Welcome to SMIRK Unit
9 - Presentations


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Getting started

Most of us have to make a presentation at some point in our lives. These pages will help you to deliver one with confidence. You will learn what should be considered before, during and after a talk. Remember that the success of a good presentation lies in the preparation. Before you start anything, take the time to consider:

Top tip - Don't forget that everyone in your class feels the same as you do.

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Gathering, selecting and
structuring material

Number one (cartoon)Gathering…
There are many sources of information available. 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. Be ruthless. Too much information can confuse an audience.

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.

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Sections of your
presentation

Either side of your main argument, remember to write:

An introduction. This should:

A conclusion:

Group presentations

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Managing your props

Notepad imageNotes
You'll need to think about how you are going to deliver your presentation. Some people memorise the whole talk, others read from notes. A middle ground is probably the best way. Familiarise yourself with your material to the point that you will only need headings to guide you. This saves you from forgetting what you memorised, or losing your place long notes. You can use cards or notes to prompt yourself but write in big letters and leave lots of space between points. Write at the bottom of card or note 'Turn to new slide'.

Stick man pointing to visual aidVisual aids
These are helpful both to you as the speaker, and to your audience. They can help illustrate your points and avert the audience's gaze which helps if you're nervous. They also help to retain the audience's interest, giving them another way to understand your points. No matter the form of visual aid, ensure they are visible and legible, here are some hints:

Man giving out handoutsHandouts
Providing handouts is another good way of reinforcing your message and providing supplementary material that there may not be time to present.

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Managing nerves

Cartoon of nervous personNervousness is probably the biggest problem that most inexperienced speakers face. Actually, it's good to feel a bit nervous, as this provides the adrenalin rush we need to give a good performance. However, excessive nerves can have the opposite effect and no-one enjoys the physical or emotional symptoms of fear. So how can nerves be managed?

"If you are over-nervous, it does not mean you cannot be a successful speaker, it merely means you have more work to do." Turk, Christopher. (1985) Effective Speaking: communicating in speech. London : Spon. p.112

Activity: Think of some ways that you could lessen your fears about making presentations. What techniques could you use to help yourself relax more? Make a note of them.

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Your audience and time

When the day finally arrives and your turn has come, don't be in a rush to start and get it over and done with. Take your time to set out your stall. Ensure your notes are in order, your visual aids in place and that the environment is as you want it. This will give you confidence during the presentation. Give some thought to:

Audience watching a presentationYour audience
Remember that the audience are a group of real people who are on your side (not the enemy). They have a genuine interest in what you have to say. This goes a long way to helping you communicate with them effectively. It also helps calm nerves. 

“If I were asked which was the main advice I would give a novice speaker, I would choose these three:
- Trust and like the audience, do not fear and confront them;
- Look at them;
- Smile.
The second and third of these are, of course, the ways in which the first is expressed.”

Stopwatch in person's handThe time
It is important that you keep to time - especially in an academic setting where marks may be deducted if you talk for longer than allocated. Before you start, make a note of your "stop time", keep an eye on the clock and if you run out of time, stop. Audiences welcome talks that finish on time – or a bit before. Remember - when rehearsing you tend to talk faster.

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Reference: Turk, Christopher. (1985) Effective Speaking: communicating in speech. London : Spon. p.39

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Your voice and your
body

Woman speaking Your voice
Research shows that the words we use count for only 7% of the message we communicate. The remaining 93% comes from the tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures and so on. When thinking about our voices we need to ensure they are:

Man giving presentation whilst facing audience Your body
Non-verbal communication speaks as much as our words and voices. When speaking remember:

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After the presentation

puzzled guyAfter your presentation
Once the talk is over, the audience may still have some questions. When handling questions remember to:

Ask yourself:

Good luck!

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