Presentation Skills

IDENTIFY WORKPLACE

PRESENTATIONS

Informative presentations:

Instruct

Describe

Clarify

Persuasive presentations:

Convince

Reinforce

Actuate

PREVIEW PREPARATION

STEPS Determine the general purpose.

Determine the specific purpose.

Analyze the audience.

Identify the central idea.

Identify the main points.

Gather supporting materials.

Organize the outline.

Rehearse the presentation.

THE PURPOSE

General speech purposes:

Inform

Entertain

Persuade

THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE

The specific purpose identifies the desired

audience response at the end of the

presentation, e.g.:

“At the end of my presentation, half of my

audience will sign up for the

assertiveness workshop next

Wednesday.”

THE CENTRAL IDEA

Is a complete sentence, not a phrase or clause,

Expresses a single idea,

Provides both a specific subject and a clear

focus for your talk,

Is a declarative statement, not a question,

Example:

“Learning to communicate assertively can help

you reduce workplace conflicts.”

THE MAIN POINTS

…develop the central idea,

…are stated in sentence form,

…contain only one idea per point,

…are stated in parallel form,

…should be between 3 and 5 per speech,

THE RISK OF GETTING E.COLI BACTERIA FROM FOOD

CAN BE REDUCED.

NON PARALLEL PARALLEL

Keeping yourself clean in the kitchen is the first step toward reducing the risk of E. coli.

The second step toward reducing E. coli bacteria is to cook properly.

E. coli can be reduced by properly storing the product when you are done using it.

Keeping yourself clean in the kitchen is the first step toward reducing the risk of E. coli.

Cooking properly is the second step toward reducing the risk of E. coli.

Storing products properly is the third step toward reducing the risk of E. coli .

THE SUPPORTS

Explanations

Examples

Statistics

Illustrations

Testimony

Comparisons

EXPLANATIONS

Define

Analyze

Describe

EXAMPLES

Typical instances used to clarify a point

Work particularly well when used in

groups of two or more

Example: “Aerobic exercise can include walking, biking, and swimming.”

STATISTICS

Valid, reliable data presented fairly.

Document both source and date.

Round off statistics rather than present exact numbers.

Dramatize the significance by applying statistics to audience.

Display statistics visually with charts, graphs, and slides.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Extended, detailed examples that amplify the point.

Accounts with personal appeal that include names, dates, and specifics.

Factual stories (illustrations) help to prove by showing what really happened.

Hypothetical stories (illustrations) help to visualize by projecting what will likely happen.

Anecdotes employ humorous stories to illustrate the point.

TESTIMONY COMES FROM

EXPERTS WITH…

…knowledge of a subject, or

…experience with a subject

COMPARISONS

Discuss similarities.

Figurative comparisons explain the unknown in terms of the known.

Literal comparisons show similarities between two items of the same class.

Similarities of figurative comparisons should be obvious.

Contrasts point out the differences between two items of the same class.

THE TRANSITIONS

Words work for transitions: For example: “next,” “also,” “second,” “finally”

Phrases also make transitions:“After you gather the materials, ….”

Sentences work for transitions:Partial summaries review one or more points.

THE INTRODUCTION

Gains attention

Shows need

Presents central idea

Previews main points

GAIN ATTENTION BY…

Telling a story or anecdote

Appealing to curiosity or humor

Using a startling statement

Sharing a hypothetical story

Providing a quotation

Offering a prediction

Asking rhetorical question(s)

Referring to the audience and/or the occasion

THE BODY

Include 3–5 main points.

State the main points as parallel

sentences.

Incorporate verbal supports.

Link supports with transitions.

PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION

Chronological

Topical

Spatial (re. subject)

Cause/effect

Problem/solution

CONCLUSIONS

Summarize main points.

Restate central idea.

Include appropriate closing remarks.

TYPES OF CONCLUDING

REMARKS

Quotation

Brief illustration

Provocative question

Humorous anecdote

Appeal for action

SELECT DELIVERY STYLE

Manuscript

Memorized

Extemporaneous

Impromptu

REHEARSE DELIVERY

Develop a speaking outline.

Practice out loud.

Practice in front of an audience.

Pay attention to voice.

Pay attention to body.

Cope with nervousness.

THANK YOU…