BISC209/F13:Guidelines for oral presentations

Tips for Oral Presentations

The following tips come from the PLTC Oral Presentation Peer-Tutors. They should help guide you in the development of your oral presentation.

GENERAL TIPS:

• Keep it simple!
• Keep to the time limit. ( presentation + Q&A)
  

QUESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND AS YOU DEVELOP YOUR PRESENTATION:

• What is my purpose?
• Who is my audience?
• What do they already know about the topic?
• What information will they find relevant? interesting? amusing?
• If the information is controversial, what is the audience’s position, attitude or reaction likely to be?
• What information might I include/leave out?
• Have I made the structure of my talk clear to the audience?
  
  

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR MATERIAL

• Engage the audience with your first sentence; don’t mistake your first sentence for your introduction.
• Use clear and simple topic sentences and transitions between main points.
• Use scientific format to organize the order of specific information
  • Introduction (catch attention, set up problem, broad/specific questions addressed, etc.)
  • Method (experimental design)
  • Results (what did you find? what does it mean?) Make sure there are visual representations of processed or key data but not too much
  • Conclusions (does your data answer your experiment question(s)?, significance in broader context, future directions, etc.)

PRACTICE AND DELIVERY

• Dress up! If you look professional your ideas will be taken more seriously by your audience
• Practice enough so you avoid reading your notes or reading from slides on screen.
• Nerves: if you know your material, nerves can only give you an extra boost of energy.
• Use a pointer to indicate key data in graphs or tables ; practice on the technology you will be using.
• Look enthusiastic, confident, and sincere—don’t use weak words (just, really).
• Make eye contact in slow sweeps of the room (make “M” or “W” scans across the audience).
• Stand still; balanced on both feet.
• Any gestures or movements should appear natural and fit with what you are saying.
• Voice: watch for Volume, Clarity, Variety and Inflection!¬¬¬
• Watch for fillers: ah, umm, like, you know, OK.
• Talk slowly, remember the power of the silent pause—write in pauses if it helps.
• Pay attention to the transitions and make audience aware of movement from one point to another
• Look interested and attentive when your team members are presenting.
• Sum up the 1 or 2 main points you wanted to make in the conclusion.
• Recapture your audience with your final statement; end on a high note.
• Prepare an outline or note cards.
  

ANSWERING QUESTIONS:

• Anticipate questions: what are the weak points of your argument?
• Don’t be defensive
• Don’t rush to answer—remember, pauses can be powerful.
• Smile your way through your mistakes
  

USING A POSTER

• Use clear colors, spacing, not too much information in words or data displays
• Give the audience a second to take in the poster and skim through it before beginning (to decrease distraction).
• If pointing, make it exact. Turn towards the poster, find the spot, turn back, and then begin talking while facing the audience.