HOW TO PREPARE FOR

AN EFFECTIVE
PRESENTATION?
Prof. Ramzi Taha
Department of Civil And Architectural Engineering

April 20, 2016

WHAT MATERIALS DO I NEED?
 Outline
 Note Cards
 Handouts
 Visuals
- Slides
- Videos
- Posters
- Models
- Other
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

 Sections
 Information
 Time Allowed
MAJOR ELEMENTS

 Problem Statement
 Objectives
 Literature Review
 Experimental Program
 Data (Tables, Figures, & Charts)
 Conclusions
 Recommendations
HOW CAN I MAKE IT
INTERESTING? INTERESTING?

 Audience Characteristics and Knowledge

 Important Information
 Available Illustrations, Examples, Visuals
 Strategy and Arrangement
HOW DO I PRESENT THE
INFORMATION?

 Organize
 Practice
 Look
 Move
 Speak
DO
 Use 24 Point (All Capitals)
 Use 32 Point (Capitals and Lowercase)
 Improve Visibility (Helvetica, Arial, or Universal)
 Round Off Numbers
 Substitute Symbols for Words
DO (CONT..)

 Abbreviate Where Possible

 Delete Footnotes
 Omit Sources
 Omit Lines That Detract
 Avoid Using Text Visuals as Cue Cards
 Check Your Spelling
 Number the Slides
 DO (CONT..)
 Use Color with Purpose, Not as Decoration
 Use Contrasting Colors
 Err on the Side of More Slides with Less on Each
Slide
DO (CONT..)

 Practice
 Practice
 Practice
ABOUT YOUR DELIVERY

 Talk to Your Audience; Don’t Read Them a Paper

 Use Eye Contact
 Move Your Eyes Around the Room
 Speak Clearly and Avoid a Monotone
ABOUT YOUR DELIVERY (CONT..)

 Show Confidence, Conviction, and Enthusiasm

 Have Variety of Tone, Speed, Volume
 Make Sure That All Your Audience See Your
Visual Aids
 Don’t Exceed Your Allotted Speaking Time
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO:

 Plan First
 Limit Words
 Arrange Things
 Use Graphics
 Present Ideas
 Use Imagination (Be Creative)
PLAN FIRST

 Simple
 Clear
 Points to Remember
 Reinforce Ideas
 Words, Pictures, Symbols (Not Text
Passages)
LIMIT WORDS

 Maximum 4 Lines
 6-8 Words Per Line
ARRANGE THINGS

 Use Titles and Subject Headings

 Be Consistent
- Size
- Location
- Style
 Better Landscape Than Portrait
USE GRAPHICS

 Tell A Story With Pictures Or Drawings

 Don’t Use Too Much Color
 Use Circles, Boxes, Lines To
Emphasize (Not Underline)
PRESENT IDEAS
 State Concluding Facts (Not Paragraphs)
 Group Parts of a Process
 Use Symbols
 - Words Not Sentences
 - Charts Instead of Tables
 - General Ideas Not Details
THANK YOU

Any Questions