Effective Presentations
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Transcript Effective Presentations
Effective Presentations
Christine Bauer-Ramazani
Saint Michael’s College
Overview
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Anxiety Reduction
Delivery—Key Considerations
Structure of Presentations
Visuals
Nonverbal & Verbal Communication
Question & Answer Guidelines
Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint
Michael's College
Anxiety Reduction
Visualize Delivery
Know Subject
Respect Preparation Time
Practice Presentation
Relax Mind
Respect Audience
Delivery – Key Considerations
• The setting
Be familiar with
• Room, equipment, back-up resources
• Do a trial run.
• The audience
Who?
What do they know?
What do they want to know?
Resistance?
Time pressure?
Delivery—Key Considerations
The speaker
Credible
Well-prepared
Calm, confident
Good posture
Humorous
The message
Content: background,
findings, supporting
evidence & examples;
appropriate subject
terminology and concepts
Organization: description,
cause-effect, chronological,
argument, problem-solution
Structure: introduction,
with Table of Contents,
body, conclusion
Structure of Presentations
Introduction
Introduce yourself.
Establish credibility.
State purpose + preview presentation content
on an Overview slide.
Body
Identify main points.
Give supporting details.
Keep clear focus.
Conclusion
Develop strong closure.
Keep it positive.
Summarize main ideas.
VISUALS
• Slide show
• Graphics (pictures must be
topic-related)
• Exhibits
(graphs, charts,
diagrams, calculations)
– Highlight and
emphasize critical
figures/points only.
– 1 minute per slide!
• Handouts
– Use 6-slide handout
format.
• Back-up copy!
Purpose of Visuals
Illustrate key points
Reinforce verbal message
Stimulate audience interest
Focus audience attention
Note: Animations and sounds can be distracting! Use them
only to illustrate a point.
Visuals – Guidelines: DESIGN
Cover page: title, date, name(s)
Table of Contents/Overview
Bullets for key points; no long sentences
Simple and clear (KISS)!
Easy to read--large fonts
Contrasting colors
Consistent fonts/colors/format
Spell-check every slide!
Visuals – Guidelines: USE
NO READING OF NOTES!
Check visibility of text: fonts size, style, color.
Prepare handouts.
Introduce each slide topic with a complete (topic)
sentence.
Explain each visual.
Speak to the audience, not the visual.
Decide how to advance slides.
Make a transition to the next topic and
speaker.
Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint
Michael's College
Nonverbal &
Verbal Communication
Body Language
Voice
Posture
Eye contact
Facial expression
Hand gestures
Appropriate dress
Volume
Inflection
Articulation
Rate
Pauses
Nonverbal Communication
Do’s
Don’ts
Face the audience.
Look at each person in the
audience.
Glance at notes
occasionally.
Smile!
Get someone else to click
the mouse (to advance
slides).
Practice in the same room
you will be presenting.
X Do not hold on to anything!
X Do not read from your notes
or the screen!
X Do not put hands in pockets!
X Do not look at the screen or
the monitor only!
X Do not look at the professor
only!
Verbal Communication
Do’s
Speak loudly and clearly;
enunciate.
Speak slowly but with
confidence.
Emphasize important
points
Use simple sentences
and vocabulary.
Slow down!
Speak louder!
Include concepts &
vocab. related to the topic
(from book/lectures)
Don’ts
X Don’t race through
your speech!
X Don’t mumble!
X Don’t use slang or
overly colloquial
(informal) language..
X Don’t use verbal fillers
(“like”, “uh”, “and”)
Conclusion
• Summarize main points (or findings).
• Emphasize a specific point.
Question & Answer Guidelines
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Encourage audience to ask questions.
Make eye contact with the speaker.
Listen carefully.
Answer a specific question.
Be honest.
Avoid interrupting.
Before the presentation …
• Practice with the equipment.
• Practice transitioning from speaker to speaker.
• Time the presentation and make adjustments.