2. August 7, 2014
LD Giving a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
2
What do you
really
want to know
about giving
presentation?
3. August 7, 2014
LD Giving a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
3Most common attitude
A presentation is “something to get through”
without making a fool of myself in front of
peers and academic staff.
4. August 7, 2014
LD Giving a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
4Be confident in purpose
• To inform or report
• To create a learning experience
• To facilitate dialogue
• To share your interest/enthusiasm
• …?
5. August 7, 2014
LD Giving a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
5Be confident of your audience
• Like-minded peers
• Interested tutor/lecturer
• They want to know how your ideas fit with
theirs
• …?
6. August 7, 2014
LD Giving a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
6What makes a good presentation?
7. August 7, 2014
LD Giving a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
7Connect
• Connect with the audience
– Eye contact
– Smile
– Speak clearly
• Be enthusiastic
– Convey your own interest
– Dress the part
8. August 7, 2014
LD Giving a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
8Communicate
• Verbal
– Practise pronunciation and grammar
– Change volume and pace
• Non-Verbal Signals
– body language
– gestures
9. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
9Basic structure
(e.g. 20 min presentation)
• Introduction (1-2 mins)
• Body or discussion:
– 3-5 sections (3-5 mins each)
• Conclusion (1-2 mins)
10. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
10The Introduction
• Greet the audience
• Gain their attention
– how?
• Tell them what to expect
– topic, purpose, outline
• ‘Housekeeping’
Quote, anecdote,
rhetorical question
Personal story
Audience participation
exercise
Show-of-hands
question
handouts, questions,
announcements etc.
11. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
11The Introduction: tell them what to expect
• Topic:
– We are discussing the marketing plan of Company X…
• Purpose:
– We’ll be analysing the current marketing strategy in order to
make recommendations for future action
• Outline:
– We’ll do this through a situational analysis and a SWOT
analysis. We will then outline objectives, alternative
strategies, and, finally, present an action plan
12. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
12Body of the Presentation
• 3-5 Sections
– Select key themes/points
– Include details to illustrate these
– Decide what can be omitted
– Don’t have too many visuals
• Signpost!!
• introduce & conclude
each section
13. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
13The Body (cont’d): Signposting
• Introduce:
– Firstly, I’d like to analyse the internal factors for
company X…
• Conclude:
– It is apparent, therefore, that while the company’s
capabilities vary, the company’s market position is
strong …
• Introduce next section:
– Now, I’ll briefly outline 8 external situational factors
for the company…
14. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
14The Conclusion
• Summarise
– As we’ve seen, then, Company X has held a
strong market position. However, further analysis
showed…
• Concluding statement/recommendations
– We therefore suggested new strategic objectives
resulting in 5 specific actions:
• A – B – C – D – E
• Final comment
– These new objectives should result in substantial
growth for the next 5 year period.
15. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
15The Conclusion (cont’d)
• Distribute documents
– I have copies of the presentation if you wish to
read it.
• Closing formalities
– Thank you…
– If you have any questions…
16. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
16
Tip: how to reduce it all to PowerPoint
• The key:
- have well developed notes to work from
• Highlight main points only
– no time for lots of detail!
• Work out ways to synthesise some points into one point
• Work out how to incorporate a lot of information into a
DIAGRAM
• Some slides may take 30 secs, others may take 3 mins
• Have written notes on the ‘script’ for each slide
– You can refer to them as you speak
– …but you won’t use them anyway (and no-one will notice!)
– …so use them in question/discussion time
• Practice in front of discerning friends
– they’ll tell you when they’re bored
17. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
17
Thinking about your presentation task…
• Outline a plan of 3-5 sections for your material
• What are the most relevant points for each section?
• How will you introduce it?
– Purpose
– Outline
18. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
18Preparing visuals
• key points or words
• explain a diagram
• draw attention to important points of visual
• uncluttered, correct & legible
• support, not substitute
19. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
19Predictable Questions
– Could you repeat the point about…?
– I’m not sure what you meant when…
– Can you elaborate on…?
20. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
20Unpredictable questions
– Isn’t it also the case that…?
– I don’t agree with your point about X. Don’t
you think…?
– Given that you have argued Y, what is your
response to Z?
21. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
21…so what do you say to them?
• Praise your critic:
– That’s a good question.
• Restate the question/comment:
– The question I’ve been asked is…
• Show understanding, then restate position:
– I can see why you would think that. However, it is
still true that…
22. August 7, 2014
LD Planning a Presentation | www.newcastle.edu.au
22…what do you say? (cont’d)
• Offer a reaction, rather than an answer:
– Your question is beyond the scope of my research.
However, my initial response would be…
• Defer discussion:
– It’s a complex point – we don’t have time to
discuss it fully now, but I’ll be happy to talk to you
after…
• Refer back to the group/class:
– That’s an interesting observation. What do other
people think?
