2020-06-12
282
Check your knowledge
Exercise 1. Complete the suggested questions, trying to formulate major aspects before starting preparation for a talk.
Planning
Purpose – why and what?
Audience – who and how many?
Premises – do/does and is/are
Who __________________________________________?
What _________________________________________?
Why __________________________________________?
Where ________________________________________?
When _________________________________________?
How __________________________________________?
Exercise 2. Restore the original order of instructions on how to prepare for a successful presentation. Start with the sentence in italics.
How to Prepare for a Presentation
The best way to perform a presentation well is to be prepared. Standing in front of a group reading from note cards and stumbling over your thoughts is not very convincing. With a little practice you can look like a pro by speaking clearly and in an organized fashion. Follow these steps to learn how. Instructions: 1. Be sure you know how to pronounce all the words correctly. Check with the dictionary if necessary. 2. Create an outline that includes an introduction, an overview of the main argument or purpose,
the evidence used to support that argument, any critiques of the work and the conclusion.
3. Select the material you will use.
4. Research your topic of discussion and determine the purpose of your talk.
5. Talk through your presentation many times before presenting.
6. Open your slides and actually click through them speaking your part out loud.
7. Know your audience and what it knows.
8. Prepare your handouts, if necessary.
9. Make sure that your talk fits in within the time limit of your presentation.
10. Create an outline (a plan) of what ideas you wish to cover.
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Exercise 3. Checklist for Planning a Presentation. Arrange the following statements depending on whether they are advisable or not.
| Do’s | Don’ts |
Understand the interest level of the audience;
Use jargon even if the audience doesn’t understand it;
Use simple language;
Make the presentation focused, easy to understand;
Prepare a logic tree;
Skip any point of your presentation if you feel like;
Be rigid in following a sequence according to your plan;
Use any available sources for in-depth analysis;
Be prepared for any kind of question from audience;
Prepare cue cards;
Ignore the audience during your talk, it’s their problem if they do not follow you;
Insert abbreviations, such as AC, MBT, QA, etc., whenever possible to make your talk more shortspoken;
Understand the audience question clearly;
Provide handouts for additional information.
Exercise 4. Fill in the gaps with the words in the correct form or choose the right word from those suggested.
When you ________ (to make) a presentation, the first stage is to plan it. You_________(needn’t/should) start by __________ (to think) about your audience –who they are, what they ______(to know) about the subject and what they expect from you. Will they be interested, enthusiastic, cooperative or perhaps critical? _____you_________ (to present) to the group from your own culture or to people of different cultures? All these factors ________(to influence) the way you approach the presentation. If possible, try to visit the room where you__________(to give) the talk. Check the equipment and make sure your voice _________ (to carry) to the back of the room if you don’t use a microphone. Look at the seating arrangements and make sure they are what you want. You’re now ready to prepare what you _________ (to say). Stage one is the opening. A good
opening is essential as you will be nervous and you _________(needn’t/need to) grab the attention of the audience. You start by __________ (to introduce) yourself and then you use a technique to get the audience’s interest. We call this the ‘hook’ which focuses the audience’s attention on what you’re saying. You __________ (must/can) do this in various ways. You ________(must/can): ask a question; use a famous quotation; use a striking visual image; appeal directly to the audience’s interests or needs. Once you have the audience’s attention, you _________(needn’t/should) tell them the structure of your presentation. You give them a map of the talk, with signposts along the route, so they know what you_______ (to cover) in your talk.
Exercise 5. The chart below provides some ideas on what is understood by a good delivery. Read the items and give your considerations. Explain your point.
| A good presenter… | OK | useful | very useful | vital!!! |
| does not speak too quickly | ||||
| is enthusiastic | ||||
| looks at the audience/ makes eye contact | ||||
| is confident | ||||
| is not monotone | ||||
| explains the purpose of the talk | ||||
| knows their subject | ||||
| explains with interesting examples | ||||
| reviews what they’ve covered at the end of the session |
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UNIT 2
Presentation delivery: Introduction
1. Read and discuss:
A well organized presentation with a clear structure is easier for the audience to follow. It is therefore more effective. You should organize the points you wish to make in a logical order. Most presentations are organized in three parts, followed by questions:
Beginning, Short introduction:
welcome your audience
introduce your subject, say what your presentation will be about: the aims and objectives.
explain the structure of your presentation
explain rules for questions
Middle, Body of presentation:
present the subject itself
End, Short conclusion:
summarise your presentation
thank your audience
invite questions
