FIVE MINUTE PRESENTATION (Beyond Informational to Persuasive)
VERSION 2... (NOTE: Also see attached one-page instruction sheet / evaluation sheet)
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Your assignment... create a front-of-class presentation event (maximum 5-minute length) for the purpose of
providing an informational description or demonstration of a "value offer" and ALSO to make a persuasive
"call for action or change" of the members of our classroom audience. (You choose the "value offer.")
This assignment requires you to analyze situations that may require a slightly DIFFERENT APPROACH
toward influencing others than discussed in class thus far.
Previously, we focused on how to conduct professional DIALOGUES in a face-to-face or small group setting.
(i.e., Folks sitting down together and talking...each side "taking turns" and getting a fair share of discussion
"air time"... each side going "back-and-forth" to exchange ideas and concerns.)
But, in some situations, it may be difficult to engage in any DIALOGUE at all... For this assignment,
you will be creating a "ONE-TO-MANY" communication event to inform, influence and persuade
a larger, seated audience with no prior knowledge of your "value offering."
When given only 5 minutes with a seated audience, most presenters tend to rely more on ONE-WAY
COMMUNICATION. But, some presenters also may try to ask questions to elicit audience participation
and dialogue. All approaches are OK! However, if you choose to invite audience members to participate
and/or answer questions, please remember that your presentation has a 5 minute time limit.
How would YOU choose to engage, influence and persuade others in a seated audience? This is your
chance to practice and "show us what you learned" this semester. Your challenge is to apply concepts from
the text... use tips received in our classroom discussions... and your own experience. Practice your skills!
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TIPS:
DO NOT READ SCRIPTS or PowerPoint. Connect - make eye contact - speak naturally.
Be prepared / well-practiced / display depth of analysis / stay within allotted 5 minutes.
Be sure to make a clear description of your VALUE OFFER and/or PROPOSED CHANGE.
WHAT is it? Describe features? How used? Felt? Experienced? Help audience ENVISION.
Then, in order to INFLUENCE and PERSUADE, you must GO BEYOND merely giving
INFO and DESCRIPTIONS of your offering (i.e., not just a long list of "features")
Must LINK key "features" to desired CHANGES and BENEFITS for audience members.
Link to PROBLEMS / SOLUTIONS and ULTIMATE OUTCOMES that may be desired.
TIP: Think... WHY should audience members care? What would they "GET" if they commit
to pursue your value offer? How might their world be changed for the better?
This assignment also requires a clear explanation of the EXCHANGE OF VALUE that is
being proposed (i.e., what must an audience member GIVE UP vs. what will they GET?)
Finally, be sure to make some type of specific CALL FOR ACTION / CHANGE that you
are asking of audience members. (WHAT must they do? WHEN and HOW to do it?)
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SEE ATTACHED INSTRUCTION SHEET / EVALUATION SHEET:
The attached sheet gives an outline for creating your own "information and persuasion"
presentation to engage our classroom audience. It also serves as professor's grading sheet.
5-Minute Presentation Focused on an Attempt to Influence and Persuade... to Encourage
Interest in a Value Offer, Promote an Exchange of Value and Make a Call for Action
CHOOSE any "value offer" you desire. (EXCEPT: Phone, Tablet, iPod, iPad, Laptop, Computer)
(e.g., choose a product, service, solution, place, person, idea, action, feeling, experience, change, etc.)
Use an "AIDA" approach (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) to guide your presentation (see below).
Professor will use this sheet to evaluate your overall performance in following areas:
ATTENTION: Effective Use of Opening Moments
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Be creative... gain ATTENTION of audience... begin to move them toward interest phase.
Tips: Can ask QUESTIONS... or... make BENEFIT STATEMENTS... or... use humor / stories / images to
DESCRIBE possible PROBLEMS, ANXIETIES , FRUSTRATIONS and/or desirable CHANGES,
EXPERIENCES / NEW IDEAS / NEW BEHAVIORS / BENEFITS / OUTCOMES
INTEREST: Clearly Describe Value Offering and/or Proposed Change
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Exactly WHAT is being offered? WHAT changes are proposed? (ATTRIBUTES / FEATURES)
Description also may include... HOW would we EXPERIENCE / USE the proposed value offering?
But remember... a long list of "features" describing WHAT you are offering is NOT ENOUGH.
May also need to include... any ADVANTAGES of your proposed change (compared to what?)
Also, must LINK "features" to REASONS WHY audience might care about the feature! (see below)
DESIRE: LINK your description to REASONS / MOTIVATIONS to ACT
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What would motivate someone to care enough to act? Describe how "features / uses / advantages" lead to...
DEEPER BENEFITS / SOLUTIONS to be received by audience (i.e., best guess of desired benefits) and/or
DESIRED CHANGES / EXPERIENCES / OUTCOMES that may result (i.e., your assumptions of desires).
Tip: try to explain how audience member's world may improve / change (if they take the following actions...)
ACTION: Appropriate Call for Action / Change (For this assignment... fairly balance "give up" vs. "get")
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Must make a SPECIFIC REQUEST of audience to consider giving or doing something in return for the value
offering. Propose a fair EXCHANGE OF VALUE where you ask audience members to "GIVE UP"
something (note... you must go beyond merely listing the PRICE... for example, describe how audience
members need to make a commitment to spend time, to take an action , take on a new risk, change a behavior,
develop a new attitude, a new way of thinking?). Make a clear comparison to what they "GET" from your
offering (e.g., benefit, positive feeling, experience, solution, change, ultimate outcome?) Finally, make a clear
and SPECIFIC CALL FOR ACTION or CHANGE of your audience members. Detail exactly
WHAT are you asking them to do? WHEN / HOW they are expected to act or change?
Additional Overall Evaluation:
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Clarity
Clear description of VALUE offered / not just list of features / must link to deeper motivating outcomes
Logical stories that make sense (i.e. Describe how Feature A... links to... Benefit B... links to... Outcome C)
Communication
Connect through eye contact -- speak loudly enough -- with reasonable speed -- limit distracting behaviors
Engaging and connecting with audience - NOT READING A SCRIPT - NOT just reading PowerPoint
Appropriate use of descriptive stories / words that evoke relevant pictures, sounds, emotions
Appropriate use of audio-visual tools and/or demonstrations to illustrate value / testimonials to offer proof
Professionalism / Evidence of Preparation
Tight, well-practiced presentation -- displays thoughtful analysis and depth of coverage -- (inside 5 minutes)
Appearance and communicative style match presentation topic
Professional demeanor when presenting / respectfully listening when not presenting
Displays confident, enthusiastic, cooperative, helpful and positive attitude