This document provides guidance on preparing and delivering presentations. It discusses initial considerations like understanding the audience and time limits. It recommends preparing by researching the topic, planning the structure and main points, and practicing. When giving the presentation, the document advises speaking clearly, making eye contact, staying within the time limit, and being confident. The goal is to tell the audience what will be covered, cover it, and then summarize what was covered.

1. Business, IT and Engineering Division
Learning to Learn
Presentations
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2. Contents page
What do we mean by presentations? 3
Initial considerations 3
Preparing your presentation 4
Ideas for assistance when preparing a presentation 4
Before giving presentations 4
When giving presentations 5
3 step action plan 5
Do’s and don’ts of giving a presentation 6
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3. This booklet will help you to:
 Consider what a presentation is
 Decide what you need to consider before planning your presentation
 Think about how to prepare
 Deliver a successful presentation
What do we mean by a presentation?
The ability to give presentations is a highly valued skill in many occupations. It is very
common for students to be asked to give presentations at all levels. You will probably be
feeling nervous or panicking about giving a presentation but as your course progresses you
should feel a lot more confident.
Initial considerations
There are several things you need to consider before you start the preparation for a
presentation:
1. How it the presentation going to be assessed? It would be useful to take the
following into account:
 The content
 Structure
 Delivery
 Appropriate use of visual aids
 Non-verbal communication
 Dealing with questions
2. Who is the audience? Unless you know your audience, you cannot address them
appropriately and communicate effectively. You must include all the necessary
information so that people will be able to follow your presentation
3. What is the time limit for your presentation? The time limit is very important to
bear in mind. You may not have any leeway to overrun so it is good to develop the
habit of careful timing. Do not carry out research for a half-hour presentation when
you only have 5 minutes. You only need to prepare what you can deliver at a
reasonabley slow pace in the time allowed
4. What is the overall purpose of your presentation? Presentations can serve
different purposes. They are often to inform but could be to persuade or influence.
5. Is it a single or joint preseantaion involving others? If you are preparing a
presentation on your own you know that you are in control of all aspects of it. If you
are working on a joint presentation you will have to consider:
 How exactly responsibilities will be divided
 The overall shape fo the presentation
 The allocation of sections to those involved
 When, where and how frequently you will need to meet
 What action to take if someone does not pull their weight
6. Will questions be asked throughout or at the end? If questions are to be at the
end your presentation will need to flow. If you anticipate questions throughout you
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4. may want to bear in mind the points at which you expect questions
7. Where will it take place and what equipment will be available? Think back to a
presentation that you considered successful. List the features that made it a success
at the time
Preparing your presentation
Once you have thought about the assessment, audience, time limit, purpose etc of your
presentation, you can start to prepare the presentation itself.
Why is time spent on careful preparation time well spent? Make a list of some of the things
that can go worng, e.g. missing out important information or running out of material.
If you have prepared carefully, you may even enjoy the delivery of it!
The following ideas may be of assistance when preparing:
Research:
 As with writing an assignment, keep referring back to the title so you do not stray
away from the subject
 Bear in mind the length of the presentation and complete your research accordingly
Planning:
 Restrict yourself to a few main points. The audience does not want to know
everything you know about a subject
 Consider the order in which you are going to make your points; is it logical? Does it
flow from one to another?
Structure:
 Structure the presentation very clearly: say waht you are going to say (introduction),
say it (main part) and say what you have said (conclusion)
Techniques:
 You could use a hnadout of all the main points
 Check spelling carefully as any erros will be obvious
 You may find it helpful to use the ‘card technique’; give a heading to each of the
sections of your presentation. Write one heading a a few key words, then number the
cards
Practise:
 PRACTISE your presentation, going slowly and timing yourself
 PRACTISE on somebody else and ask for their feedback
 PRACTISE aloud so that you feel confident
 The more you PRACTISE the more confident you will feel
Before giving the presentation
 Prepare carefully: this will give you confidence about what you are going to say and
how you are going to say it
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5.  Visualise yourself: visualising giving the presentation will reduce stress
 Relax: breathe slowly and deeply, imagine yourself in a nice place...whatever works
for you
 Arrive early: this will be less stressful than rushing around at the last minute
 Check and double check: make sure that everything is in the correct order
When giving the presentation
 Use a clock or watch to time yourself
 Tell the audience whether you would like questions at the end or during the
presentation
 Remember not to read
 Remind yourself to speak more slowly and loudly that you would usually
 Look up. Make eye contact with yoru audience
 Act as if you are quietly confident even if you are not
 Prepare a good line to end with. If you are unsure how to round off, simply smile and
say ‘Thank you’
An action plan and checklist
‘Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them and then tell them what you have
told them’
A. Preparing a presentation: a three step action plan
Step 1: Check:
 Your time limit
 Who your audience is
 The purpose/title of the presentation
 Where you will be presenting
 What equipment is available
 The assessment
Step 2: Research your topic
Step 3: Prepare your script:
 A few main points
 A logical order
 A good introduction
 Use examples
 Use humour – but be careful
 Use bullet points on cards
 Avoid ong, comples sentences
 Summarise as a conclusion
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6. B. Giving a presentation
DO:
 Prepare carefully
 Accept that nerves are normal
 Arrive early
 Wait for quiet
 Introduce yourself
 Have a good beginning
 Give an outline of what you are going to do
 Speak slowly and project
 Use pauses
 Be enthusiastic
 Make eye contact
 Act confident
 Smile
 Keep to the time allocated
DO NOT
 Stand where you will obstruct your visual aids
 Talk to your visual aids
 Read from your scritp
 Fiddle with things in your pocket
 Rock on your fee
 Pace
 Apologise!
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