Presentation skills
Essex Pathways Department
Getting Ready for an Oral Presentation
Organize
the
conclusion
Identify
your
purpose
Understand
your
audience
Organize
the
body
Organize
the
introduction
Ten Techniques for Getting
Your Audience’s Attention
• A Promise
“By the end of my talk,
you will . . . .”
• Drama—tell a moving story;
describe a problem.
• Eye contact—command
attention by making eye
contact with as many people
as possible.
Ten Techniques for Getting
Your Audience’s Attention
• Movement—leave the lectern area. Move toward
the audience.
• Questions—ask for a show of hands. Use a
rhetorical question.
• Demonstrations—include a member of the
audience.
• Samples, gimmicks—award prizes to volunteer
participants; pass out samples.
Ten Techniques for Getting
Your Audience’s Attention
• Visuals—use graphics and
other visual aids.
• Dress—professional dress
helps you look more
competent and qualified
• Appeal to the audience’s
self-interest—audience
members want to know,
“What's in it for me?”
Organizing Content
Organize the body logically.
 Develop two to four main points. Streamline
your topic and summarize its principal parts.
 Arrange the points logically by a pattern.
 Prepare transitions to guide the audience.
 Have extra material ready. Be prepared with
more information and visuals if needed.
Organizing Content
Summarize in the conclusion.
 Summarize your main themes.
 Provide a final action-oriented focus that
tells listeners how they can use this
information or what you want them to do.
 Include a statement that allows you to
depart the podium gracefully and leaves a
lasting impression.
Using Verbal Signposts to Transition
Previewing
Now let's look at three reasons
for . . .
My next point focuses on . . .
Summarizing
Switching
Directions
As you can see, we have two
primary reasons explaining . . .
Let me review the two major
factors I've just covered. . .
Up to this point, I've concentrated
on . . .; now let's look at another
significant factor . . .
I've just discussed three reasons
for X. Now I want to move on to Y.
Sending Positive
Nonverbal Messages
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Look professional.
Animate your body (but not too much!).
Punctuate your words.
Use appropriate eye contact.
Get out from behind the podium.
Vary your facial expressions.
Multimedia
slides
Objects
for
demonstration
Transparencies
Enhancing
Your
Presentation
With Visual
Aids
Video
Handouts
Flipcharts
or
whiteboards
Preparing a Visually Appealing
PowerPoint Presentation
Adapt your text and colour selections.
 6-x-6 guide: Maximum of six bullets
per screen, six words per bullet
 Combine harmonious colours, borders,
bullet styles, and fonts.
 Use light text on dark background for
darkened rooms.
 Use dark text on light background for
lighted rooms.
Preparing a Visually Appealing
PowerPoint Presentation
Organize your slides.
• Translate major
headings into slide
titles.
• Use blueprint slides
strategically.
• Build bullet points
with short phrases.
Preparing a Visually Appealing
PowerPoint Presentation
Compose your slideshow.
 Create a template to serve as
background.
 Avoid visual clichés; find a fresh template
that complements your purpose.
 Choose layout and design options very
carefully in relation to your topic.
Preparing a Visually Appealing
PowerPoint Presentation
Compose your slideshow.
 Alter layouts and consider adding variety but
don’t overdo it.
 Numeric information is easier to understand when
shown in graphs and charts.
 Use bullet points and concise sentences
 Don’t overcrowd the slide with text
Preparing a Visually Appealing
PowerPoint Presentation
Compose your slideshow.
 Create a slide only if it
• helps audience follow your ideas
• highlights points you want audience to
remember
• introduces or reviews key points
• provides a transition between points
• illustrates and simplifies complex ideas.
Preparing a Visually Appealing
PowerPoint Presentation
Revise, proofread, and evaluate your
slideshow.
• Use PowerPoint’s Slide Sorter View to
rearrange, insert, and delete slides.
• Edit wording to achieve parallel form.
• Strive for conciseness and precision.
• Check for spelling, grammar, and
punctuation.
• Are colour choices visually appealing?
Preparing a Visually Appealing
PowerPoint Presentation
Use PowerPoint effectively.
• Leave the lights as bright as possible.
• Use a radio remote control to advance
slides.
• Use a laser pointer to highlight slide items.
• Don’t rely totally on your slides.
Remember that the audience came to see
and hear you.
Polishing Your Delivery
and Following Up
Delivery Method
• If you are using a slideshow, practice
thoroughly so that you can speak naturally
without notes. (But keep some small notes
as a backup).
• If you are speaking without a slideshow, use
notes but try to talk to the audience
conversationally.
• Beware of reading from a script: BORING!
Stage Fright Symptoms
• Stomach
butterflies
• Pounding heart
• Shortage of
breath
• Sweaty
palms
•
•
•
•
•
Dry throat
Unsteady voice
Trembling hands
Tied tongue
Wobbly knees
Combating Stage Fright
• Just before you begin to talk, take
some deep breaths.
• Convert your fear into anticipation
and enthusiasm.
• Ignore any small mistakes and
keep going.
• Prepare 150 percent.
• Use positive self-talk.
Combating Stage Fright
• Shift the focus from yourself to your visual
aids.
• Keep it ‘slow and low’- don’t
speak too fast and keep the pitch
of your voice low- that way you
won’t sound nervous, even
if you are!
Tips
• Save your presentations on your M drive AND on a USB and
e-mail them to yourself !
• Be aware of your voice and body language
• Look at the audience, not at the screen/notes. Notes have to
be small enough to be in the palm of your hands (i.e. no A4 or ½
A4 sheets)
•Point to the slides at appropriate moments
• Rehearse a lot
• Don’t leave it until the last minute!
Any questions?
Thank you