Preparation:
- Outline the requirements of
the assignment
- Compare these with the
interests of the audience
- Identify the audience
characteristics and knowledge base:
- your introduction covers
mutual ground as a starting point (gets them on
the "same page")
- from this introduction,
lay down your "thesis" to let them know
where you are going
- then proceed with argument
- Narrow your presentation's
topic, considering the above; to only a few main ideas
- Practice by rehearsing the
presentation, recording it, or reciting it to a few
friends
Techniques of
delivery:
- Put your audience at ease with
a relevant anecdote or joke,
or get their attention with a dramatic gesture or
event...
- Use personal pronouns in your
delivery;
- Make eye contact with the
audience;
- Present your report with a
conversational voice though vary it for emphasis;
- Use transitions to signal the
audience you're moving to a new idea;
- Direct questions to your
audience to get them more involved;
- Conclude by summing up your
main ideas, points, or arguments;
- Leave time for questions, and
invite feedback on
- the content (un-addressed,
related ideas)
- the conclusions
- your manner of
presentation
Using visual aids or
media:
- Call early and make sure
hardware is compatible with your software;
and software versions of your documents are compatible
with versions of their software;
- Come early and make sure
everything works and that any media (audio, visual,
computer) can be seen, heard, understood by all;
- Keep all visual materials
simple in large text for visibility;
- Have supportive materials for
each idea;
- Do not distribute handouts,
even outlines, before your speech (or the audience
will focus on the reading material instead of
listening to you).
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