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Topic 2. CONFIDENCE IN ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Speaking in front of a group may result to stage fright- an anxiety everyone feels at
one time or another when speaking in front of people.

Since likely the worst thing is to go up to a podium and not know what to say, it makes
sense that by adequately preparing the speech, one can decrease stage fright up to 75 percent.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Express your thoughts on the following images. After writing your ideas
on each, practice delivering these extemporaneously.

(1) Notes:

Engage

(2)
Notes:

(3) Notes:
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Explore
Common Speaking Methods

When speakers present a speech, they employ of one of four common methods:
reading from a manuscript, speaking from memory, speaking without specific preparation,
and speaking extemporaneously with preparation.

Describe the following methods of delivery and give situations by which each is
appropriately used.

1. Manuscript (Read Speech)

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2. Memory (Memorized Speech)
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3. Impromptu
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4. Extemporaneous
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Explain

I. Presentation Skills

Presentations can either be informal (for example, a class presentation or a short

presentation at a meeting) or more formal, such as a presentation at a workshop or conference;
similar guidelines apply to both types.

Among the key aspects of a successful oral presentation are: having a firm idea of
what the audience already knows, careful presentation and rehearsal, making the presentation
structure clear, and dealing effectively with questions.

A. Outlining the Speech

The organization of the speech begins with an outline that differs slightly from
that of the essay earlier presented.

1. The Specific Purpose

Begin with a specific purpose, a clear statement of what is hoped to be

accomplished as a result of the speech. Like in writing, there are three main
purposes in public speaking: to entertain, to inform, and to persuade.

2. The Central Idea

The central idea is like the thesis statement used in writing. It is a

compact expression of one’s argument. It is the main point, so one may wish to
state this more than once during the course of the talk to ensure the audience
(who, unlike the readers, can’t go back and review the main point) understands
the message.

3. Introduction

Many of the principles writers use to craft their introduction apply to

speakers as well. However, it is especially important for speakers to include an
overview in their introduction. During the overview, the subject of the talk and
the main points are clearly identified. Again, comparable to readers, listeners
(audience) cannot review or skim the thoughts ahead.

4. Body and Conclusion

As with written communication, a speech essentially includes a body

and a conclusion. Typically, arguments are encapsulated in three points
extended through explanation and support materials (statistics, accounts among
others); whereas, the central idea is restated in the conclusion.
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B. Preparing the Presentation

The following account for the steps to be undertaken in preparing a

presentation. Points to consider were specified for every step.

1. Think about the presentation context.

a. Who are the audience and what are their interests?
b. How big will the audience be?
c. How long is the presentation to be?
d. What equipment is available for visual aids?
e. Will there be time for questions?

2. Decide on the topic.

a. Plan on the main point or points to be communicated.
b. Write these clearly in sentences or through outline.

3. Structure the content.

a. Start with the collection of ideas then arrange these into sequence.
b. Decide on the relative weight (importance) of each section of the
presentation.

4. Think of ways of catching listeners’ interests.

a. Use examples, anecdotes, impressive statistics, interesting
quotations and the like as necessary.

5. Plan on visual aids to be used.

a. Think about how the information to be presented may be packaged
through visual materials.

6. Check overall length and the relative weight of sections.

a. Note that “a little too short is better than even a little too long.”

7. Finish preparation of visual aids.

a. Common among presentation visual aids is the PowerPoint (refer to
conventions discussed earlier on the preparation of this).
b. Make sure alternatives such as hand-outs are prepared in case of
technical problems.

8. Plan the exact words for the opening, transition points, and the conclusion.
a. Consider writing the introductory and concluding sentences on a
card (palm card).

9. Rehearse the presentation.

a. Practice alone or ask a friend or family member to listen.
b. Speak simply but in academic or conversational style.
c. Project voice across the room.
d. Check timing carefully and make adjustments if necessary.
e. Think about possible questions to be asked.
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10. On the presentation day, stay calm and organized.
a. If nervous, breathe slowly and deeply for a few minutes.
b. Concentrate on the audience and on how the message is clearly put
across.

C. Additional Presentation Tips

1. On knowing the audience.

Emphatically, understanding the interest of the audience, as earlier

accounted, is essential to understanding how to focus the presentation. Speak to
the interest and educational level of the audience.

2. On dressing appropriately.

Dressing appropriately for the audience helps to establish rapport

(connection). For formal conference presentations, a suit may be more
appropriate. If unsure about the dress code for an event, ask someone who has
attended a similar conference or meeting.

3. On structuring the presentation.

The presentation should be well organized to include at least the basic

structure:
✓ a slide that shows the title of the presentation and the name of the
presenter;
✓ the body of information; and,
✓ a clear conclusion that summarizes the presentation.

4. On practicing the presentation.

Practicing the presentation beforehand is always a good idea. Ask

someone to observe of any mannerism (such as saying “uhm” frequently among
others) that needs to be eliminated or if any of the concepts presented does not
make sense. Certainly, practicing allows one to identify any portion of the
presentation that does not flow properly and that needs further work.

5. On knowing the time limit of the presentation.

Most class and conference presentations have a time limit that is strictly
enforced by an instructor or a moderator. Make sure that the presentation does
not go beyond the time limit. Timing the presentation beforehand will clarify if
there’s a need to cut back on the amount of material presented.
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Rules for Slides Presentations

a. 10- 20- 30 Rule (Kawasaki, 2005)

➢ 10 Slides
✓ Having a limit of 10 slides allows the speaker to manage the cognitive
load for the audience. This posts challenges to design the presentation in manners
that only important items are included as unnecessary details are eliminated.

➢ 20 Minutes
✓ The challenge in limiting the presentation to 20 minutes lies within the
speaker focusing on important details of the message. In case more time may be
spared, this may be devoted to discussions and questions on the presentation thus
involving the audience.

➢ 30-size Font
✓ When designing the presentation, keep in mind that anything shown must
be visible to everybody in attendance; depending on the room and screen size,
most will be able to see texts that are at least at 30- size font.

Associated to this is the 6 x 6 Rule, where the presenter limits any text to 6
words per line and 6 lines per slide; others however adopt the 7 x 7 and/or 9 x 9.
Slides visually less cluttered allow audiences to see the main ideas immediately.

b. Tips for Making Effective Slides (Weyenberg, 2014)

➢ Think about the slides last.
✓ Think about the main message first, practice and time this, then start
planning on the slides. Note that the presentation needs to stand on its own as the
slides provide the audience a visual experience that adds to the words.

➢ Create a consistent look and feel.

✓ Use related design, colors and imagery across all the slides. As much as
possible, create a few slides to hold sample graphic elements.

➢ Think about topic transitions.

✓ Create one style for the slides then another style for the transitions
between topics. This may provide the audience a visual cue that one is moving
in to a new topic.

➢ With text, less is almost always more.

✓ One thing to avoid- slides with a lot of text, especially if it’s a repeat of
what one is saying. Having a lot of words in the slide gives the audience the
impression of needing to split their attention between what they’re reading and
what they’re listening to.

➢ Use photos that enhance meaning.

✓ Look for photos that: speak strongly to the concept being shared and are
not compositionally complex.
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D. Signposts and Language Signals

To keep the audience engaged and to help them follow the arguments, effective
speakers use signposts- brief verbal cues indicating progress through an outline.

The restatement is a type of signpost that speakers use to emphasize their key
points. If someone says something twice, you know that it must be important.

Signposts (used to signal transitions) are more important in public speaking

than they are in writing as readers can re-read confusing passages, use the margins to
number the main points, use a highlighter to mark key passages and the like. In contrast,
an audience listening to the speaker lacks those benefits, so it is up to the speaker to
help the audience follow along.

1. Introducing the Talk

➢ I’d like to talk about
➢ I’m going to discuss
➢ I want to tell you about
➢ What I’d like to do is to explain to you
➢ What I’m going to do is to discuss
➢ What I want to do is to give an account of

2. Ordering Points (Time Order)

➢ To begin with At the beginning At the start
➢ Second Then/ Next After that
➢ Finally At the end

3. Ordering Points (Listing and Adding)

➢ First Second Third
➢ A second reason The third aspect
➢ Another point Other factors
➢ Also In addition
➢ Last Finally

4. Starting a New Section

➢ Now
➢ Moving on If we move on to
➢ Turning to If we turn to

5. Transition
➢ Having considered… let us now move on to
➢ So these were our methods… what about the results

6. Contrasting
➢ By contrast However But
➢ Nevertheless on the other hand
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7. Referring to Visual Aids
➢ The slide shows Here you can see
➢ This is Here are

8. Rephrasing
➢ That is To put it in another way
➢ In other words

9. Giving an Example
➢ For example For instance Such as
➢ Say Like Including
➢ To give an example An examples of this is
➢ Here is an example Let me give an example

10. Emphasizing
➢ Actually In fact Indeed
➢ Importantly Surprisingly Interestingly
➢ It is clear that Clearly Obviously
➢ I’d like to underline Highlight Emphasize
➢ It is important to bear in mind Remember

11. Defining
➢ By… we mean We can define … as

12. Concluding the Talk

➢ So Finally To conclude
➢ To summarize Summing up In conclusion
➢ I’d like to finish by saying
➢ I’d like to conclude now with a few remarks about

E. Non-verbal Considerations

1. Posture
➢ Stand straight but not stiff.
➢ Balance weight on both feet.
➢ Note that standing well allows the diaphragm to adjust when
controlling breathing and voice production.

2. Movement and Gestures

➢ Too much movement is distracting as no movement at all is boring
and uncommunicative.
➢ Use movements and gestures to signal transition points or to stress
points of importance.
➢ Avoid meaningless gestures and repetitive movements.
✓ Use the pointer only when necessary, and with a firm
movement.
✓ Keep hands close to the body when using this.
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3. Facial Expressions
➢ Facial expressions must match the message.
➢ Relax facial muscles- looking nervous makes the audience feel
uncomfortable.

4. Voice
➢ Speak a little louder than necessary projecting the voice at the back
of the room.
✓ Use diaphragm to do this not the muscles of the throat.
Otherwise, the voice loses resonance and power and
becomes less pleasant to listen to.
➢ Speak a little more slowly than normally done, especially if feeling
nervous (keep track however of the time of presentation).
✓ A useful rule-of-the-thumb is: the larger the audience, the
more slowly one should talk.
➢ Use voice as a communication tool.
✓ Vary the speed- speak more slowly in the introduction and
the conclusion.
✓ Use stress for important points and contrasts.
✓ A short silence can emphasize a point or a transition

5. Eye Contact
➢ Eye contact creates a relationship between the speaker and the
audience.
✓ It encourages the audience to listen.
✓ It helps to relax the speaker.
➢ Start and end with direct eye contact, looking around the whole
audience.
✓ Look at your visual aids (and notes if you have them) only
when necessary; don’t stare at them when presenting.
✓ Look at the audience as much as you can.
➢ Don’t look always at the same section of the audience, or at one
“victim”. Focus on one person or group for 1-2 seconds; then look at
another person/ group, then another.

Confidence in Delivery

1. Check the equipment beforehand.

2. Practice repeatedly, especially in front of peers willing to “act” as an
audience.
3. Memorize the introduction and the transition into the first point.
4. Smile and Relax. Smiling can help hide the fear from the audience.
5. Take a brief walk before beginning the speech.
6. Make eye contact with audience members.
7. Involve the audience by asking questions and seeking their opinion of the
topic.
8. Look neat and tidy. It will help boost confidence.
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Elaborate

Directions: Given the issue identified in Chapter 4 First Part (“Everyone should take a
vaccine.”), develop your submitted argumentative essay last midterm period and prepare for
an oral presentation. Do the tasks identified below.
In preparing your draft and final written output, please be guided by the lesson
in the last set of module (Understanding the Essay) and the lesson in this set.
Also, please watch the sample speech of Dananjaya Hettiarachchi (1st place
winner, 2014 World Championship of Public Speaking – Toastmasters International).

Task 1 (Please submit this on or before Friday, October 22.)

Direction: Write the actual statements to be delivered to introduce and close the presumed
presentation on the issue chosen.

➢ Introduction:

➢ Conclusion:
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Task 2 (Please submit this on or before Friday, October 22.)

Direction: Write your final written output for an argumentative speech.

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Task 3 (Please submit this on or before October 29.)

Direction: Guided by the lesson in this set of module (“Confidence in Oral Presentations”)
and using the main ideas in your final written argumentative essay, do an argumentative
speech. Send the video through our google classroom, or email if not possible.

Make sure half or whole body is seen, so that ‘delivery’ (gestures, movements, etc..) will be
evaluated. Also, be guided by the criteria below.

Scoring Criteria for Oral Presentation:

Total
Category Scoring Criteria Score
Points
The type of presentation is appropriate for the
audience and information is presented in a logical
Organization
sequence. 15
(15 points)
Presentation appropriately cites sources/ references,
if not direct authors.
Introduction lays out the problem well and establishes
a framework for the rest of the presentation.
Technical terms are well defined in language
appropriate for the group.
Presentation contains accurate information.
Content
55
(45 points) Materials included are relevant to the overall
message/ content.
Points made reflect well the report’s relative
importance.
There is an obvious conclusion summarizing the
presentation.
Speaker maintains good eye contact with the
audience and is appropriately animated (gestures,
movements, …)
Speaker has clear, audible voice.

Delivery is poised, controlled, and smooth.

Presentation
Good language skills are exuded. 30
(40 points)
Visual aids are well prepared, informative, effective,
and not distracting.
Information was well communicated.

Length of presentation goes with the weight of

information presented and time set.
Score Total Points 100
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Chapters Three(3) and Four(4) References:

Australia Center for the Moving Image. 2002. Film It: The Filmmaker’s Toolkit.
https://www.acmi.net.au/education/online-learning/film-it/. Accessed on July 2020.

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. 2014. Tips to Design Effective Presentations.
https://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/07/10-tips-to-design-
effective.html?m=1. Accessed on July 2020.

Estares, I. 2019. Three reasons why social media in the Philippines is huge. Eye on Asia.
https://www.d8aspring.com/eye-on-asia/3-reasons-why-social-media-in-the-
philippines-is-huge. Accessed on July 2020.

Faculty of Forest and Natural Resources Management. 2008. Handbook for Effective,
Professional Communication.

Madrunio, M. R., and I. P. Martin. 2018. Purposive Communication: Using English in

Multilingual Contexts. C and E Publishing Inc. South Trinagle, Quezon City.

O’Brien, A. 2018. Creating Multimodal Texts. http://creatingmultimodaltexts.com/. Accessed

on July 2020.

Rappler.com. 2002. Earth Day at 50: Lessons for the Post-Coronavirus World.
https://rappler.com/voice/thought-leaders/opinion-earth-day-lessons-post-
coronavirus-world.

Study.com. 2016. What are Communication Strategies: Definition, Types and Examples.
https://study.com/academy/lessson/what-are-communication-strategies-definitiontion-
types-examples.html. Accessed on July 2020.

The U.S National Archives and Records Administration. 2018. Analyze a Poster.
https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/poster.html. Accessed on July
2020.