Communication Skills for Academics Giving Oral Presentations

Giving Oral Presentations ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Formulate a strategy Choose an appropriate structure Create visual aids to enhance your presentation Strive for effective and natural delivery Handle Q & A effectively Giving Oral Presentations ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Formulate a strategy Choose an appropriate structure Create visual aids to enhance your presentation Strive for effective and natural delivery Handle Q & A effectively Analyzing the Situation Context Credibility Audience Purpose Deciding on a Communication Strategy ■ Content – How much literature to review? – How much detail on methods? – How much detail on findings? ■ Style – Level of technical language? – Appeal to general audience? ■ Structure Giving Oral Presentations ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Formulate a strategy Choose an appropriate structure Create visual aids to enhance your presentation Strive for effective and natural delivery Handle Q & A effectively Deciding on a Structure: Cognitive Processing Constraints most Typical extent of audience recall least beginning Position in talk or document end Two Approaches to Structure Direct Indirect (easier to follow) (often conventional) Informative Main result, followed by evidence Persuasive Overall argument backed by evidence Evidence, leading to result Evidence leading to Overall argument Deciding on a Structure: Balancing Audience’s Cognitive Processing and Expectations Cognitive processing • Audience memory • Cognitive framework for understanding Expectations • Field norms • Audience bias and interest • Your credibility with audience Planning Segments of Presentation ■ Introduction – – – Arouse interest and show relevance to audience – – – Limit to 5 major sections or points – – – Make or recap main point(s) Establish rapport and credibility State main message (if direct) & preview agenda ■ Body Adjust detail to audience background and needs Clarify progress through agenda ■ Conclusion Note limitations Look to future research Giving Oral Presentations ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Formulate a strategy Choose an appropriate structure Create visual aids to enhance your presentation Strive for effective and natural delivery Handle Q & A effectively Creating Visual Aids: Functions ■ ■ ■ ■ Clarify structure Emphasize important ideas Illustrate relationships or objects visually Enhance and maintain interest Choose Appropriate Medium for Visual Aids ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Flip charts Overhead transparencies Computer projection Slides Posters Overhead Transparencies ■ Advantages – Easy and inexpensive (in black & white) to make – Flexible: order may be changed and slides written on or omitted – Low tech and relatively dependable – Visible with room lights up ■ Disadvantages – Potentially obstructive: projector can interfere – Less modern in image – Can’t use build function Computer Projection ■ Advantages – Easy to make and inexpensive for presenter – Changeable up to last minute – Colorful and dynamic ■ Disadvantages – Room lights must usually be lowered – Image may be dim or too high – Less dependable (have back-up) – Exhaust fan may be loud Effectively Designed Visual Aids... ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are uncluttered and readable Maintain consistent template Are appropriately titled Limit use of color Avoid distortion by special effects Using Visual Aids ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Check equipment and room in advance Have alternatives in case of equipment failure Avoid blocking audience’s view Interact with visuals effectively Look at your audience, not the screen Remember... You are the presentation--the visuals are not. Giving Oral Presentations ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Formulate a strategy Choose an appropriate structure Create visual aids to enhance your presentation Strive for effective and natural delivery Handle Q & A effectively Delivering Your Presentation ■ Verbal: Sound natural & conversational – Tone, pitch, pace – Fluency ■ Nonverbal: Project confidence & enthusiasm – Confidence – Movement, use of space – Gestures – Eye contact and facial expression Giving Oral Presentations ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Formulate a strategy Choose an appropriate structure Create visual aids to enhance your presentation Strive for effective and natural delivery Handle Q & A effectively Answering Questions ■ Plan for questions & practice answers ■ Answer effectively – Listen carefully to whole question – Buy time to think – Be honest about what you don’t know – Avoid dialogues with one person – Handle inappropriate questions quickly and tactfully ■ End Q & A by restating your point Conclusion: Points to Remember ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Formulate a strategy Choose an appropriate structure Create visual aids to enhance your presentation Strive for effective and natural delivery Handle Q & A effectively