Making Better Presentations in English

by Andrew D. Miles

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

1. SIGNAL THE START

Start your speech with a phrase that catches the publics attention.

Right ladies and gentlemen Shall we begin? Fine everybody. Lets get started OK Guys. Are you all ready?
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

2. INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Mention your name, position and where you come from.

Id like to introduce myself. I am Steve Platt, Chief of Maintenance for Motorway Inc. I am Dr. Jack Smith from Barcelona. I work as a research assistant in our R&D facility. My name is John Styles. I run Riversofts European operations.
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

3. OR SOMEONE ELSE
Always ask people how they would like to be introduced.

Id like you to meet Dr Grant. Shes the Head Surgeon at Houston Memorial Hospital. Let me introduce John Oats. He comes from the Helsinki branch and will be joining our sales team. This is Arthur Spleen, from Marketing.

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

4. EXPRESS PURPOSE
Start by saying why youre here.

Im here today to What Id like to do is My objective is to My aim now is to

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

5. LIST TOPICS
Make a list of the points youll talk about.

Firstly To start Secondly Initially Primarily

Then Next Last but not least Finally To end

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

6. INTRODUCE TOPIC ONE

Open every topic with an introduction.

Id like to review I want to go over We are going to analyse I plan to examine

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

7. LINK EFFECT TO CAUSE

Use these expressions if you want to highlight the effect over the cause.
The loss was due to negligence. The loss was caused bynegligence. The loss resulted from negligence.

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

8. LINK CAUSE TO EFFECT

Use these expressions if you want to highlight the cause over the effect.
Mismanagement led to losses. Mismanagement resulted in losses. Mismanagement caused losses.

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

9. EXPLAIN GRAPHS
Use these expressions to describe graphic aids.

Id like you to see this graph. It shows Please observe this matrix. Youll see that Have a look at this model. Whats wrong with it? Let me show you a chart that summarises

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

10. DESCRIBE TRENDS

Use these expressions to talk about

Increase Accumulate Boost Escalate Hike Raise Rise Shoot up Swell

Decline Diminish Dip Drop Plunge Shrink Sink Slip Descend

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

11. EXPRESS PROBABILITY

Use these expressions to express certainty.

Surety: sure, definite, doubtless, inevitable, without question, unmistakable, certain. Likelihood: Probable probable, likely, seeming, expected. Possibility: possible, conceivable, feasible. Doubt: doubtful, improbable, unlikely, questionable, remote, dubious, unsure. Impossibility: impossible, unfeasible, unrealisable, unattainable, not viable.
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

12. COMPARE IDEAS

Use these expressions to describe contrast.

But However Nevertheless Nonetheless Although Though Despite

Despite On the other hand Even though On the contrary By contrast Conversely Even if

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

13. REINFORCE IDEAS

Use these expressions to emphasize ideas.

Furthermore in addition as well as Besides Too Moreover Additionally likewise

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

14. EXPRESS OPINION

Use these expressions to give your opinion.

My opinion is I would say In my view It seems to me that From my angle I see it as

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

15. RECOMMEND / REJECT

Give support Hold back support

I urge you to approve We are for the idea We back your point We support the plan I would go ahead Ill stand by you.

Id deny support I would eliminate We should reject We must rule out We ought to discard Lets refuse

Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

16. FINISH THE SPEECH

Use these expressions to close your presentation.

Move to action: Nows the time to / Wed better move. Refer back to: Going back to our figures / As I said before Summarise: To sum up / To recapitulate
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

17. CLOSE THE SPEECH

Use these expressions to wrap up your speech

Asking for questions Have you got any query? / Would you like to ask? Thanking Thank you for / Its been a pleasure to Introduce the next speaker Now, Ill leave you with / Id like to introduce Say goodbye Goodbye / Good afternoon, everyone
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles