PRESENTATION SKILLS AESS BATCH 20 and 21 1 Contents (Reference: - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PRESENTATION SKILLS

AESS BATCH 20 and 21

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Contents

(Reference: University of Leicester)

• 1. Preparation
• 2. Points/Arguments
• 3. Supporting Information
• 4. Responding to questions
• 5. Using PowerPoint
• 6. Important points that enhance presentation skills

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Preparation

Objectives:

• What do you want your audience to understand?
• What action do you want your audience to take following your presentation?
• How can you best design your presentation to meet your objectives?

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Audience:

• How much will your audience already know about your topic?
• How can you link new material to things they might already understand?
• Will you need to win them over to a particular point of view?

Venue:

• What kind of atmosphere do you wish to create?
• How might the room arrangement affect your relationship with the audience?
• Can you do anything to change the arrangement?
• What audio-visual aid can you use?

Guidelines:

• How much time have you been allocated?
• Are you required to stick to a common format or style?
• Have any guidelines been set regarding the content of your presentation?

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• 2. Points/Arguments
• The main and sub points/arguments are the most important parts of the presentation
• These points/arguments help in structuring, prioritising examples, facts and statistics
• Use visual aid (diagrams/charts)
• Use supporting information to enhance the effectiveness and interest
• Explain complex terms and providing examples or statistics
• Quote experts and offering evidence from your own research
• Show a video clip
• Do not provide too much of information

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• 3. Transitions and Conclusion
• A smooth flow using transitional words and phrases
• Transitions will also help in signposting, which directs the audience through the

presentation “Another important issue of consideration was …” “By following this argument we can now see that …”

• Conclude with a summary of the key and sub points and a review of the objectives
• Use a parting statement which might be a question or a comment

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4.

• 4. Responding to questions
• Inform your audience when questions will be allowed and manage the allotted time
• Prepare prompts for questions that are open and straightforward:

“That’s the end of my presentation. I’d now like to take questions from the audience”

• Listen to all the parts of the question and understand
• Respond and direct your answer to both the questioner and the audience
• Allow follow-up questions
• Avoid defensive answers and passing the blame

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5.

• 5. Usin

ing PowerPoint

Design:

• Be consistent (template/design/font)
• Use an appropriate text colour as it can be difficult to read
• Avoid too much of text and use bullet points (six-by-six rule)
• Font size should be at least 24pt and text should be left aligned
• Set clear hierarchies for font size to identify headings, main text and others
• Use bold for emphasis and headings rather than UPPER CASE, italics

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Graphics:

• Try not to use Clip Art
• Choose an appropriate quality for scanned images
• Images that you take from the internet should be cited properly
• Make sure graphics are relevant to your text and not just decorative
• Consider using graphics for easier understanding

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Animations and transitions:

• Make sure that any animation you use serves a clear purpose
• To introduce a new piece of information at an appropriate point
• To show progression
• Maintain consistency
• Do not overuse animations and transitions

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Preparing to present:

• Will the audience be able to see the slides from the back of the room?
• Does anyone of my audience have special requirements?
• Have I rehearsed my presentation?
• Have I checked that the necessary equipment?
• Do I have an alternative plan in case the technology fails?

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Presenting:

• Treat each slide as a mini-presentation
• Introduce the idea, give details and then conclude
• Explain how the point fits in with the rest of your presentation
• Direct your audience’s attention to the slides when they contain key information
• Give your audience time to assimilate material on your slides
• Do not move your pointer on the screen unless you are using it for demonstrations
• Do not just read out the text on the slides

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USE KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE

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6. . Im Important points that enhance presentation skil ills

• The presentation should run according to the time allotted
• Speaker notes or cue cards must be prepared beforehand
• Speaker notes must be numbered
• Points which need emphasis must be annotated in the speaker notes
• PowerPoint slides or any visual aid needed must be prepared beforehand

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• Facts/citations/references/grammar/spellings must be checked
• The contents of the presentation must be well structured
• Practise – familiarise with the content of the presentation
• Apt posture, habits and presence; wear appropriate clothing(formal/semi-formal)
• Make contact with the audience - eye contact, gestures, language
• Use your voice suitably – volume, pace and breathing pauses, pitch

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