1. Technical Communication: Oral Presentations
Prof. Q

2. What we will look at today:
Things to consider
Audience and Purpose
Types of presentations
Key elements
Structure
Style
Visuals

3. Things to Consider
Who is the audience? How can you make your presentation interesting to a specific audience?
What kind of research do you need? How deep should the research be?
What is the primary purpose of the presentation? Is it informative, instructive, or persuasive? If it’s persuasive, what kind of claim are you making? (Action, Stance, Purchase)
Is the purpose clear?
Do you catch the audience’s attention?
Are your transitions clear?
Is the conclusion clear?

4. Audience and Purpose Who will be attending your presentation?
What are their roles?
What are their attitudes towards your topic?
What information does your audience need?
What information does your audience have?
What is your purpose?

5. Types of Presentations

6. Informative When they work: Be impartial
Conferences
Product Update Meetings
Briefings
Class Lectures
Be impartial
Keep the title clear and factual
Be clear about your sources

7. Training When it works: Use a title that includes training purposes
On the job training
How-to’s
Use a title that includes training purposes
Provide an overview of learning outcomes
Create reference materials

8. Persuasive Where they work:
Conferences
Political events
Policy planning
Be clear and state that you are promoting a point of view
Use research and visual data
Consider and address counter arguments

9. Action Plan Where they work: Be clear about your purpose
Rallies
Corporate / staff meetings
Be clear about your purpose
Present research to back up your idea
Show that you have considered other plans
Conclude with a re-statement of the action plan

10. Sales Let the facts tell the story Use examples
Know your product and the competition
Display interest in needs of customers
Provide plenty of time for questions

11. Developing Your Style: Key Elements
Be impartial
Keep the title clear and factual
Be clear about your sources
Use a title that includes training purposes
Provide an overview of learning outcomes
Create reference materials
Be clear and state that you are promoting a point of view
Use research and visual data
Consider and address counter arguments
Be clear about your purpose
Present research to back up your idea
Show that you have considered other plans
Conclude with a re-statement of the action plan
Let the facts tell the story
Use examples
Know your product and the competition
Display interest in needs of customers
Provide plenty of time for questions

12. Presentation Structure
Introduction
Capture the audience
Establish credibility
Preview your presentation
Body
Structure into small sections
Use transitions
Conclusion
Remind audience of the big picture
Re-state purpose

13. Delivery Styles

14. Using Visuals Power Point Apple Keynote Open Office Corel Office Prezi
Google Docs

15. Template for Visuals Cover Page: Title and Presenter’s Name Overview
Slides correspond to overview points
Visuals are non-intrusive
Graphs are clear
Key points highlighted
Information is sourced

16. Tips for Visuals Have a back up plan for cases when technology fails
Find a balance between text and visuals
Avoid too many slides
Avoid too much flash
Do more than read off the slides
Have a conclusion or questions slide

17. Additional Reading Researching and Connecting to the Topic – P. 413
Creating an Outline – P. 414

18. Questions

19. In Class Team Application, P. 425 Create groups of 3 – 4 people
Discuss a broad topic you would like to address and work on
Discuss how, as a team, you would approach research, planning, and presentation
Assign positions
Present your corporation to the group