ORAL PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES

ORAL PRESENTATION
 Itis a formal dialogue or one-to-group encounter as in
lectures, seminars, talks and report presentations
 Factors to consider for oral presentation:

Planning the oral presentation

Knowing the content
Analysing the audience
Knowing the venue and time of presentation
Writing the outline of presentation
Practicing the delivery of presentation
 PLANNING THE ORAL PRESENTATION

 Analyse the purpose and audience

 Gather relevant information by reviewing the
written report
 Select appropriate and important materials to be
presented during the presentation
 KNOWING THE CONTENT

 Information selected must be adapted to suit the

objectives of the presentation (i.e background info,
problem statement, objectives of study, method,
findings, conclusions, recommendations)
 Prepare appropriate visual aids based on materials
selected
 ANALYSING THE AUDIENCE
 Know your audience’s interests, expectations and
size (small or large groups of people)
 Know who they are (professional or technical
people) and how much they know about the topic
 Consider what aspects of the topic that interest your
audience the most
 This enables you to communicate effectively and
lessen the risk of irritating and frustrating your
audience
 KNOWING THE VENUE AND TIME OF
PRESENTATION

 Find out these elements:

 The size of the room
 The sitting arrangement
 The facilities provided (LCD, computer,
microphone, rostrum, OHP, boards, flip chart
stand, papers)
 Time allotted for presentation (i.e 30 minutes)
WRITING THE OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
 Identify main ideas or key points of the presentation
and write the outline/notes
The outline lays out ideas clearly and helps to
present ideas so that audience can follow it without
getting lost
Go over the outline and provide supporting details
for each of the major points
 Do not write out the presentation word for word
 Use a set of note cards to help you keep contact
with your audience and help make the talk sound
spontaneous and natural
 PRACTICING DELIVERY OF PRESENTATION
 Having enough practices ensures that you know the
information well which then reduces your fear and
increases your level of confidence
 Rehearse thoroughly the entire presentation
 Rehearse the explanations of charts and diagrams
 Rehearse it out loud in front of your friends to get
constructive feedback
 MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION

1. Dress appropriately 3. To keep the

for the presentation audience’s interest,
2. Briefly scan the vary the speed of the
audience and start delivery and voice
with a few aspects
preliminary 4. Use hand gestures for
comments (i.e emphasis
appreciating the 5. Look directly at the
opportunity to audience and make
speak) eye contact
 MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION

6. Use visual aids to

add clarity and
variety to the
presentation
** Visual aids should
be carefully prepared,
easily read and
understood
 VISUAL AIDS
 Prepare visual aids in advance so that you can use it
during rehearsals
 Types of visual aids:

 Transparencies of word charts, diagrams, graphs

 Objects and models
 Flip charts
 Pictures and photographs
 Films, videotapes, audiotapes
 Audio-visual equipment
 TIPS TO PREPARE VISUAL AIDS
 Use computer generated slides as they appear more
professional
 Keep the wordings short and simple, not too many
words
 Words and phrases should be large enough

 Avoid using too many colours and font sizes

 Avoid too much information on a single visual

 Sound effect and animations must not distract the

presentation
 TIPS TO USE VISUAL AIDS
 Visual aids are only used to support the points during
presentation
 Refer to the visuals and point at the points when
discussing them
 Avoid reading your notes when visuals are shown

 Do not display the visuals when you are not explaining

them
 Do not stand in front of the visuals because it will block
the audience form seeing the visuals
 Give handouts after the presentation is over