How to make a presentation

 Advice on how to make a presentation

Start preparing early; don't wait until the last few days to prepare

• prepare it early, let it rest a little bit and come back to it
• practice your entire presentation-including your slides
• if you can practice it before a group of colleagues or friends

Think about Your Audience:

•   who are they and why are they here;
•   what are their interests;
•   what do they know; what do they want to know; what is a worthwhile investment in their time

Be clear about your purpose:

• are you informing or persuading;
• tell them what you are going to do, tell them, tell them what you told them;
• what do you want the audience to know, feel, or believe afterwards

Use an Effective Introduction:

•   orient the audience; explain why it is important; set the tone,
•   establish a relationship between the speaker and the audience; establish credibility;
•   avoid weak introductions such as apologies, jokes, rhetorical questions

Organize your presentation clearly and simply:

• Prioritize topics and allocate time accordingly
• stick to only 3-5 main points;
• have a well thought pattern (examples are problem/solution, chronological, cause and effect, topical); use transitions to move smoothly from one point to the next

Use supporting materials to flesh out main points

• Use examples, statistics, expert opinions, anecdotes

Compose for the Ear, not for the Eye:

•  use simple words, simple sentences, markers, repetition, images, personal language ("You" and "I")

Create an Effective Conclusion:

• summarize, set final image, provide closure; don't trail off, don't use trite phrases
• don't just present data or summarized results and leave the audience to draw its own conclusions
• you have had much more time to work with your information than your audience; share your insight and understanding and tell them what you've concluded from your work

Sound spontaneous, conversational, enthusiastic

• use key phrases in your notes so you don't have to read, use the overhead instead of notes;
• vary volume, don't be afraid of silence, don't use fillers like "um"...
• Practice, Practice, Practice

Use Body Language Effectively:

•   relaxed gestures, eye contact; don't play with a pen or pointer,

• don't block visual aids

Use Visual Aids to Enhance the Message:

• you will probably need to use overhead transparancies in your presentation but to be effective, they must be designed and used properly
• use visuals to reinforce and clarify, not overwhelm;
• keep visual aids uncluttered; use titles to guide the audience
• if you use tapes or disks, make sure the equipment is compatible

Analyze the Environment:

• check out size of room, placement of chairs, time of day, temperature, distractions
• check out AV equipment ahead of time; have a spare bulb

Cope with Stage Fright by Remembering: it's normal; it can be helpful, everyone feels it.  

Engleberg (1994) proposes a 7 P approach to the principles of public speaking. 

 You might find these helpful.

Purpose:- Why are you speaking? What do you want audience members to know, think, believe, or do as a result of your presentation
People : Who is your audience? How do the characteristics, skills, opinions, and behaviors of your audience affect your purpose
Place: Why are you speaking to this group now and in this place? How can you plan and adapt to the logistics of this place. How can you use visual aids to help you achieve your purpose
Preparation: Where and how can you find good ideas and information for your speech? How much and what kind of supporting materials do you need.
Planning: Is there a natural order to the ideas and information you will use? What are the most effective ways to organize your speech in order to adapt it to the purpose, people, place, etc.
Personality: How do you become associated with your message in a positive way? What can you do to demonstrate your competence, charisma, and character to the audience?
Performance: What form of delivery is best suited to the purpose of your speech. What delivery techniques will make your presentation more effective. How should you practice?