Oral presentations
Oral presentations bring together research, structure and public speaking skills. Talking to an audience about a topic can feel daunting; however, with good planning and practice, you will soon overcome any concerns.
At the heart of all oral presentations is the speech. Keeping these key things in mind can make the whole experience a lot easier.
| Try this | What it looks like |
| Know your subject matter | The better you know your topic, the easier it is to talk about. When you understand what you’re saying you’re less likely to stumble and you will feel more positive about the whole experience. |
| Read from something | Prepare dot points on cue cards to guide you but try not to read them word for word. Your audience will stay more engaged if you make eye contact and speak naturally. Practise using your notes before the presentation. |
| Stick to a format | Just like any other assessment, oral presentations need structure. Without it, your audience can quickly lose track. Try dividing your content into clear sections, with an introduction, main point and a conclusion that flows logically. |
| Use clear and simple language | A successful presentation shares information. Using clear, accessible language helps more people understand your message, no matter their background or experience. |
| Involve the audience |
It's not a must, but getting your audience involved can help keep their attention. Even something simple like asking a question can help make your presentation feel more engaging. Before you do this, check your unit description to make sure audience participation and/or supporting materials are allowed for your assessment. |
| Supporting materials |
Supporting materials can help to emphasise your key points or present information in a different way. There are plenty of tools you can use, but not every option will suit every task. Before you do this, check your unit description to make sure audience participation and/or supporting materials are allowed for your assessment. |
Presentation tools
This is the popular option, but there are a few important things to remember. In brief, less is more with PowerPoint presentations.
- Only put essential information on the slides. The slides complement what you are saying and should not duplicate your speech. Using dot points of fewer than four words will help keep your audience focused on YOU.
- Avoid distractions. Busy or fancy presentations will draw the audience's attention and you'll be ignored. Keep the slides simple.
- Have a Plan B. Technology can fail. If you're designing any kind of presentation involving technology, bring a backup. You could bring a USB with your presentation on it, or print the slides, or take cue cards.
- Set up beforehand. Aim to finish setting up for your presentation before you start speaking. Check that everything works and that you have everything you need.
Posters are not suitable for all situations. Your audience will need to have the chance to read them in detail, so posters can be impractical to accompany a speech. However, they can work well if they reflect the structure of your talk and elaborate on certain factors.
If you use a poster to highlight certain sections of your speech, then a PowerPoint presentation can give you the same effect. Apply the same rules as you would to a PowerPoint, as above.
Showing a video can emphasise a point well, but it must add to your presentation. Use only short videos and only one or two – as it's not your own work, it will not count towards your grade. Videos can be embedded into PowerPoint presentations to either demonstrate a point, or to provide a (brief) interlude to refresh your audience's attention. Check that the technology works beforehand.
The rules here are like using video: only use it if it emphasises a point. Don't use it just to fill in time or do your work for you, because you won't get many marks for it. And check that the room can play audio before you commence.
A demonstration can be a way to involve the audience, especially if it calls for their participation. However, keep the set-up time low, or people may resent the effort you're asking of them. Demonstrations are useful to explain something physical, or to explore a hypothetical situation. Naturally, you will need to consider if there will be enough willing participants.