Presentation Skills - Part 2
Contents

Part 1

PRACTICAL HINTS FOR GIVING AN ORAL PRESENTATION

Part 2

TEN "DO'S AND DON'TS" FOR A STUDENT PREPARING A PRESENTATION

• DO
• DON'T

 
TEN "DO'S AND DON'TS"

DO: 

Lots of background research. Even if the information is not used in the presentation, it is useful to have as much knowledge as possible for the discussion and audience questions. It will assist your confidence too.

Be organised - prepare in plenty of time. 

Structure your presentation. 

Focus on the question set. 

Obtain material from a wide range of sources. 

Practice your presentation. This helps take away some of the embarrassment when it is for real, and enables you to check the timing. If possible, have someone sit in and give you feedback.

Use note cards.

Speak clearly.

Have eye contact with your audience. 

Use clear overhead transparencies, or slides (large font size, use of bullet points etc.). 

DON'T:

Leave research and preparation until the last minute. 

Rely on one source of information. 

Make it up. 

Just hope that it will come together on the day without preparation and practice. 

Have no notes to rely on if you get stuck. 

Worry too much - it's not as bad as it seems. 

Mumble. 

Read from a script. 

Rush the presentation by speaking too fast. 

Go over the time allotted for the presentation. 

Presentation skills guides are modified versions of those published by Liverpool Hope University. Reproduced with permission.