One way to inspire or inform others is with a multimedia presentation, which combines sounds, visuals, and text.
Using media to present ideas . . .Politicians and businesspeople often use multimedia presentations to convey their messages at rallies, trade shows, and meetings of all kinds.
B a s i c s i n a B o x
GUIDELINES & STANDARDS Multimedia Presentations
A successful multimedia presentation should
• capture the audience’s attention with a strong beginning
• clearly, directly, and logically present information
• use media appropriate to the content
• end by stating the importance of the topic, summarizing the points made, or drawing a conclusion about the topic
Content
A successful presenter should
• have good posture and maintain eye contact with the audience
• vary his or her pacing/speed as well as the pitch, tone, and volume of his or her voice
• use gestures and body language to enhance the presentation
• smoothly incorporate the media components into the presentation
Delivery
Creating Your Multimedia Presentation1 Planning Your Presentation
Think about a Central Idea or Theme
in your novel to present to the class.
Try brainstorming with your
classmates who read the same work
to share ideas. After you have
chosen your topic, follow these steps:
Steps for Planning Your Multimedia Presentation
1. Gather information about your theme. How was your chosen theme conveyed through one or more characters? In what way did the setting(s) contribute to the theme? What elements of dialogue or figurative language helped illustrate theme? Collect answers to these and other questions you generate.
2. Think about your audience. What do they already know about the theme you are presenting? What do you want them to know? What background information will you need to provide?
3. Evaluate your information. Although your presentation may make an emotional appeal, be sure your facts are accurate. If necessary, use additional sources.
Steps for Planning Your Multimedia Presentation
4. Organize your information. What type of
resources are available? Which will help you get
your point across most effectively? Here are some
options to consider:
Audiotapes and CD’s allow you to present
sound effects, including music and voices.
Flipcharts, posters, photos, slides, charts,
and graphs allow you to present visuals in a
variety of formats and don’t necessarily require
the use of a computer.
Steps for Planning Your Multimedia Presentation
Videos allow you to present both sound and visual
materials. You can create a video or put together a
series of video clips that you download from a
computer.
Computer presentation software allows you to
incorporate sound and visuals and to produce
graphs, charts, and drawings; you can even project a
slide show from a computer. PowerPoint or Prezi
presentations are popular and easy to create.
Creating Your Multimedia Presentation2 Developing Your Presentation
Once your have gathered the information you
want to include in your multimedia
presentation, you can begin organizing it and
creating the text and multimedia components.
Steps for Developing Your Multimedia Presentation
1. Create an outline of the points you will make. If you wish, you can write out your script word for word. Be sure to indicate where you will include your media elements. Remember that you may need to introduce and explain the audio and visual material you present.
2. Create a strong introduction and conclusion. Use a question, an anecdote, a startling fact, or a powerful quotation as a hook to grab your audience’s interest right away. End with a clear, powerful statement to leave a memorable impression.
Steps for Developing Your Multimedia Presentation
3. Gather and create your media components. Make sure that all images and text in your visuals are large enough to be seen from the back of the room. Check audio materials to ensure that the sound can be clearly heard.
4. Evaluate your materials. Look critically at your materials to see whether you have used various media—including your oral delivery of the text—as effectively as possible.
Creating Your Multimedia Presentation3 Practicing and Presenting
Practice your presentation several times
to become comfortable with speaking
from your script or outline and handling
your media elements. Keep the following
points in mind as you rehearse:
Creating Your Multimedia Presentation3 Practicing and Presenting
Use your voice effectively. Speak
loudly enough to be heard, but vary
the tone and pitch of your voice to
keep your audience’s attention. Use
changes in volume and pace to
emphasize particular points.
Creating Your Multimedia Presentation3 Practicing and Presenting
Maintain eye contact and use
appropriate gestures and facial
expressions. Keep your audience with
you by looking directly at them and
using gestures and expressions to
maintain their interest and emphasize
your points.
Creating Your Multimedia Presentation3 Practicing and Presenting
Weave the media elements
smoothly into your presentation.
Make sure you know how to operate
the equipment you will be using.
Become completely familiar with the
content of your visuals and audio
materials so that you can talk about
them knowledgeably.
Creating Your Multimedia Presentation3 Practicing and Presenting
When you feel confident in your work,
you might want to invite several friends or
family members over to review your
presentation. If necessary, modify your
presentation on the basis of their
feedback.
Creating Your Multimedia Presentation4 Refining Your Presentation
TARGET SKILL
VARYING YOUR MATERIAL
To maintain your audience’s interest in your
presentation, vary the types and structures of
your sentences. For instance, asking a
question can get your listeners’ attention, but
asking several questions may confuse or bore
your audience.
Creating Your Multimedia Presentation53
Editing and Proofreading
TARGET SKILL
CONSISTENT FORM
Because visuals frequently present a great
deal of information in a small space, it is
important that they be clear and easy to
read. Using correct and consistent
capitalization can help you get your
message across effectively.
