Effective Oral
Presentations
Terry A. Ring
Chemical Engineering
Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
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Ethos—credibility
Pathos—emotional appeal
Logos—logical appeal (reasoning &
evidence)
Technical Presentations
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Much more Logos (logic) than Pathos
(emotion)
Strive for Ethos (credibility)
Course Learning Objective
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To produce a professional-quality oral
presentation that presents, analyzes, and
interprets experimental results logically and
which are well organized and delivered.
Planning the Technical
Presentation
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Identify the purpose and the presentational
objectives
Define the audience
Select a format and outline the presentation
Organize data and information
Draft the presentational script
Design and integrate effective visuals
Practice the presentation
Phase 1: Purpose and Objectives
 Purpose– to inform, to teach/train, to
persuade, or to sell
 Objectives should be
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Clear and briefly stated
Concrete
Action oriented (when appropriate)
Audience-focused
Phase 2: Audience Analysis
 Listeners will differ according to:
 Informational needs
 Intended uses of data (of data, information,
recommendations)
 Knowledge of the topic
 Range of experience in the topic field
 Preconceptions of the speaker and presentation
 Demographics
 Size
Phase 2: Audience Analysis Cont.
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Modify the topic, content, organization,
format, and delivery
Anticipate and prepare for potential
obstacles
Adjust, adapt, or alter the message during
the presentation (This is hard to do!)
Design and include the most appropriate
visual aids
Phase 3: Organization
 Opening/Introduction
 Attention-getting component (less important than
Identification)
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Establish interest
 Identification component
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Establish the topic significance, necessary
background, and main argument
 Forecasting component
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Preview the order of topics
Phase 3: Organization Cont.
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Middle/Body
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Determine and limit the main points
Distinguish between main points and supporting
evidence
Logically order the main points
Decide on the kind and amount of evidence
needed
Keep depth and breadth symmetrical
Maintain unity and coherence of ideas
Phase 3: Organization Cont.
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Examples of organizational strategies:
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Chronological or sequential
Comparison or contrast
Cause-to-effect
Effect-to-cause
Familiar to unfamiliar
Geographical location
Importance
Problem - cause of problem - Solution
Phase 3: Organization Cont.
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Conclusion
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Reiterate the presentation objective
Review the main ideas
Remind audience of the “so what?” behind your
research
Phase 4: Visual Aids
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Advantages of visual aids:
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Increase the message impact
Increase listener retention
Save time
Attract listeners’ attention
Add credibility
Strengthen organization, effectiveness, and
efficiency
Assist the speaker
Phase 4: Visual Aids Cont.
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Prepare appropriately
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Prepare with specific audience in mind
Label drawings, figures, tables
Label important features of drawings
Show dimensions, measurements of drawings,
figures
Use units consistently
Cite all outside contributions
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gives speaker credibility
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special
Note on Power Point
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Present one major idea per slide
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Use phrases rather than full sentences
Limit words to no more than 8 per line
Limit lines on the slide to no more than 8
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Use parallel sentence structure
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Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special
Note on Power Point
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Design consistent slides
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Use the same colors, fonts, upper- and
lowercase letters, and styling (boldface,
underlining, italics) throughout each aid
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special
Note on Power Point
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Utilize appropriate type
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Sans serif typeface for titles and major
headings, or when only a few lines of text
appear
36-point type for major headings, 24-point type
for subheadings, and 18-point type for the body
of text
Use upper-and lower case type rather than all
capitals
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special
Note on Power Point
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Serif
small flourishes or
strokes at the tops
and bottoms of all letters
Times New Roman
Courier New
Garamond
Book Antiqua
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Sans Serif
more block-like and
linear; they are designed
without these tiny
strokes
Arial Narrow
Haettenschweiler
Verdana
Century Gothic
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special
Note on Power Point
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Use color wisely
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Apply color consistently across each aid
Use warm colors to highlight
Use blues, greens, and neutral colors
backgrounds
Use contrasting colors for typeface and graphics
Keep the number of colors you use to a
minimum
Stay within the same family of hues
Phase 4: Visual Aid Problems
Figure not labeled
Important features of
figure not labeled
Dimensions of figure
not given
Citation lacking
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special
Note on Power Point
Figure labeled
Figure 1: Lathe
Important features labeled
Citation presented
Dimensions lacking
www.bhi.co.uk/ hints/lathadj.htm
Phase 4: Visual Aids Cont.
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Use effectively
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Reveal when appropriate
Refer attention when appropriate
Maintain audience focus
Phase 5: Rehearsal and Delivery
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Rehearse to maximize effective delivery
Practice aloud with notes
Practice in a room similar to presentation
venue
Practice with equipment to be used
Practice in front of an audience and/or
record the rehearsal
Phase 5: Rehearsal and Delivery
Cont.
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Vocal Delivery
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Rate and pause
Pronunciation
Enunciation
Conversational
tone
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Physical Delivery
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Gestures and
movement
Facial expressions
Posture
Appearance
Phase 6: Question and Answer
Sessions
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Anticipate questions your audience may ask
Bring additional materials to share with
audience if necessary
Do not interrupt audience members
Keep your answers brief (if possible)
Thank your audience for their time and
attention
A Summary of Technical
Presentations
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Technical presentations must be planned
and prepared
Technical presentations must be organized
with the audience in mind
Technical presentations should include wellprepared visuals
Technical presentations must be delivered
effectively
References
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Alley, M. (2003). The craft of scientific presentations: Critical steps to
succeed and critical errors to avoid. New York: Springer.
Hager, P. J. & Scheiber, H. J. (1997). Designing and delivering
scientific, technical, and managerial presentations. New York: John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Kenny, P. (1982). A handbook of public speaking for scientists and
engineers. Philadelphia: Institute of Physics Publishing.
O’Hair, D., Steward, R., & Rubenstein, H. (2004). A speaker’s
guidebook: Text and reference, 2nd ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St.
Martin’s.
www.bhi.co.uk/ hints/lathadj.htm
Scoring Rubric
Presenter's Name:
Introduction: Title, attention getter, credibility, clearly stated central idea, established
interest and credibility, identifies motivation citations given for introductory material.
12%
Structure and Organization: Well developed main points, persuasive supporting
12% material, the ideas were ordered logically, kept within the time constraints.
Technical Content: Theory introduced is sound and correctly applied to data. The
detail in the theory is sufficient to lead an audience familiar with basic chemical
engineering concepts to understand the more specialized concepts presented. The
25% relevance of the data presented to the central idea is evident. Data are displayed
properly and clearly, with indications of confidence intervals where appropriate.
Conclusion: Described the possible the future of this topic. Restated primary findings
and central idea. Left audience with a residual message
12%
12%
Visual Aids: Appropriate text size, font, and color, general visual appeal, presentation
of visual aids, citations given for images. Proper spelling and grammar.
Delivery: Appropriate eye contact, movement, rate of speech, volume, enthusiasm,
confidence, lack of verbal fillers.
12%
Overall Quality: Includes impressions of persuasiveness of findings and audience
15% adaptation.
Score (0 to 5)
For More Information
Stacey Overholt, Communication Consultant–
Center for Engineering Leadership
Email: stacey.overholt@utah.edu
Office Hours: by appointment.
Terry A. Ring,
Email: ring@chemeng.Utah.edu
Office: MEB 2290