Signposting

VI. Summing up a point

Indicating the end of a section
 So this is all I have to say about …
 This brings me to the end of my first point.
 So much for point one.
 This is all you need to know about …

Summarizing a point
 Let me briefly summarize the major issues.
 The important things to remember here are …
 In a nutshell, …
 To make a long story short, …
 Let’s wrap up the most important issues at stake here.

 Task
PUT THE SENTENCES TAKEN FROM A SUMMARY OF A POINT IN THE MAIN PART IN THE MOST LIKELY CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
AND LABEL THE ENDING OF EACH OF THE THREE STAGES OF THIS SUMMARY:

STAGES:

1. INDICATING END OF SECTION

2. SUMMARY OF POINT

3. TRANSITION TO NEXT POINT

A: This leads me directly to my next point – a report of our latest project – in which you see
communication mechanisms at work in an authentic case.

B: Over the past decade the matrix structure has proven to be the ideal basic organizational form
to guarantee the fast set-up of new communication patterns within existing teams

C: The important issue is that our company believes in a very simple matrix pattern to make
internal processes run as efficiently and smoothly as possible.

D: Given the nature of our highly specialized, in most cases tailor-made, appliances, the flexibility
to reorganize teams on demand is crucial.

E: This is all I have to say about my second point, our organizational structure.
Key: 1E, 2C, 3D, 4B, 5A

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VII. Opening and closing a section
Beginning a new section/adding more points
 First of all …
 Firstly/Secondly/Thirdly …
 Finally …
 In addition …
 Another point to consider is …
 I’d like to move onto …
 That’s all I have to say about that, now I’d like to move onto …
 Now I’d like to look at …
 Moving on to the next part, I’d like to …

Closing a section
 This leads me to my next point …
 So, that concludes …
 So, that’s an overview of …
 I think that just about covers …
 I’ve talked about …

VIII. Signposting
In a good presentation, what you say – the content – is much more important than
anything else. But a clear structure helps. When you move on to your next point or
change direction, tell the audience.

You can do this easily and effectively, using simple phrases as ‘signposts’ to guide the
audience through your presentation:

To move on To go back To summarize

To expand on To recap To turn to
To digress To conclude To elaborate on

 Task 1
CHOOSE ONE OF THE 'SIGNPOST' EXPRESSIONS FROM THE BOX ABOVE FOR THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS:

1. When you want to make your next point. To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. When you want to change direction. To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. When you want to refer to an earlier point. To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4. When you want to repeat the main points. To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. When you want to give a wider perspective. To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6. When you want to do a deeper analysis. To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7. When you just want to give the basics. To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Basic Public Speaking 2023

8. When you want to depart from your plan. To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9. When you want to finish your talk. To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 Task 2
ONCE YOU KNOW THE NINE BASIC SIGNPOSTS, YOU CAN BUILD THEM INTO THE POINTS YOU MAKE TO GIVE DIRECTION AND
COHERENCE TO YOUR PRESENTATION. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SIGNPOST PHRASES AND SENTENCES USING THE NOTES.

1. Moving on / question / the US market,

Moving on to the question of the US market,

2. Expand / the figures / last year,

......................................................................

3. I'd like / recap / the main points.

......................................................................

4. Let's go back / question / clinical research methods.

......................................................................

5. Digress / a moment, let's consider / alternatives.

......................................................................

6. Going back / a moment / the situation last year,

......................................................................

7. Let's turn now / our targets / the next five years.

......................................................................

8. I'd like / turn now / our projections / year 2005.

......................................................................

9. Go back / the main reason / our collaboration / the Germans,

......................................................................

10. I'd like / expand / that / little, before we move on.

......................................................................

11. Let's go back / a moment / what we were discussing earlier.

......................................................................

12. Let me expand / some / the main points / our proposal.

......................................................................

13. Elaborate / that / little / those of you / aren't familiar / Russian business practices,

......................................................................

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14. If I could just move on / some / the problems we face / Central / Latin America,

......................................................................

15. I'd like / conclude / I may / repeating what I said / the beginning / this presentation.

......................................................................

PRESENT THE SIGNPOST SENTENCES ABOVE UNTIL YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING THEM.

Neat, short signposts are more effective than long explanations of the structure of your
presentation. Remember, the simplest way to signpost the end of one stage of your
presentation and the beginning of the next is to say:

Ok. So, …

IX. Survival tactics

Giving a presentation in a foreign language is a challenge. Concentrate too hard on the
facts and you make language mistakes. Concentrate too hard on your English and you
get your facts wrong.

 Task 1
IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS DURING YOUR PRESENTATION, DON'T PANIC. PAUSE. SORT OUT THE PROBLEM AND CONTINUE.
HERE ARE THE EIGHT MOST COMMON PROBLEMS PEOPLE FACE. MATCH WHAT YOU THINK WITH WHAT YOU SAY:

WHAT YOU THINK WHAT YOU SAY

1. I've got my facts wrong! a. So, let's just recap on that.
2. Too fast! Go back. b. So, basically, what I'm saying is this . . .
3. I've forgotten to say something! c. Sorry, what I meant is this . . .
4. Too complicated! Make it simple. d. Sorry, I should just mention one thing.

5. I'm talking nonsense. e. So, just to give you the main points here . . .
6. How do you say this in English? f. Sorry, let me rephrase that.
7. Wrong! Try again. g. Sorry, what's the word I expression?
8. I'm running out of time! h. Sorry, perhaps I didn't make that quite clear.

REPEAT THE PHRASES UNTIL YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING THEM.

KEY: 1c, 2a, 3d, 4b, 5h, 6g, 7f, 8e

⌂ Task 2
KNOWING HOW TO GET OUT OF DIFFICULTY IN A PRESENTATION IS ESSENTIAL. IF YOU LEARN THESE EXPRESSIONS BY HEART,
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT AUTOMATICALLY AND, THEREFORE, CONFIDENTLY.

Basic Public Speaking 2023

READ THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS AND USE THE CORRECT SURVIVAL PHRASE.

1. Facts wrong! > Sorry, what , . . . meant . . . . this.

2. Too fast! > So, let's . . . . recap . . . . that.

3. Forgotten something! > Sorry, . . . . should . . . . mention . . . . thing.

4. Too complicated! > So, basically, . . . . saying . . . . this.

5. Talking nonsense! > Sorry, perhaps . . . . didn't make . . . . clear.

6. Don't know the English! > Sorry, . . . . word . . . . looking for?

7. Sounds wrong! > Sorry, let . . . . rephrase . . . . .

8. No time! > So, just . . . . give . . . . main . . . . here.

REPEAT THIS ACTIVITY SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL YOU CAN DO IT AUTOMATICALLY.

⌂ Presentation
WORK ON YOUR PRESENTATION. PUT TOGETHER YOUR INTRODUCTION, STATING THE PURPOSE, OPENING, AND THE MAIN
POINTS. TRY TO ADD YOUR CLOSING. (BUT DON’T WORRY ABOUT CLOSING TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT
NEXT TIME ).

CHOOSE THE TOPIC OF YOUR OWN OR SELECT ONE TOPIC BELOW:

1. SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT ADD ECONOMICS LESSONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL?

2. THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL NETWORKS ON MENTAL HEALTH
3. TRADITIONAL MEDICINE VERSUS ALTERNATIVE

BE READY TO PRESENT IT DURING OUR NEXT CLASS.

FOLLOW THE BASIC OUTLINE BELOW:

1. Introduction – Introduce yourself and your topic, inform the audience about time for questions

2. Overview – Give a general purpose of your presentation

3. Points – Give your points in logical sequence, giving explanations and exceptions

5. Summary

6. Closing

7. Questions

Basic Public Speaking 2023