Unit 11: Oral Communication
Gathering, selecting and structuring
|
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. |
|
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.
|
|
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
|

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.