Preparing and Delivering Oral Presentations

C H A P T E R 20

• What Are the Types of Oral Presentations?• How Do You Prepare a Presentation?• How Do You Prepare Visual Aids?• How Do You Deliver a Memorable

Presentation?

Presentation Overview

• Impromptu• Extemporaneous• Scripted• Memorized

What Are the Types of Oral Presentations?

1. Find out about the audience.2. Determine the purpose of the presentation.3. Plan for only the information that the

audience can absorb.4. Organize the presentation.5. Anticipate the audience’s needs and

questions.6. Rehearse the presentation.7. Prepare for emergencies.

How Do You Prepare a Presentation?

• Their demographics• Their knowledge about your topic• Their attitude about your topic• Their impression of you or your organization• Their reasons for listening• Their expectations of the presentation

Find Out about the Audience

Ask: • Why are you giving the presentation?• What do you want to accomplish? • Is your goal to inform, to persuade, or both?• What do you want your audience to do with

the information?

Determine the Purpose of the Presentation

• Condense your presentation into its key points.

• Stay within your allotted time and speak to the requirements of the occasion.

• Plan the presentation to take slightly less than the allowed time.

Plan the Information

• Prioritize the information.• Prepare an outline.• Prepare your notes.• Begin with a preview.• Introduce the key points in order.• Use clear transitions between topics.• Summarize at the end.

Organize the Presentation

• Define or avoid terminology.• Use specific, unambiguous examples.• Explain any information that may be new to

the audience.• Clarify and support unfamiliar information.

Anticipate the Audience’s Needs and Questions

• Make your rehearsal realistic.• Time your presentation.• Determine where you will use the visual aids.• Check out the room and its equipment.

Rehearse the Presentation

An extra light bulb A backup of your slides and handouts A backup plan in case the computer,

projector, or DVD player doesn’t work Notes

Prepare for Emergencies

Use only the visual aids your audience will need to understand your key points.

Select simple visual aids. Make sure each visual aid has a

specific purpose. Use brief phrases rather than

sentences. Make sure everyone in the audience

can read the visual aids, not just those sitting up front.

Use legible type. Use slide designs that are appropriate

for the occasion and don’t distract or make reading difficult.

Make sure that the visual aids are free of errurs and contain correct, accurate information.

How Do You Prepare Visual Aids?

• Help the audience enjoy your presentation.• Field questions effectively.

How Do You Deliver a Memorable Presentations?

Questions?