Presentation skills have evolved over time from classical rhetoric focusing on ethos, logos and pathos, to the modern era where logos has become dominant with slide projectors and digital tools. Effective presentations tell a story through speech or use slides to convey waves of information like a heart monitor. Bullet points should deliver facts not talking points, with the audience able to absorb only a few points. Good presenters establish expertise, understand their audience's needs and wants, and write out what they will say before making slides. The presentation should have a clear flow led by the presenter, not just bullet point islands. Effective starts use mind maps to explore topics and choose the right tools based on the space, allowing audience engagement through polls or

1. Presentation Skills - Student Handout
A Short History of Presentations
Rhetorical Arts (Classical Antiquity ca. 500 BC)
• The art of persuasion relied on three complimentary skills:
 Ethos: Character Appeal, Credentials
 Logos: Appeal to logic, reason, facts
 Pathos: Emotional Appeal
The Slide Projector (20th Century)
• A swing towards pathos
The Digital Revolution
• The domination of logos
Anatomy of a Presentation
Speeches/Stories
• Resemble a gentle hill in pacing
• Rise to a series of delivery points (body)
Slide Presentations
• Every slide is a new wave of information
• Resembles a staccato heart monitor
What are Bullet Points for?
• Bullets are for delivering facts, not talking points
• Think about how many your audience can take away
• Your audience should not be choosing between listening and reading the slide
Before you start preparing your presentation:
Expertise
• How are you the expert?
• Think about mixture of credibility, logic and emotion required
• Be confident
Audience
• Who is your audience?
• What do they know?
• What do they want to know?
• What do they need to know?
• Why should they care?
Write
• Start with what you’re going to say
• Don’t just start typing talking points right into your presentation slides

3. Your Presentation as a Ship
• Be the captain
• Passengers don’t need bullet islands on a map
• Make memories with each slide
Tips for Getting your Presentation Started
Use a mind map to explore all the topics and their relation
Consider your Presentation Tool
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Apple Keynote
• Google Docs Presenter
• Prezi
Analyze the presentation space
• Dual Screens
• Digital Projector
• Wireless Microphone
• Room to circulate?
• Room to break out into groups?
Engage your audience
 Polls
 Group exercises?
 Soliciting questions and ideas
 Cut out presentation if necessary
The Last Slide
 End on an invitation to discussion
 Make sure to write down comments / new information
 Leave means of contacting you such as e-mail/website