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Body language
is important. Standing, walking or moving about with appropriate
hand gesture or facial expression is preferred to sitting down or
standing still with head down and reading from a prepared speech.
Use audio-visual aids or props for enhancement if appropriate and
necessary. Master the use of presentation software such as
PowerPoint well before your presentation. Do not over-dazzle your
audience with excessive use of animation, sound clips, or gaudy
colors which are inappropriate for your topic. Do not torture your
audience by putting a lengthy document in tiny print on an
overhead and reading it out to them.
Speak with conviction
as if you really believe in what you are saying. Persuade your
audience effectively. The material you present orally should have
the same ingredients as that which are required for a written
research paper, i.e. a logical progression from INTRODUCTION
(Thesis statement) to BODY (strong supporting arguments, accurate
and up-to-date information) to CONCLUSION (re-state thesis,
summary, and logical conclusion).
Do not read from notes
for any extended length of time although it is quite acceptable to
glance at your notes infrequently. Speak loudly and clearly. Sound
confident. Do not mumble. If you made an error, correct it, and
continue. No need to make excuses or apologize profusely.
Maintain sincere eye contact
with your audience. Use the 3-second method, e.g. look straight
into the eyes of a person in the audience for 3 seconds at a time.
Have direct eye contact with a number of people in the audience,
and every now and then glance at the whole audience while
speaking. Use your eye contact to make everyone in your audience
feel involved.
Speak
to your audience, listen to their questions, respond to their
reactions, adjust and adapt. If what you have prepared is
obviously not getting across to your audience, change your
strategy mid-stream if you are well prepared to do so. Remember
that communication is the key to a successful presentation. If you
are short of time, know what can be safely left out. If you have
extra time, know what could be effectively added. Always be
prepared for the unexpected.
Pause.
Allow yourself and your audience a little time to reflect and
think. Don't race through your presentation and leave your
audience, as well as yourself, feeling out of breath.
Add humor whenever appropriate and possible. Keep
audience interested throughout your entire presentation. Remember
that an interesting speech makes time fly, but a boring speech is
always too long to endure even if the presentation time is the
same.
When using audio-visual aids to enhance your
presentation, be sure all necessary equipment is set up and in
good working order prior to the presentation. If possible, have an
emergency backup system readily available. Check out the location
ahead of time to ensure seating arrangements for audience,
whiteboard, blackboard, lighting, location of projection screen,
sound system, etc. are suitable for your presentation.
Have handouts ready and give them out at the
appropriate time. Tell audience ahead of time that you will be
giving out an outline of your presentation so that they will not
waste time taking unnecessary notes during your presentation.
Know when to STOP talking. Use a timer or the
microwave oven clock to time your presentation when preparing it
at home. Just as you don't use unnecessary words in your written
paper, you don't bore your audience with repetitious or
unnecessary words in your oral presentation. To end your
presentation, summarize your main points in the same way as you
normally do in the CONCLUSION of a written paper. Remember,
however, that there is a difference between spoken words
appropriate for the ear and formally written words intended for
reading. Terminate your presentation with an interesting remark or
an appropriate punch line. Leave your listeners with a positive
impression and a sense of completion. Do not belabor your closing
remarks. Thank your audience and sit down.
Have the written portion of your assignment or
report ready for your instructor if required.
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