Preparing Effective Oral Preparing Effective Oral PresentationsPresentationsHow to say what you mean!How to say what you mean!

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Andrew KulankoAndrew KulankoProfessional Communication ProgramProfessional Communication ProgramWhiting School of Engineering-The Johns Hopkins UniversityWhiting School of Engineering-The Johns Hopkins University

Preparing Effective Oral PresentationsPreparing Effective Oral Presentations

Know your purposeKnow your purpose

Develop your Develop your messagemessage and main points and main points

Create strong Create strong organizationorganization

Practicing your Practicing your deliverydelivery

What’s Your Purpose?What’s Your Purpose?

InformInform• Give a progress or status report (what you planned, Give a progress or status report (what you planned,

did, accomplished, what’s left)did, accomplished, what’s left)

----OR--OR--

PersuadePersuade• Convince listeners of your conclusions or point of Convince listeners of your conclusions or point of

view (structure according to view (structure according to problem, approach, problem, approach, results, conclusion, recommendationresults, conclusion, recommendation))

What’s Your Purpose?What’s Your Purpose?

Analyze Your AudienceAnalyze Your Audience

What do they know?What do they know? What do they need to know?What do they need to know? What are their expectations?What are their expectations? What questions might they have?What questions might they have?

Preparing Effective Oral PresentationsPreparing Effective Oral Presentations

Know your purpose Know your purpose

Developing your message and main pointsDeveloping your message and main points

Create strong organizationCreate strong organization

Practice your DeliveryPractice your Delivery

What’s Your Message?What’s Your Message?

Clearly state bottom lineClearly state bottom line

Identify key information that supports Identify key information that supports Bottom LineBottom Line

Line up helpful facts, anecdotes, Line up helpful facts, anecdotes, informationinformation

Preparing Effective Oral PresentationsPreparing Effective Oral Presentations

Know your purposeKnow your purpose

Develop your message and main pointsDevelop your message and main points

Create strong organizationCreate strong organization

Practice your deliveryPractice your delivery

Create Strong Organization: Create Strong Organization: 3 Key Components3 Key Components

1.1. OpeningOpening • Gets and focuses attentionGets and focuses attention• Message and preview of main pointsMessage and preview of main points

2.2. BodyBody• Logical presentation of main points or topics Logical presentation of main points or topics

and supportand support

3.3. ClosingClosing• Summarizes message and key pointsSummarizes message and key points

OpeningOpening

Focus audience on message and structure Focus audience on message and structure by providingby providing• Purpose of presentationPurpose of presentation• Personal credibilityPersonal credibility• Why the topic is importantWhy the topic is important• HookHook• Conclusion or bottom lineConclusion or bottom line• Preview of main points—roadmap Preview of main points—roadmap

BodyBody

Limit 3 to 5 main pointsLimit 3 to 5 main points Consists of facts, data, examplesConsists of facts, data, examples Present information logicallyPresent information logically

• Chronological or sequentialChronological or sequential• Most important to less importantMost important to less important

Include recommendations, if appropriateInclude recommendations, if appropriate

ConclusionConclusion

Re-states bottom line Re-states bottom line May summarize key pointsMay summarize key points Identifies any unresolved issuesIdentifies any unresolved issues Explanation of what happens nextExplanation of what happens next Urges to actionUrges to action Calls for questionsCalls for questions

Preparing Effective Oral Preparing Effective Oral PresentationsPresentations

Know your purposeKnow your purpose

Develop your message and main pointsDevelop your message and main points

Create strong organization Create strong organization

Practice your deliveryPractice your delivery

Practice Your DeliveryPractice Your Delivery

Key Issues –Key Issues – Voice Voice – control volume, rate, and variety– control volume, rate, and variety BodyBody – natural and appropriate gestures – natural and appropriate gestures FaceFace – eye contact with the audience – eye contact with the audience VisualsVisuals – clear and readable – clear and readable ConfidenceConfidence – reduce fear and anxiety – reduce fear and anxiety

VoiceVoice

Speak loudly enough to be heardSpeak loudly enough to be heard Avoid speaking in a monotoneAvoid speaking in a monotone Vary the rate of speakingVary the rate of speaking Pause when appropriate Pause when appropriate avoid “fillers”avoid “fillers”

GesturesGestures

Try moving around (avoid imitating a Try moving around (avoid imitating a statue)statue)

Use hands to emphasize pointsUse hands to emphasize points Avoid distracting mannerismsAvoid distracting mannerisms

FaceFace

Look at all sections of your audience when Look at all sections of your audience when speakingspeaking

Don’t speak to the ceiling or the floorDon’t speak to the ceiling or the floor Don’t spend too much time looking at Don’t spend too much time looking at

projected slidesprojected slides Let your facial expressions your interestLet your facial expressions your interest

VisualsVisuals

Clear and succinct (no lower than 24 point Clear and succinct (no lower than 24 point type)type)

Don’t overcrowd slidesDon’t overcrowd slides Use bullet formatUse bullet format Avoid poor color combinations Add Avoid poor color combinations Add

appropriate images, charts, artworkappropriate images, charts, artwork

ConfidenceConfidence

Know your topic wellKnow your topic well Practice mental imaging Practice mental imaging Learn stress reduction techniquesLearn stress reduction techniques

• Deep breathing, mouth moist, familiarization, Deep breathing, mouth moist, familiarization, movement, groundingmovement, grounding

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearseRehearse, rehearse, rehearse

Keys to ConfidenceKeys to Confidence

KnowledgeKnowledge• Know subject matter and apply effective oral Know subject matter and apply effective oral

presentation principlespresentation principles PreparationPreparation

• Practicing delivery and obtaining constructive Practicing delivery and obtaining constructive feedbackfeedback

ExperienceExperience• Taking advantage of speaking opportunitiesTaking advantage of speaking opportunities

ConclusionConclusion

Purpose:Purpose: Know why you are there Know why you are there

Message:Message: Have something to say Have something to say

Organization:Organization: Structure your talk Structure your talk

Delivery:Delivery: Think conversation Think conversation

Where to Get Help?Where to Get Help?

Helpful web sites with articles, tips, and Helpful web sites with articles, tips, and tutorials on preparing oral presentationstutorials on preparing oral presentations• www.public-speaking.orgwww.public-speaking.org• www.toastmasters.orgwww.toastmasters.org• www.ukans.edu/cwis/units/coms2/vpa.htmwww.ukans.edu/cwis/units/coms2/vpa.htm

Search for more links under “public Search for more links under “public speaking” and “oral presentations”speaking” and “oral presentations”

Take the JHU course Take the JHU course Effective Oral Effective Oral PresentationsPresentations