PRESENTATION POINTERS
ART391 ART393
1.
PREPARE
The more confident you are about your topic, the more confidently you will teach it.
Envision the goal:
- educate audience
- inspire their interest
- help them retain information (=entertain, interact, relate content)
- exhibit credibility (professionalism)
Know exactly what you want to say . . . WRITE your entire speech word-for-word . . . and then practice, practice, PRACTICE!
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Turn on your webcam, stand up and give your speech to yourself.
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Refer to your notes (but don't read your speech)
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Repeat speech over and over and over and ...
Remember: Your PowerPoint is NOT the presentation ... YOU are the presentation!
II.
Content Advice.
(1) Tell them what you're going to tell them;
(2) Tell them, and then;
(3) Tell them what you told them.
Make the audience remember what you told them by getting them involved:
- ask them questions
- do an activity
- get them moving
- make them laugh
- make them think
- entice, entice, entice!
SIDENOTE: Be sure you know how to pronounce EVERY word you put on a
your PowerPoint . . . and know what they mean! If unsure, go to YouTube
and type in "how to pronounce "whatever word you are curious about."
III.
Visual Aides.
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Use sans serif font
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Use color as a tool - not a distraction
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Use bullets sparingly.
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Font size should be at least 32 pt. to around 44 pt
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Use a PPT as an aide, not something to read. Keep text at a minimum.
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Use effective (and clear) visuals.
- Visuals are FREE - use as many as possible.
- Fill the PPT slide with the image so viewers can easily see it.
- Don't forget full slide detail shots, too!
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Use blank screen to put the attention back on you.
- When you would like the screen to go Black, press the “B” key on your keyboard .
- To return to the presentation, press the “B” key again.
- To view a White screen, simply press the “W” key.
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Check to verify all cords, computer programs, screens, etc. work together BEFORE the day of your presentation. Eliminate all worries to free yourself to focus on what is important.
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Save your PPT in a variety of places to you know you have a file back-up if needed.
IV.
During.
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FACE the audience at ALL TIMES. (Do not keep your focus on the professor - move your eyes around the room).
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Use eye contact.
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Project your voice!
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Inflect your voice!
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Consider telling stories.
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Pay attention to time.
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Speak to us rather than read to us.
MOVE!
- Your eyes
- Your arms and hands
- Your body ... walk around!
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Eliminate all gum from your mouth!
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Don't be afraid to laugh.
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BE YOUR confident, beautiful self!
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Don't apologize for missing something ... your audience probably won't notice. Just keep your focus and flow and GO!
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KNOW THAT EVERY PERSON IN THE ROOM WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED.
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BE your passion ... others will feel it, too!

"Your visual aide should aide five aspects of your presentation: Clarity, retention, interest, professionalism and help reduce stage fright."