Prepare your oral presentation
· Brainstorm your topic and write a rough outline.
· Research your topic. .Remember you have a limited time for your presentation.
· Organise your material and write a draft—think about the length of time you have to talk.
· Summarise your draft into points to write on overheads and/or cards.
· Plan and prepare your visual aids.
· Rehearse your presentation and get its length right. Ask a friend to listen and time you.
Structure:
Introduction:
· State your purpose;
· for example:
‘I’m going to talk about...’
‘This morning I want to explain…’
· Present an outline of your talk; for example:
‘I will concentrate on the following points: First of all…Then…
This will lead to… And finally…’
The Body
· Present your main points one by one in logical order.
· Pause at the end of each point (give people time to take notes, or time to think about what you are saying).
· Make it absolutely clear when you move to another point. For example:
‘The next point is that ...’
‘OK, now I am going to talk about ...’
‘Right. Now I'd like to explain ... ’
‘Of course, we must not forget that ...’‘However, it's important to realise that...’
· Use clear examples to illustrate your points.
The Conclusion
· It is very important to leave your audience with a clear summary of everything you have covered.
· It is also important not to let the talk just fizzle out. Make it obvious that you have reached the end of the presentation.
· Summarise the main points again, using phrases like:
‘To sum up...’
‘So, in conclusion...’
‘OK, to recap the main points…’
· Restate the purpose of your talk, and say that you have achieved your aim:
‘I think you can now see that...’
‘My intention was ..., and it should now be clear that ...’
· Thank the audience, and invite questions:
‘Thank you. Are there any questions?’
·
DELIVERING YOUR PRESENTATION
Talk to your audience, don't read to them!
A presentation is not the same as an essay.
Visual Aids:
Create a good presentation
· The text should be legible and clear
· Use a simple background; it keeps the text readable.
· Show several slides – each with one idea, image or data point.
· The images represent what you are saying, so there is no need to verbally describe the images onscreen.
· Eliminate "headline and bullet points" slides; they are tiring to read.
· Include one or two lines of text in a slide to a maximum of six lines of text.
· Use images or photos to help the audience remember a person, place or thing you mention.
