making a
hamburger with the works
Start from beginning to end
PRACTICE:


Show the steps in making a
cake
Don’t forget the all of the
supplies you will need!
Spatial Order:
Arrangement according to how
a topic is put together or by the
physical location of its
elements
1. Side to side
2. Top to bottom
3. North to south
4. East to west
Example: a weather forcast

PRACTICE:



Describe your partner from head
to toe
Be specific
Use descriptive adjectives
Topical Order:

Group by some logical theme or
division
Example: topic of deteriorating
facilities at the school
-look only at the gym, cafeteria, ag
classrooms (only connection is
deterioration
Usually presented in order of
importance
Cause-Effect



Used for persuasive and
motivational presentations
Cause (first part) brings about
some action, event, or situation
Effect (second part)
consequences of 1st part
Problem-solution


Describe the problem and then
a solution
Usually used to persuade
audience to solve a problem or
improve a situation
Advantage/Disadvantage
Strategy:


Effective if the speaker believes
the audience is unlikely to
accept the proposal
Showing that he or she has
considered the audience’s
viewpoint helps overcome
resistance
Monroe’s Motivated
Sequence:



1.
2.
5 part strategy for immediate
action
Persuasive or motivational
speeches
Based on two assumptions:
All people have needs
People can be persuaded by
claims that satisfy those needs
5 steps:





Attention: can’t persuade
without it
Need – make aware that the
problem exists and is relevant to
them
Satisfaction – present solution
Visualization – helps listeners
“buy into your plan”
Action