Beginning
Begin with a purpose statement; be clear about what you hope to accomplish in your presentation.
Create an outline with main structure (Introduction, Body, and Conclusion), main points, and all sub points clearly shown.
- Outlines help you discover a logical order to your thoughts
- They give you a format to use in delivery that lessens the chance of forgetting what you want to say
- Outlines also increase student accountability for preparation
Basic Structure for Oral Presentation
Introduction
I. Attention getter (Never say: “My presentation is about. . .”)
II. Thesis statement
Body
I.
II.
III. 2-5 main points in the body of the speech
IV.
V.
Conclusion
I. Review
II. Final remarks (Never say: “Well, that’s about it.”)
Methods of Delivery
Manuscript method: Write your presentation out word for word and read it. The advantage of this method is that all points you want to make are right there on the paper or the cards. However, you will be tempted to merely read off the page and your presentation can sound artificial.
Memorization method: After writing out the entire speech, you memorize it word for word. This works well if you are good at memorization and if the presentation isn’t too long. Your best opportunity at eye contact is with this method. However, stage fright could cause you to blank out and forget everything.
Extemporaneous method: By using note cards (or paper) on which your basic outline is written, you will easily remember what points you want to make. Also, specific paragraphs or statements of fact or statistics can also be written out entirely (one per card) to ensure accuracy. In this method, the exact words you choose for the speech are chosen as you speak. This method requires that you know your topic extremely well, since you are to some degree speaking “off the top of your head.”
Combination method: Students can mix and match from the three methods to create a delivery method that works best for them.
Making your presentation professional
Do
- Establish eye contact with your audience
- Speak clearly; don’t mumble
- Speak loud enough for all to hear, but not so loud you “shake the rafters”
- Use your voice to emphasize main points; accent and soften as needed
- Pace your speaking rate and incorporate pauses into your delivery
Don’t
- Tap your foot, rock or lean on the podium
- Keep your hands in your pockets; use appropriate gestures instead
- Stare at the floor, the paper, or one person (like the teacher)
- Use slang or lazy grammar (Me and him went there and we seen . . . . )
- Use “uhm,” “ah,” “like,” “’n stuff,” “you know,” or other interrupters that make your delivery awkward (Tip: practice in front of another and ask that person to look for these “words.”)
Helpful hints for students and teachers
1. Examples of attention getters
- Use a shocking story, one that appeals to fears or other emotions
- Tell a personal story that gives your insight or perspective on the topic
- Give startling facts
- Use your voice tone, volume, & pitch for effect
- Ask an intriguing question
- Use a visual device or have your audience listen to a recording
2. Patterns of organization
- Chronological: in time sequence
- Topic: divide the speech into main topics
- Problem-Solving: describe the problem and then the solution
- Motivated Sequence: the five steps of the selling process (see p.25)
- Cause-Effect: discuss what happened and then the effect
- Climax: used to create suspense; builds to the main argument
- Anticlimactic: give the main information right away, and then the discussion would follow
3. Creating a safe atmosphere.
Students all wish to have a safe environment, that is, one that is not threatening to them. Teachers and students can create that environment by asking each student to remember that it isn’t easy to speak in front of one’s peers. In order to ensure a good experience for all, each person needs to be a respectful, empathetic listener.
4. Audience Responsibility.
One possible idea is to have the audience evaluate the presentation. Another is to let the audience know they will be quizzed on the information given during the presentation. The interests and needs of the audience should be addressed when creating the presentation initially.