North Seattle Community College
Embracing a Complex Future, Winter 2011
Tips for Your Group’s Oral Presentation
Preparation and practice will improve the quality and success of your group’s “swamp”
presentation. Use this list of guidelines to help you create and deliver an effective presentation.
PLANNING
Be Clear about Your Purpose:
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What did your group set out to learn?
What were the challenges and discoveries?
What are the key points you want us to know?
What do you want the audience to know, feel, or believe afterward your presentation? What is your
“take home message”?
Use an Effective Introduction:
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Introduce yourselves
Establish an immediate relationship between yourselves and your audience (if you’re nervous – relax;
they are too!)
Keep it Simple: It is important that you organize your presentation clearly and simply.
• Prioritize topics and allocate time accordingly (each group has no more than 15 minutes);
• Stick to a few main points;
• Use examples, anecdotes, graphics, images, & statistics to illustrate your key research points & to
maintain your audience’s interest;
Create an Effective Conclusion:
• Summarize
• Share your group’s generative response to your swamp issue (what did you finally arrive at or do?)
 Do not immediately run away! Allow for questions and answers.
Know your Technology and Room:
• Decide if you want people to change their chair/table placement.
• Make sure you can run the equipment.
Be Prepared Early:
• Practice from start to finish using the equipment if possible.
• Practice with friends and peers.
• Be prepared to answer the ten most likely questions.
DELIVERY
Presentation Style: It is important to remember that how you present is as important as what you present.
• Be yourself, relax, and practice some deep breathing techniques;
• Sound conversational and enthusiastic.
• Use key phrases in your notes so you do not have to read them;
• Vary volume – a monotone will put your audience to sleep!;
• Don’t be afraid of some silence; refrain as much as possible from saying “um”;
• Nervousness is usually invisible; most people will not notice small changes in your voice or occasional
mistakes;
• Use body language effectively (e.g., establish frequent eye contact with the audience);
• Concentrate on the message;
• Begin with a slow, well-prepared introduction and have a confident and clear conclusion;
• Engage your peers -- Make eye contact with your audience
• Don’t read your PPT slides or from your notes
• Practice, practice, practice.
CONSIDER A HANDOUT; POWERPOINT; BLOG, OR POSTER AS A VISUAL AID