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Unit 11: Oral Communication

Gathering, selecting and structuring

Number one (cartoon)

Gathering…

There are many sources of information available to you. Make sure you assess the authority (who wrote it?), currency (how up-to-date is it?) and accuracy of a source before you rely on it to support a point in your presentation.

Number two (cartoon)

 

 

 

Selecting…

Often when you are asked to give a talk you will need to distil a large amount of information into a short time period. You need to be ruthless in the way that you priotise information. Too much information can confuse an audience.

  • What is centrally relevant?
  • What can be left out?
  • What is supporting information?
  • Will handouts help?
  • Skip (or reduce) the maths.
Number three (cartoon)

 

Structuring…

A clear structure to your presentation will not only provide with you a clear path to follow, but also help your audience.

  • What are your main points?
  • In what order do they need to be discussed?
  • What secondary information should come under each of your headings?

Either side of your main argument, remember to write:

  • An introduction. This should:
  • welcome your audience
  • introduce yourself (and colleagues if it's a group presentation).
  • start with an outline of your presentation – explain the aims and objectives and the order in which you will present key ideas. This will lay a map down in the minds of the audience.
  • speak to your intended audience at their level. Avoid unnecessary jargon and material you know will be obvious or trivial to them.
  • A conclusion:
  • plan a summary… ‘I / we have discussed the following... in conclusion...', This is where you can leave a good impression, and perhaps introduce a final point or question to linger in the minds of your audience.
  • summarise key points you want your audience to remember.
  • invite questions. Remember that "I'm sorry, I don't know" is a perfectly acceptable answer.

Group presentations

  • Plan together.
  • All team members must contribute.
  • Agree responsibilities and deadlines.
  • Rehearse.
  • First person should briefly introduce each member and their subject.
  • Look interested when a group member is speaking.
  • Practise the change-over.
  • Help one another out

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SMILE by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Marion Kelt Glasgow Caledonian University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.