PRDV008: Preparing and Delivering Presentations

Take a moment to watch this video, which summarizes three benefits of learning how to present to an audience.

This video explores and considers these models in more depth. As you watch, think about your presentation as a transaction with the people in your audience.

This short article discusses how the feedback process works during a presentation and how a speaker gathers feedback from an audience.

Read this chapter to explore the simultaneous transmission and interaction aspects of communication. The relational and cultural context can affect how your message is transmitted and communicated.

Review this communication model to explore the things that can affect our understanding of a given interaction.

Read this chapter, which explains the importance of audience analysis. Pay attention to three types of audience analysis: demographic, situation, and psychological. Make sure the reasons you use to judge your audience are accurate.

As you watch this video about audience analysis and how to complete an effective audience analysis, consider how you might apply these ideas to better prepare your next presentation.

Read this chapter for more ideas on how to conduct audience analysis.

This article explains how to use language creatively while avoiding jargon and obscenities.

This short article explains how to choose your words wisely.

This video provides a nice overview of how to think about language choice as a presenter and some things you will want to consider as you make language choices in your own presentations.

Inclusivity also refers to avoiding words your audience may find disrespectful, condescending, or patronizing. This guide for U.S. federal employees offers specific guidance on terms that are less offensive to listeners. Keep in mind that the public meaning of these words often changes with time.

Read this article, which differentiates between simple and complex language, to explore some ideas for how you might effectively adjust your language to your audience.

This article gives an overview of this process, which we will cover in more detail later.

Read this chapter, which offers advice on determining your areas of expertise and interest. It also explains how to narrow your topic to make it manageable using a process called scoping.

Mind mapping is one way to brainstorm and determine the scope of your topic. This resource explains how to approach topic choice and offers creative strategies for developing a focus.

Watch this video on how to choose a relevant topic.

The occasion of your presentation should influence the material you choose, how you approach your subject matter, and the language you use. This article looks at the aspects you should consider as you plan your presentation.

Read this chapter, which explains how to identify your general purpose.

Pay attention to the section on "Getting Plugged In" in this article. Watch one of the talks to understand how the pieces fit together.

Watch this short demonstration of an informative presentation.

Read this description of how to approach different kinds of persuasive presentations.

Watch this video, which explains how persuasive presentations work. Think about the types of persuasion you have participated in recently.

Read this chapter to learn about presentations whose general purpose is to entertain.

Read this chapter, which explains a specific purpose statement and why you should create one for your presentation.

Watch this video to learn how to develop your topic, general, and specific purpose statements.

Read this brief article, which gives some ideas for what to consider as you develop your thesis.

Read this review of how to develop a clear and articulate thesis.

Watch this short video that summarizes the goal of a thesis and how to develop it.

Read this article to learn how to choose your main points and an appropriate speech pattern.

Watch this video on common speech patterns. Practice using these patterns to help organize your material.

Read this article, which explains the concept of a topic sentence and how to develop main points to link your paragraphs.

Read this article, which explains how to develop topic sentences.

Read this article to learn how to keep your main points separate.

Read this exploration of what you should include in your introduction.

Read this text for good examples of each part of the introduction. It will give you a good sense of what the various parts of an introduction should look like.

Watch this short video summarizing what you should provide in your introduction.

This video reviews the parts of the introduction and provides great examples of each part.

This article explores the goal of a well-developed conclusion. Pay attention to ending with a "concluding device", which is a theme we will return to.

In your conclusion, leave your audience with something to think about that will help them remember what you talked about. Many call this a "final thought", which you should make sure is memorable and carefully constructed.

Watch this video by a professional speechwriter that focuses on how to get an audience's attention.

This article explains how the attention-grabbing devices you use in your introduction can help you develop a powerful conclusion.

Watch this short video describing what you should include in your conclusion.

Read this article, which describes how transitions function within a presentation.

Read this section, which describes different transitions and demonstrates how to use them to keep your speech moving.

Watch this video about where to transition and what transitions do for your presentation.

This article explores materials you can use to support your argument and where you can find them.

This article gives some reference information that will help you get started with your research.

Be sure to evaluate how the researchers conducted their investigations and made their conclusions. Watch this short video, which explains how statistics can misrepresent real-world situations.

Watch this video, which explains how to discern good and bad statistics.

Read this article, which explores how to use examples effectively.

Read this article, which explores how to integrate stories into your presentation as supporting material.

Watch these two videos explaining how to tell a story for maximum impact.

Despite what you have read and watched so far, storytelling can sometimes feel difficult, but it does not have to be. This talk highlights seven keys to telling a story well.

Read this article, which explains how your sources can influence your credibility as a presenter.

This article presents an ethical framework for choosing and integrating sources into your presentation.

This article offers another viewpoint about reviewing the credibility and trustworthiness of online sources.

Read this article on how to begin your research process.

Read this article for a list of places to find the information you need.

Bibliographies can help you find sources for your presentation. They list the resources an author referenced when they wrote a book about a given topic. Read this toolkit on how to identify and find sources from citations.

Searching for information online is a skill. Will the information support the arguments you plan to use in your presentation? Are the sources accurate and reputable? What about the organization or company that provides the material? How will your audience perceive or react to this source?

First, consider whether the source material is accurate. One of the easiest ways to check for accuracy is to see if you can find another independent source that corroborates your information. Will your audience members believe your statements or demand additional proof? Watch this video, which will walk you through some tips to help you make this determination.

Next, consider the source's reputation. Is the source of the information you plan to use respected in the community? Does it have an established track record for accuracy that will resonate with your audience, or will it damage your argument's credibility? This video will help you critically evaluate the sources you find, even when the source is generally considered reputable.

Watch this short overview of things to look at when evaluating a website.

Read this article, which explores why and how to assess an author's reputation.

Finally, what does your audience think about your source? Your source could be entirely accurate and reputable, but your audience may have had negative experiences or preconceptions about its authenticity that could resonate poorly and undermine your credibility. Consider the consequences of using a source like this, and be prepared to defend your reasons for using it during your presentation. Watch this video, which walks through the process of choosing sources.

This article explains why you should acknowledge your sources during your presentation.

This article explains two common citation formats, MLA and APA. It also has a great quick reference you can use as you document your sources.

This article offers more specifics on giving citations during your presentation.

Watch this video to review what you have learned in this section and to prepare to cite your sources confidently in your next presentation.

Read this chapter to better understand the different purposes your presentation aids should serve and how to design them effectively for those purposes.

Your presentation aids can reinforce your presentation's structure and help you transition from one point to another. They should guide the audience and keep you on track. Read this section for some tips on organizing your presentation.

Read this text for more background and examples.

Read this text for more discussion and tips for developing and using different types of presentation aids.

Watch President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address to learn about a traditional speech style popular in law school.

Listen to this podcast to hear how President Barack Obama uses pauses to great effect with an engaging, rolling cadence. He uses words that relate to the feelings of his audience to captivate and inspire.

President Ronald Reagan often incorporated jokes and personal stories into his speeches, a style that led listeners to characterize him as "the great communicator".

Read this section, which describes how we communicate nonverbally and the role of nonverbal communication.

Watch this talk to hear examples of each tool in your "vocal toolbox" and begin the process of developing your use of each of those tools.

Watch this video to hear how presenters use their voices to support their message.

Watch this video, which discusses how to use your voice and offers an opportunity to practice.

Watch this short video, where a poet and teacher transitions from extemporaneous speaking to a memorized spoken-word performance. Notice how his vocal dynamics change as he interprets his poem for his audience.

Read this article explaining how to use voice dynamics to enhance your message.

This article discusses rate, volume, and pitch and introduces the concepts of fluency and conversational tone.

Watch this video to see how you can use your voice effectively.

Read this brief article that presents techniques for adjusting your pace.

Watch this video, which offers examples of what we mean by conversational tone.

Watch these videos, which demonstrate how to pause during your presentation to help communicate your message to your audience.

Watch this video to see some more pauses in action. How do pauses impact what you learn from the presentation?

Watch this video for examples of what it means to use your body language during a presentation.

Watch this video to learn how to match your facial expression with the content of your topic.

Watch this video, which demonstrates how to use your hands when you present and how your body language can convey meaning to your audience.

Watch this video to see some common mistakes people make when presenting.

This video explains why it is important to maintain eye contact to show your audience you are conversing with them.

This chapter describes the four basic formatting methods for delivering a presentation.

This text offers an overview of the types of presentation delivery methods, which we will review in more detail later.

Watch this video for explicit guidance on how to present an impromptu presentation.

Read this article, which summarizes the basics of extemporaneous presentations.

Watch this video to see examples of extemporaneous speaking.

Read this article, which offers more insight on manuscript speaking.

Watch this video to learn why most professionals discourage speakers from memorizing their presentations.

Presenting in the online environment was becoming a regular part of life by the time the chapter you are going to read was published in 2019. However, the global pandemic of 2020 gave a giant and powerful push for all speakers to become familiar with presenting in the online environment. Whether in academic, business, or public life, online presenting is here to stay. Becoming familiar with various forms of online presenting and some of the practices that will help you present successfully in the online environment is critical.

This graphic is a checklist of the various aspects of presenting online and how to set yourself up for success. It is a resource you might consider saving and keeping handy for the next time you present online.

This video introduces the considerations you should make to give a successful presentation to a virtual audience, whether they join you live online or via a recorded presentation.

Watch this short video to learn to recognize the similarities and differences between live and online presentations and to learn how to set up a recorded presentation.

Watch this video, which demonstrates the importance of proper lighting.

Watch this short video for ideas on how to test your lighting.

Watch this quick tip on troubleshooting background noise before your presentation. Creating a video to pinpoint sound issues can also help you identify visual distractors you may not notice otherwise.

Watch this brief video for ideas on how to maintain a conversational tone. It is important to be comfortable with the technologies you use.

Watch this quick tip on maintaining eye contact with a remote audience.

Read these tips on how to use your dress, posture, personal visualizations, and pauses to engage your audience during a face-to-face or online presentation.

Watch this video for advice on presenting during a teleconference. What movement guidelines apply during this type of online presentation?

This video focuses on helping instructors set up Zoom to share PowerPoint slides but will help you think about how to use a slideshow during a presentation and what you should keep in mind as you do so. There is also a discussion of some limitations and what that can mean for your audience. He talks about being prepared to switch between a slideshow and a full-screen discussion mode. Depending on your audience and purpose, this is a practice that can help make your presentation more engaging for your audience, but it does take some practice to get comfortable switching while you are presenting.

Watch this video about how to use your presentation aid.

Read this short article, which summarizes standard presentation options.

Watch this video, which shows how presentation aids can distract your audience. In this example, viewers may spend more time deciphering the charts than listening to the speaker's words. Notice how the speaker spends more time looking at his visuals than his audience!

This article walks you through the process of creating an effective slideshow and preparing and using other visuals effectively and with maximum impact. Take a moment to read through the guidelines that will help you achieve your speaking goals!

Read this text for practical guidelines for using your presentation aid effectively.

Technology can fail, and recognizing that is critical to being prepared to deliver a successful presentation. This short article will help you set yourself up for success, even when things go wrong. Planning makes a difference!

Read this chapter for an overview of the issues and potential complications of public speaking.

Watch this video, which explains what public speaking anxiety or "stage fright" is and what you can do to manage it.

Watch this video, which introduces the concept of communication apprehension (the umbrella term that includes public speaking anxiety) and offers some techniques for managing it.

Read this chapter, which offers advice and encouragement to help you manage your anxiety, reduce stress, and confidently present in a public setting.

This tip sheet includes a helpful summary of practical strategies you can use when you give your next presentation. Take a minute to review the tips, and keep this graphic handy for future reference.

Watch these short videos to explore some additional tips you can use to manage your anxiety.

Read this advice on how to read your audience and respond to their feedback during your presentation.

Read these tips on preparing for and handling your presentation's question-and-answer section.

Watch this video to learn strategies for handling an audience member who uses question-and-answer time to express hostility.

Read this text for more ideas on responding to questions during your presentation.