FACULTATEA DE AUTOMATICĂ Ș I CALCULATOARE

SEMESTRUL II – SEMINAR 11

ABOUT ORAL PRESENTATION

Motto

Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much

John Wayne Hollywood film star

LEAD IN
Before talking about a how we can make a good oral presentation we have to know when are we
going to use this knowledge and why do we have to learn to deliver an oral presentation.

WHY?
Because in our academic and professional life we have to deliver many oral presentations,
concerning different aspects like:

 a project (or just a stage of a project)

 a product imagine by ourselves or our team
 a report concerning our activity
 the final project

When?
 At an academic conference
 As part of an exam
 At the end of our academic studies
 At work in front of our peers and of our supervisors/mentors/managers
 For a project evaluation

Task - Think of a successful presentation you attended or you delivered yourself. What made it so
successful?

I think my presentation was successful regards to my attitude, a good eye-contact, and I used
humour.

Complete the following list of elements that make a good presentation using words in the box

a. A well structured preparation

b. Thorough subject knowledge
c. A smart and professional appearance
d. A good sense of humour talk
 e. Good eye contact
f. An enthusiastic appearance
g. A strong preparation
h. A creative use of visuals
i. Expressive body language
j. Careful attitude

humourtalk contact appearance knowledge

preparation language attitude voice visuals

What makes a good presentation

1. A good/interesting subject that should:
a. Meet audience expectations
b. Have clear objectives
c. Create interest and promote involvement
2. A good structure:
a. Organized information
b. Ensure the introduction and ending have maximum impact
c. Link the different sections together
d. Communicate using the allotted time
3. A balance between text and images
a. Use visual aids effectively; create impact
b. Handle aids and equipment professionally
c. Do not use too much images, or to attractive; use a proper size.
d. Use images to underline your message
4. Emphasis and highlight main aspects – underlines the message and strengths the impact.
5. Pay attention to the body language
a. Have a relax attitude, try to be positive and confident
b. Keep eye contact to engage your audience
c. Focus meaning by movement and gesture
d. Avoid too much gesture
6. Pay attention to the way in which you deliver your message
a. Use your voice (volume, rhythm and pause)
b. Use proper language ( complex versus simple; formal versus informal)
c. Take into consideration the place in which you deliver your message
7. Prepare thoroughly
a. Read a lot about the subject and take notes
b. Write a draft and check your time
c. Practice before the real presentation

One of the first rules concerning oral presentation refers to the beginning of the presentation. A
good start keep the public with you.
 Practice the introduction until is perfect. You need to convince your
audience to stay with you in the first sixty seconds

A classical introduction checklist:

 Greeting – pay a attention to your audience when you decide how formal/informal you
should be (choose between Good morning/afternoon/evening ladies and gentlemen and Hi
Everyone
 Introduce yourself – name and positon
 Introduce the subject – title of the presentation
 Present the main objectives of the presentation- - Today I would like to speak about…..
 Main parts/ points – The presentation is divided in parts. Clearly present the parts.
Signalling will clarify the structure of your talk and helps the audience to fallow your ideas. It
also helps you to organise your own thoughts.
 Visual aids – clearly mention what kind of visuals you are going to use (flipchart; white
board; power point or other computer programs etc.)
 Time – Generally, presentations are designed for 15/30 min. or 1h. Mention how long your
presentation will be.
 Questions – people take question s in different moments of presentations (after each part,
at the end, when the public needs a clarification). Mention when you would like to take
questions
 Refer to your audience – say how grateful you are to meet them, thank them for coming say
something nice about the place the presentation is located.
 Link to the first section

REMEMBER!

Introduction gives information about you and the institution you represent, location
Sets the rules of communication – timing, when you want to be interrupted by questions.
It does not give details about the subject of the presentation.
Set the proper atmosphere for the presentation.

TASK – Continue the sentences below

1. Let me just start by introducing myself
2. I am in charge of informing you on this subject
3. Today I would like to speak about pollution
4. The aim today is to give some real facts that will open your eyes
5. Today I intend to split my talk into this painful subject
6. Today I am not going to use the traditional power point. I will be using some photos
7. This presentation will take about 30 minutes.
8. I know that you all have travelled a long way, therefore I'll try not to tire you
9. Please interrupt me as we go along if you have some questions
 10. Let begin by looking at these photos.
11. I’d like to emphasise that it will disturb your emotional mood.
12. I think that this cover everything concerning pollution

There are some golden rules when you deliver a presentation. In the text below, they are mixed. Put
them in table on the right column.

Establish a clear objective; make an assumption about the venue and facilities; present very complex
or detailed information; use visual with impact; read the slides; read from a script text; be confident
and relaxed; balance spontaneity against preparation; have a strong opening and well-structured
ending; talk with your back to the audience; use distractive visuals; take into consideration the
cultural environment; summarise at the end; speak with proper volume and intonation; use small
images as visual aids; handle questions positively.

DO DON’T
Establish a clear objective make an assumption about the venue and
facilities

use visual with impact present very complex or detailed information

be confident and relaxed read the slides
have a strong opening and well-structured read from a script text
ending balance spontaneity against preparation
use distractive visuals talk with your back to the audience
take into consideration the cultural summarise at the end
environment
speak with proper volume and intonation
use small images as visual aids
handle questions positively

Engaging your audience

Nowadays a good presentation should be interactive, that means that the speaker has to involve the
audience.
There are certain ways you can do that. Here are some of them:
 Address questions to the audience
 Offer clarification – Is that clear? ; Are there any questions on that?
 Build a friendly rapport with the audience. Use WE instead of I
 Rhetorical questions: How will this affect you/your company; Is there anything we can do to
improve this?
 Interesting examples – For instance; As an example
 Diplomacy (softening) – I tend to think that…../ It may be a little/bit difficult

Body language
Checklist

1. Match your appearance to the audience – dress for your audience

2. Maintain eye contact
 3. Use positive facial expression – smile, look relax
4. Use gestures to create impact
5. Establish a confident posture and stance

Closing the presentation

 Signal the end
 Summarise
 Conclude
 Final recommendation
 Support
 Closing
 Inviting questions

TASK – Here are some parts belonging to the closing part of a presentation. Put them into the table
below under the right headings.

That brings me to the end of my presentation; I’d be glad to answer to any questions; In brief; I’ll give
you my e-mail in case you are interested in more details; Right, That covers everything I wanted to
say about....; If I can briefly summarise .....; Thank you for your attention; I would therefore
recommend; In conclusion; I hope that this has been useful; Are there any questions?; Before I finish
let me just go over; I’d like to finish by saying ....;

Signal the end Summarise Conclude Final Support Closing Inviting

recommendation questions
That brings If I can In Thank you for Right, That I’ll give you I’d be glad
me to the briefly conclusion your covers my e-mail to answer
end of my summarise attention; I everything in case you to any
presentatio .....; would I wanted are questions
n therefore to say interested
recommend about.... in more
details
Before I In brief I hope Are there
finish let me that this any
just go over has been questions?
useful ;
I’d like to
finish by
saying ....;

Cross cultural aspects

In different environment, due to different cultural aspects, audience have very different
expectations. There are enormous differences that can be made to a text by changing a number of
variables such as gender, bias, stylistic features or narrative techniques. Here are some of the most
common ones>

1. Involvement factor – some audiences simply want to listen, not to get involved
- Silence – communicates agreement or hostility
 - Some audiences like to interrupt the speaker in order to take part to the
presentation
2. Body language factor – dress code ( it is different in different business environment)
- Different audience, different attitude. Some prefer dynamic presenters,
when other like a formal attitude, are served style to over enthusiastic
presenters.
- Eye contact – is generally recommended, but in some cultures, people
feel uncomfortable.
3. Delivery factor – some prefer spontaneity over precision
- Punctuality is necessary in many companies, but Indian or Turks are not
so rigid.
- All need a proper speed and volume of voice.
4. Visual Aids – in certain environments some imagines should be avoided

TASK

You attended a presentation and now you talk about it with your friend. Complete the sentences:

1. What you need most of all is a good subject.

2. Another important thing is visual aids.
3. I think dress-code is pretty important too.
4. Delivery factor can make a real difference
5. It helps if you have a special audience but is not essential
6. You don’t need visual aids as long as your subject does not require.

Survival strategies
All textbooks advice you to seriously prepare your presentation. Never the less some negative
aspects may occur. What you can do?

Problems Survival Strategy (language)

The audience does not understand what you are
saying
You forgot to say something important at point 1
and now you are at another part of the presentation
You are lost because there were a lot of
interruptions or digressions
Someting goes wrong. You can not acces an
aditional document, movie, chart.
You run out of time
Let’s go over again
In other words.......
Le;s take an example
Perhaps I should mention...
In connection with...do you remember that at point
1....
Sorry, were wasI/we....
Let;s go back to slide 3......
Can we go back and focus on .......
Please, just bear with me a second
Sorry, I ma not familiar with this program.
So, the main point is....
I would like to give you more details, but
unfortunately, we run out of time

1. Talk about what your audience expect you to talk about

2. Keep it simple
3. Use your voice for effect
Golden 4. In a long presentation use summaries to link parts
Rules
 5. Handle equipment professionally
6. Do not talk for too long
7. Do not Use to many visuals
8. Do not Use distractive visuals
9. Do not use inappropriate joke and stories
10. Read all the time

HOMEWORK no homework this time. Use this lesson for future presentations