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Oral Presentations

Presented by Dr Arlene Harvey Learning Centre, Academic Enrichment

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Our services are free to all enrolled students (undergraduate, postgraduate coursework, higher research degree).

What we can assist you with: ü  Academic writing workshops ü  One-to-one writing consultations ü  Online writing resources ü  PRESENTATION SKILLS workshops

We don’t provide the following: X  Editing and proof reading of assignments X  Course content tutoring X  Teaching of general English Language courses

Learning Centre sydney.edu.au/lc

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Workshops coming soon…

March / April Program

Monday 14 March - Friday 29 April 2016

Register online from Monday 7 March Get in early – workshops fill up fast!

Learning Centre sydney.edu.au/lc

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Learning Centre Contact details

Room722,Level7Educa1onBuildingManningRoadEmail: learning.centre@sydney.edu.auWeb: www.sydney.edu.au/lc Phone: 93513853

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Oral Presentations – Aim of this lecture

–  to provide you with some

strategies to help you design and deliver an effective oral presentation

–  highlight some of the criteria

and expectations of oral presentations across different disciplines at University

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Graduate attributes at the University of Sydney

–  Communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing, with a variety of recipients and audiences and using a variety of media.

–  Work effectively as individuals, partners and as members of a team.

–  Oral communication for assessment include –  more formal presentations (individual or group) –  less formal presentations (e.g. seminar papers) –  participation in class.

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To give an effective presentation, consider:

①  Your purpose and audience

②  Your message – the content of your presentation ③  Your mode of delivery ④  Your performance

Important PSA* – Be prepared! [*Public Service Announcement]

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1. Purpose of your presentation

To inform … Ø  be brief, clear, relevant Ø  use logical sequencing: temporal or cause and effect structure to

present information

To instruct … Ø  leaves participants with a new skill Ø  cover topic logically Ø  design activities to develop and apply new skills

To persuade … Ø  convince audience to accept your proposal or solution to a controversy/

problem through thorough examination Or perhaps a combination of these?

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2. The message / content

–  Is your topic clear to your audience?

–  Have you thought about what your audience might already know?

–  Have you checked your content is in fact relevant to the topic?

–  Have you demonstrated a solid grasp of the subject matter and appreciation of key issues?

–  Have you used examples to bring the content to life?

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–  Have you included a clear introduction and ending with appropriate links between the sections?

–  Have you organised the content logically?

–  Have you signalled the ending of your presentation clearly and appropriately?

Structure and development of the presentation

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Different types of structures of academic presentations – some examples

Introduction Body Conclusion Introduce topic Outline main ideas

Discuss selected points

Re-state main information gained from survey

Introduce research questions

Describe data collections

Describe data analysis

Review results

Formulate conclusions

Evaluate research

Introduce seminar topic Summarise literature

Present conflicting views in literature

Evaluate validity of evidence

Indicate which

authorities you support

See your assessment guidelines and criteria for information

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Online resource: Learning Centre, Getting the message across in Science http://sydney.edu.au/stuserv/learning_centre/msg_across_science.shtml

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3. Modes of delivery

–  read from a written transcript of your talk

–  refer to notes or cards

–  speak from overheads/ PowerPoint slides integrated weblinks, videoclips, podcasts

Can you think of some advantages and/or disadvantages associated with these modes?

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Different styles of language

Casual spoken Academic spoken Academic written

interactive interactive non-interactive

face to face face-to-face distanced

language with action with some action without action

spontaneous mostly planned planned

casual semi-formal to formal formal

non-technical technical technical

subjective objective objective

personal personal and impersonal impersonal

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Select your mode of delivery

POSITION closest to closest towritten text conversation

DELIVERY read from speak without notesMODE written paper

Strategy:➢  decide where you feel most comfortable➢  consider your audience

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Visuals

Use visuals to: –  present an outline

–  signal new information

–  add emphasis to a key point

–  present relevant visual material e.g. photographs, drawings

–  present statistical, diagrammatic or numerical information in tabular or graphic form

–  IMAGE (SIZE)

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Figure 6: a) Scanned images of STM-SP duplexes

b) Intensities of those spots were shown in a graph. a

b

Figures Visuals, e.g. figures

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Visuals: e.g. clip art and graphics

Ø  should balance the slide

Ø  should enhance and complement the text, not overwhelm

Ø no more than two graphics per slide  

IMAGE (SIZE)

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Visuals: some considerations

–  legibility –  relevance –  clarity –  balance (text : image)

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PowerPoint slides: text guidelines

Ø  no more than 6 lines a slide

Ø  avoid long sentences

Ø  larger font indicates more important information

Ø  font size ranges from 18 to 40 point

Ø  choose an easy-to-read font e.g. Arial, Verdana, Century Gothic

Ø  contrast text with background

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Font size

–  This is 12 pt

–  This is 14 pt

–  This is 16 pt

–  This is 18 pt

–  This is 20 pt

–  This is 24 pt

–  This is 28 pt

–  This is 32 pt

– This is 36 pt

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This is white writing on a black background – very dramatic and arty but very difficult on the eyes for stretches at a time ! Especially in smaller fonts Especially in smaller fonts

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Beware pale colours

–  Yellow

–  Blue

–  Green

–  Etc.

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PowerPoint slides

Common mistakes:

–  Too much text. Audiences are more receptive to the spoken word.

–  Speaker reads the slide –  Text too small –  Colours hard to see –  Moving text or graphics –  Annoying sounds –  Complex diagrams on charts

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4. Performance

–  Major impact from your delivery: voice and body language not just your content

–  However, oral academic

presentations are usually for assessment - your lecturer is wanting you to be more than just entertaining and charismatic

–  IMAGE

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Some characteristics of effective presenters

–  Appear confident and relaxed

–  Make eye contact

–  Don’t fidget or have distracting mannerisms

–  Move freely (i.e. isn’t frozen to the spot or roam around)

–  Don’t rush and use pause for emphasis

–  Speak loud enough for audience to hear

–  Don’t overuse fillers (‘um’, ‘ah’, ‘you know’, etc.)

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How to improve your delivery

–  We can’t always evaluate ourselves clearly – ask for feedback from others to get a more accurate picture

–  Before each presentation, reflect on –  your weaknesses as a presenter –  your strengths as a presenter

–  Target one aspect of your delivery to focus on in the actual presentation.

–  If you try to change too many things at once, you will often change nothing!

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Individual or group presentation?

Many oral presentations at University are group presentations.

Think about: –  Your strengths and weaknesses (individually and as a team) –  The order of presenters –  Respective functions of 1st, 2nd, final speakers –  Getting the timing right

–  Be considerate - –  Don’t let you team down – be actively engaged in the

development of the presentation, including rehearsals.

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Question time for your presentation

When to take questions?? –  If you have a choice, when

do you want to answer questions?

–  Tell your audience at the start of your presentation

–  Advantages and disadvantages of questions at the end and questions during the presentation?

–  IMAGE

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Strategies to reduce stress

Ø  rehearse - practice practice practice! Ø  exercise Ø  relax - meditation, yoga, listen to music that soothes you Ø  avoid too many stimulants, tranquillisers, problematic foods Ø  keep hydrated Ø  make the strange familiar Ø  technology can let you down L

enjoy !

It gets easier!