“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” -Dale Carnegie
It's useful to think of an oral presentation as a cross between a written report and a newspaper article, writes Sidney B. Westly, Senior Editor Program on Population at the East-West Center.
The McGraw Center for teaching and Learning at Princeton University gives the following:
Ten Steps to Preparing an Effective Oral Presentation
Determine the purpose of your presentation and identify your own objectives. Know your audience and what it knows. Define your topic. Arrange your material in a way that makes sense for your objectives. Compose your presentation. Create visual aids. Practice your presentation (don’t forget to time it!) Make necessary adjustments. Analyze the room where you’ll be giving your presentation (set-up, sight lines, equipment, etc.). Practice again.
Two of the greatest myths about delivering oral presentations are that you’re better off “winging it” and that good speakers are “naturals,” according to speaker consultant Lynn Wilder.
Recommended Reading: What Every Student Should Know About Preparing Effective Oral Presentation. This book includes advice on overcoming speech anxiety and dealing with nervousness, building speaker confidence, researching and using supporting materials, using language effectively, organizing your presentation, opening and closing your presentation, using PowerPoint and other visual aids, and delivering an effective speech.
Jack has what his Irish mother called the gift of blarney. He is an eloquent conversationalist who dominates the discourse in business meetings and at cocktail parties, write Dan O'Hair and Mary Wiemann in The textbook Real Communication An Introduction with Mass Communication:
Recommended Reading: What Every Student Should Know About Preparing Effective Oral Presentation. This book includes advice on overcoming speech anxiety and dealing with nervousness, building speaker confidence, researching and using supporting materials, using language effectively, organizing your presentation, opening and closing your presentation, using PowerPoint and other visual aids, and delivering an effective speech.
Jack has what his Irish mother called the gift of blarney. He is an eloquent conversationalist who dominates the discourse in business meetings and at cocktail parties, write Dan O'Hair and Mary Wiemann in The textbook Real Communication An Introduction with Mass Communication:But put him in front of an audience, and he’ll panic. Jack’s ability to charm friends and colleagues, impress potential dates, and talk his way out of parking tickets disappears completely once the atmosphere changes from informal to formal and his conversational partners are reduced to a more passive audience.
Public speaking always includes a speaker who has a reason for speaking, an audience that gives the speaker attention, and a message that is meant to accomplish a specific purpose (“Public speaking,” n.d.). It is an incredibly powerful form of communication that has, in fact, changed the world. From the ancient philosophers, who taught debate skills for use in the courts of ancient Greece, to nineteenth-century American abolitionists, who argued to end slavery in the United States, public speakers continue to chart the course of civilization. Ideally, we should all strive to be informed and conscientious citizens who understand the role of public speaking within a democracy and feel compelled to speak in public on topics that matter to us. Just think about what Jack could do if he used his powers of persuasion on a larger and more formal scale.
It's useful to think of an oral presentation as a cross between a written report and a newspaper article, writes Sidney B. Westly, Senior Editor Program on Population at the East-West Center.
An oral presentation should give the most important information first, leaving the details for last (in case the audience is asleep by then). This format is called an "inverted (or upside down) pyramid." A presentation should tell a story, keeping in mind the journalist's check-list - "Who? What? When? Where? and Why?" Who is your audience? The only measure of a good presentation is the reaction of the audience. Will they manage to stay awake during your presentation? Two days later, will they remember anything you said? Will they be convinced? Find out as much as you can about your audience, think carefully about their needs and preferences, and tailor your presentation to them as precisely as you can. Are they already interested in your topic? This determines what and how much you have to say to introduce your research. What do they already know about your topic and what is their general level of scientific/technical expertise? What are their attitudes/preconceptions about your topic: will they go along with whatever you say, or will you have to convince them to change their minds? What sources do they listen to: do you quote an article from Nature or from the New York Times? What state are they likely to be in: are you the last speaker on a long day's program? Do they understand English easily?
The McGraw Center for teaching and Learning at Princeton University gives the following:
Ten Steps to Preparing an Effective Oral Presentation
Determine the purpose of your presentation and identify your own objectives. Know your audience and what it knows. Define your topic. Arrange your material in a way that makes sense for your objectives. Compose your presentation. Create visual aids. Practice your presentation (don’t forget to time it!) Make necessary adjustments. Analyze the room where you’ll be giving your presentation (set-up, sight lines, equipment, etc.). Practice again.
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