The Art and Practice of Effective Presentations

1bRowan E Wagner

Language Services Direct

Introduction task

You have 5 minutes to organize your thoughts and prepare a short presentation in which you will have 2-4 minutes to tell the class (while standing in the front of the class) the following:• Who you are and what your job title is.• Why you signed up for the course and what type of presentations you

want to work on.• Who do you think is an effective speaker and why

Presentation 1b Overview

• Introduction task• Presentation(s)?• 2-point impromptu speech model• Rubrics, rubrics, rubrics• The impromptu task• Questions• References/Sources

Presentation(s)? - what

For the purpose of this course: • A presentation is the act of bringing into before the public an

idea, or argument ( a particular point of view) which is supported or justified by a body of evidence• It is complex in nature, requiring a range of skills that include

but are not limited to, speaking, cultural understanding and design of supporting visual aids/materials

Presentation(s)? - why

• We often use presentations in our daily lives in many different situations and contexts for one of three purposes:

- to inform - to educate - to persuade

2-point Impromptu Speech Model - Rational

• Often in our daily lives we are called upon to provide input make judgments or provide opinions in which we must justify. E.g. business meetings, shopping, friends or family seeking advice, etc…• This model helps to develops to quickly organize your argument or

point of view into a logical response; to the ever taunting …Why do you like, think, believe ….

The 2-point Impromptu Speech Model

• Introduction• Point 1 - support - support• Point 2 - support - support• Conclusion

• State it• Explain it• Prove it• Conclude it

Rubrics, rubrics, rubrics - loose definitions

• A format or formula for communicating criteria, normally within the area of education used for assessing writing and oral assignments• A tool for breaking down complex activities into distinct

areas that can be critiqued or reflected upon such as in personal development plans• A means of expressing expectations in a measurable manner

often used in business formats such as evaluations

Rubric, rubrics, rubrics - task• Form into groups of 3-4 • Then using the oral presentation rubric examples, come up with a

rubric that could be used for the impromptu presentation elements of - Invention - Arrangement - Style• You have 30 minutes to complete the task, after which your group will

present their rubric in a plenary session• After all groups have presented, in the plenary session the class will

decide on which one or which elements will be used in a rubric for the 2-point impromptu presentation

The Impromptu Task

• From the topic list handout, choose one topic• Outline your topic presentation using the 2-point impromptu speech

model• Prepare to deliver a 2-4 minute presentation of your topic during the

impromptu presentation practicum.• You may use PP, the white board or flip charts as visual aids• Use the agreed impromptu presentation rubric as guidance

Questions

• Looking over your notes and the PP-slides handout; come up with, and ask, one question you would like to have answered.

References/Sources

• Steven Pinker (1994) The Language Instinct• Twenty Special Forms of Rhetoric. (http:/ / www. specgram. com/

CXLVII. 3/ 09. seely. rhetoric. html) A satirical look at non-traditional but commonly used rhetorical forms.• Mitchell, Anthony. A Primer for Business Rhetoric. (http:/ / www.

crmbuyer. com/ story/ 39361. html) Discusses how messages are dumbed down to make them acceptable to wide audiences.• Irmsher, Karen Communication Skills (http:/ / www. ericdigests. org/

1996-3/ skills. htm)