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Effective Presentations
Christine Bauer-Ramazani
Saint Michael’s College
Overview
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Anxiety Reduction
Delivery—Key Considerations
Structure of Presentations
Visuals
Nonverbal & Verbal Communication
Question & Answer Guidelines
Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint
Michael's College
Anxiety Reduction
Visualize Delivery
Know Subject
Respect Preparation Time
Practice Presentation
Relax Mind
Respect Audience
Delivery – Key Considerations
• The setting
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Be familiar with
• Room, equipment, back-up resources
• Do a trial run.
• The audience
 Who?
 What do they know?
 What do they want to know?
 Resistance?
 Time pressure?
Delivery—Key Considerations
The speaker
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Credible
Well-prepared
Calm, confident
Good posture
Humorous
The message
 Content: background,
findings, supporting
evidence & examples;
appropriate subject
terminology and concepts
 Organization: description,
cause-effect, chronological,
argument, problem-solution
 Structure: introduction,
with Table of Contents,
body, conclusion
Structure of Presentations
Introduction
Introduce yourself.
Establish credibility.
State purpose + preview presentation content
on an Overview slide.
Body
Identify main points.
Give supporting details.
Keep clear focus.
Conclusion
Develop strong closure.
Keep it positive.
Summarize main ideas.
VISUALS
• Slide show
• Graphics (pictures must be
topic-related)
• Exhibits
(graphs, charts,
diagrams, calculations)
– Highlight and
emphasize critical
figures/points only.
– 1 minute per slide!
• Handouts
– Use 6-slide handout
format.
• Back-up copy!
Purpose of Visuals
Illustrate key points
Reinforce verbal message
Stimulate audience interest
Focus audience attention
Note: Animations and sounds can be distracting! Use them
only to illustrate a point.
Visuals – Guidelines: DESIGN
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Cover page: title, date, name(s)
Table of Contents/Overview
Bullets for key points; no long sentences
Simple and clear (KISS)!
Easy to read--large fonts
Contrasting colors
Consistent fonts/colors/format
Spell-check every slide!
Visuals – Guidelines: USE
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NO READING OF NOTES!
Check visibility of text: fonts size, style, color.
Prepare handouts.
Introduce each slide topic with a complete (topic)
sentence.
Explain each visual.
Speak to the audience, not the visual.
Decide how to advance slides.
Make a transition to the next topic and
speaker.
Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint
Michael's College
Nonverbal &
Verbal Communication
Body Language
Voice
Posture
Eye contact
Facial expression
Hand gestures
Appropriate dress
Volume
Inflection
Articulation
Rate
Pauses
Nonverbal Communication
Do’s
Don’ts
 Face the audience.
 Look at each person in the
audience.
 Glance at notes
occasionally.
 Smile!
 Get someone else to click
the mouse (to advance
slides).
 Practice in the same room
you will be presenting.
X Do not hold on to anything!
X Do not read from your notes
or the screen!
X Do not put hands in pockets!
X Do not look at the screen or
the monitor only!
X Do not look at the professor
only!
Verbal Communication
Do’s
Speak loudly and clearly;
enunciate.
Speak slowly but with
confidence.
Emphasize important
points
 Use simple sentences
and vocabulary.
 Slow down!
 Speak louder!
 Include concepts &
vocab. related to the topic
(from book/lectures)
Don’ts
X Don’t race through
your speech!
X Don’t mumble!
X Don’t use slang or
overly colloquial
(informal) language..
X Don’t use verbal fillers
(“like”, “uh”, “and”)
Conclusion
• Summarize main points (or findings).
• Emphasize a specific point.
Question & Answer Guidelines
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Encourage audience to ask questions.
Make eye contact with the speaker.
Listen carefully.
Answer a specific question.
Be honest.
Avoid interrupting.
Before the presentation …
• Practice with the equipment.
• Practice transitioning from speaker to speaker.
• Time the presentation and make adjustments.