GNS 1205 GENERAL

STUDIES
PRESENTATION
SKILLS
Definition
◦ Presentation skills
- Skills required by presenters to convey messages to the
audience effectively.

1) Organize your content

2) Tailor message
3) Tell story
4) Adapt to audience feedback
5) Formal language
Factors to be considered before a
presentation

a) Who?

b) Why?

c) Where?

d) When?

e) How?
Speech preparation

Basic structure:
 Introduction
 Content 1) Main point
2) Supporting details
 Conclusion
Speech introduction
◦ Objectives:
1)Get audience attention
2)Reveal the topic
3)Preview main ideas
4)Establish credibility
Effective introduction
◦ Surprise the audience
- action/choices of words
◦ Use quotation
- statement from credible person
◦ Tell a story
- own experience/other people’s experiences
◦ Refer to a specific occasion
- events/incidents/important dates
◦ Question of facts
- questions of facts/opinions
Speech conclusion

◦ Objectives:
1)To review and reinforce ideas
2)End with an impact
3)Ways to signal end of speech
Effective conclusion
◦ Restating main points
- first, second, third
◦ End with a quotation
- credible statement made by ….
◦ Make a dramatic statement
- heartfelt or touching statement
◦ Refer back to the introduction
- relate back to the introduction
◦ Humor
- must be funny, but not offensive
Delivering the presentation
 Dealing with anxiety
◦ STAGE FRIGHT : Anxiety over the
prospect of giving speech in front of an
audience
◦ ADRENALINE : A hormone released into
the bloodstream in responses to physical or
mental stress
◦ POSITIVE NERVOUSNESS : Controlled
nervousness that help energize a speaker for
his/her presentation
HOW TO DEAL?
◦ Acquire speaking experience

◦PREPARE
◦ Think positively
◦ Nervousness is invisible
◦ Don’t expect perfection
◦ Use the power of visualization
NON VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
◦ Communication that occurs as a result of appearance,
posture, gesture, eye contact, facial expression and other
non-linguistic factors.
Personal appearance
◦ Listener always see the
presenter before they hear the
presenter.
◦ So as presenter, he/she should
try to evoke a favourable first
impression – an impression
that is likely to make listeners
more receptive to what you
say.
Movement

◦ Avoid distracting mannerisms.

◦ Concentrate on your topic and
these mannerisms should
disappear as you become more
comfortable speaking in front of
an audience
Gesture
◦ Refers to motion of a speakers’ hand
or arms during a speech presentation.
◦ Gesture should appear natural and
spontaneous, help clarify or reinforce
your ideas and be suits to the
audience and occasion.
◦ Avoid OVERDOING gesture :
flailing hands, wringing hands
together, cracking knuckles, toying
with accessories
Eye contact
◦ Refers to direct visual contact with eyes of another person.
◦ Using eye contact we are able to convey an intricate array of nonverbal
messages.
◦ Without sufficient amount of eye contact, you will be considered as
insincere and dishonest.

◦ The IMPORTANCE of eye contact

1)To create bond
2)To gain confidence
3)To overcome fear
4)To get feedback
Speak with confidence
Dealing with questions
1) Preparing for the Q & A session
◦ Formulate answers to possible questions
◦ Practice the delivery of your answer

2) Managing the Q & A session

◦ Clarify the format
◦ Approach questions with a positive attitude
◦ Listen carefully
◦ Direct answer to the entire audience
◦ Be honest and straightforward
◦ Stay on track
Using visual aids
◦ Definition
A visual aid is any object or picture that relates to the subject being taught.
Posters, pictures, or even the object itself can be used to help teach.

◦ Finding from a study:

- 10% audience retention when a speaker speak without any visual aids
- 60% audience retention when a speaker employs visual aids in his speech
- 85% audience retention when a speaker provides handout for the audience
VISUAL AIDS
◦ Benefits :
 Presenter : 1) To display data more clearly
2) To create a more long lasting
impression
3) To emphasize spoken words

Listener : 1) To maintain interest

2) To comprehend more easily
3) To visualize information
4) To focus attention
5) To remember better
Successful slides and visuals
1. Use slides sparingly
2. Make slides pictorial
3. Present one key point per slide
4. Make text and numbers legible usage of fonts
5. Use color carefully
6. Make visuals big enough to see
7. Graph data
8. Avoid unnecessary slides
Guidelines of presenting visual
aids
1. Avoid using chalkboard for your visual aids
2. Display visual aids where listeners can see them
3. Avoid passing visual aids while discussing them
4. Talk to your audience NOT your visual aids
5. Explain visual aids clearly and concisely
6. Practice with your visual aids
Using colour effectively

◦ Keep a consistent theme or template

throughout the presentation
◦ Colours should not clash – they should have
a high degree of harmony
◦ Use a high contrast to increase visibility
(black text on clear and yellow text on dark
blue)
◦ Avoid clutter by using not more than three
colours