Designing Oral Reports: Components of effective presentations

Presented by: Julia M. Williams Coordinator of Technical Communication and Assistant Professor of English

Designing Oral Reports: Oral Reports and Professional Contexts Preparing for your Audience Structuring Technical Information: Text and Visuals Presentation Skills You Need: Space, Voice, and Body

Oral Reports and Professional Contexts Presentations in the Classroom and the Workplace

Oral Reports and Professional Contexts Conveying information quickly and efficiently Variety of situations: team meetings, reports to superiors, presentations to clients Demanded more often than written reports

Preparing for your Audience Presentations for listeners

Know Your Audience Determine their technical level: expert, professional non-expert, student, technician, general Evaluate their previous experience with the topic Gauge their attitudes toward the topic Identify the information they need

Structuring Technical Information Text and Visuals

Structuring Technical Information Emphasize the primary topic structure of your research Preview and review Use transition words and phrases Supply a context for clear visuals

Emphasize primary topic structure Written report components: problem statement, background, technical description, process explanation, case study Oral report components: same topics in reduced form Overall strategy rather than specific points

Structuring Technical Information Emphasize the primary topic structure of your research Preview and review

Designing Oral Reports Oral Reports and Professional Contexts Preparing for your Audience Structuring Technical Information: Text and Visuals Presentation Skills You Need: Space, Voice, and Body

Structuring Technical Information Emphasize primary topic structure of your research Preview and review Use transition words and phrases

Transition words and phrases

Structuring Technical Information Emphasize primary topic structure of your research Preview and review Use transition words and phrases to link ideas Supply a context for clear visuals

Context for Clear Visuals Using PowerPoint Overloading slides Labeling charts and graphs Timing

The Presentation Skills You Need: Space, Voice, and Body

Presentation Skills: Space Arrange the room to suit your presentation needs Check equipment and ensure it is operational; backup plan Practice with the equipment in presentation conditions Allow adequate room so you can remain in contact with the audience

Presentation Skills: Voice Speak loud enough to be heard, but don’t shout Try to be conversational, rather than trying to deliver a “canned” speech Vary voice tone and pitch; avoid a monotone Let your voice reflect your enthusiasm for the topic

Presentation Skills: Body Use hand gestures effectively Avoid using gestures just because you are nervous Approach the audience to emphasize a point or idea Avoid shifting or shuffling

Designing Oral Reports Components of effective presentations

Preview and Review

Designing Oral Reports: Oral Reports and Professional Contexts Preparing for your Audience Structuring Technical Information: Text and Visuals Presentation Skills You Need: Space, Voice, and Body