1. Presentation Techniques
When preparing a presentation there are three important things you need to
think
about:
• The audience
• The presentation plan
• The delivery
The audience
Before you start to prepare your presentation, you need to think about your
audience (the people listening to) and their needs. For example, you need to
know why they are there. The more you know about your audience and what
they expect from your presentation, the better you can prepare. If you
prepare well, then you will be more relaxed when you deliver your message.
To help you think about your audience ask yourself...
• Who are they?
• How many will be there?
• Do they have any prior knowledge of the subject?
• What are their age, sex, and level of ability?
• Why are they there?
• What are their needs?
• What do they need to know?
The presentation will be a failure if the audience does not understand it.
Therefore, you should aim to make your message clear and easy to
understand.
The presentation plan
There are three important things to you think about when planning your
presentation:
1. The content
2. The structure
3. The visual aids

2. The Content
The content is the information you want to give in your presentation. Before
you can decide on how much information you need to give, you must research
the subject of your presentation thoroughly. If you need help on knowing
where to find resources and how to select them, have a look at our Doing
your Research Project? and Developing you Research Skills leaflets. To
help you decide on the content, ask yourself these questions:
• How long have I got to do the presentation?
• What key information do I need to cover?
• What does the audience need to know?
Tip
Once you know what you need to talk about, prepare an outline or rough
draft first before you write it all up.
The Structure
A good presentation will have a structure or format. The structure will help
the audience follow what you are saying. Your presentation structure should
have an introduction (the beginning), the body (the middle) and a conclusion
(the end). If the presentation is poorly organised, the message will not be as
effective and your audience will forget it. So organisation and structure are
very important if
you want the audience to remember your presentation. Having a structure
will also give your presentation a professional image. Your presentation
should have the following structure:
1 . An Introduction
This is the most important part of your presentation because the
audience will make judgements about you. They will decide in the first
few minutes what you are like. They will also decide whether you
deserve their attention. Therefore, it is very important that you plan
carefully what you want to say in the introduction.
Tips

3. Try to do these things in your introduction:
• Get the audience’s attention
• Introduce yourself
• Explain why you are there
• Explain what you hope to achieve
• Build a good relationship with the audience
2 . The Body
You should use this part of the presentation to explain key
information.
Explain your points clearly one at a time so your audience can follow
what you are saying. Remember to keep your points simple and short.
Try not to give too much information, otherwise the audience will not
remember your message.
3 . The Conclusion
It is important to create a lasting impression in your conclusion. Use
the last couple of minutes to repeat important points and key
information. Leave some time for discussion, questions and answers at
the end of the presentation.
Tip
Don’t forget to thank your audience for attending and listening.
The Visual Aids
These are things (resources) you could use to present your message.
It is important to use visual aids because they can:
• help the audiences focus on what you are saying
• make the presentation more interesting
• help to explain the points you make more clearly
• provide variety
These are things you could use as visual aids:
• Wipeboard
Shhhhh!!

4. • Flipchart
• Overhead Projector (OHP)
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Video/camera
• Product samples
• Displays/Exhibitions
When thinking about what visual aids (VA) to use, ask yourself these
questions:
• Will the VA improve my presentation?
• Have I used the VA before and is it easy to use?
• Will the VA help to maintain the audience’s attention?
• Will the audience be able to see the VA?
Preparing your visual aids
When preparing your visual aids make sure you do these things:
1. Check that the size of the print is large enough for the audience to see
(e.g. size 20 for headings for OHTs)
2. Don’t type all your text in capital letters as this makes it more difficult to
read
3. Don’t use long sentences – use bullet points and numbers to organise your
key points
4. Use a type of text (font style) that is easy to read (e.g. Arial)
5. Add pictures, illustrations, diagrams to make it more interesting and use
colour
The Delivery
This is where you have to deliver or present your message to the audience.
When you begin to speak, the audience will listen carefully to what you say
and watch closely how you perform. It is important to understand that how
you say something is just as important as what you say.
Did you know?
The tone of your voice and your body language can account for 65% of the
message. Your body language (body movements) can express your attitudes
and thoughts.

5. Pay attention to the following parts of your body:
• Your voice
o Speak slowly so that everyone can follow
o Speak loudly so that everyone can hear
o Speak clearly so that everyone can understand
• Don’t use slang (e.g. I ain’t)
• Your face
o Smile to give your audience reassurance and try not to look
confused, bored or scared.
• Try to be yourself and natural.
• Your eyes
o You can build a good relationship with the audience by looking at
them when you are
• Presenting your message. Looking at someone when you are talking to
them is called ‘eye contact’. Don’t read from your notes all the time.
• Your posture
o Stand up straight and don’t lean against objects.
o Make sure you are not standing in the way of the visual aid.
Check that everyone can see the board.
• Your hands
o Don’t play with objects e.g. a pen in your hand and don’t leave
your hands in your pockets when you are talking.
• Your feet
o Try not to walk up and down the room too much or tap your feet
when you are talking.
• Your appearance
o Dress appropriately for the presentation – not too casual (e.g.
jeans). Remember to
o dress for the audience and not yourself. Try to remember not
to wear jewellery that might shine or move about.
• Your attitude
o Be enthusiastic about the subject you are presenting and be
confident. Try to stay calm and be professional!
Mock Presentations
The key to success is knowing what you want to say and to keep practicing
your presentation skills. Remember to relax and to enjoy yourself. Don’t
worry the audience will want to hear what you have to say!

6. Tip
Practice in front of your friends and family and ask them to give you
feedback - to tell you their thoughts.
Good luck and enjoy your presentation!

7. Tip
Practice in front of your friends and family and ask them to give you
feedback - to tell you their thoughts.
Good luck and enjoy your presentation!