Recipes and Ingredients for Group Project Success Cooking Up a Quality Presentation Recipes and Ingredients for Group Project Success

Quality Ingredients Matter If you think the world of salad is limited to watery lettuce and a few chopped tomatoes and cucumbers, think again. There are an endless amount of wonderful combinations you can make.... Your Description Goes Here A salad is only as good as the quality of its ingredients, and to make a truly great salad you’ve got to use ingredients that are fresh, ripe and in season. --Jamie Oliver

Quality Ingredients? Fresh Ripe In-season

Your team members are “ingredients,” too. Different strengths and weaknesses Different roles Varied expertise Different faces, paces, voices, and styles! Skits and other creative techniques more feasible It’s ONE presentation. And yet—

Group Task: What three key things about the religion should your audience understand when you are finished?

Presentation Matters (plating your presentation)

Take my lunch, for example…

Look at each of the items on the chart through the lens of those “3 key things.” Can you emphasize one or more of those core ideas in each section? With your team, look at the ingredients of your presentation. What order makes sense? What will help the audience “digest” your ideas? On the yellow paper, make a foodie flow chart to show the order of your presentation.

Remember: The goal is not really to show HOW MUCH you know, but to briefly and concisely deliver the key ideas, insights, and conclusions.

NOT What does this look like? Thoughtfully chosen images and key terms Don’t include everything you’re going to say on the slides (reading=bad) Check visibility (colors, layout, etc.) Each slide has a clear, limited point/purpose Don’t abuse bullet points like this

Great Starts Your Description Goes Here Now that you’ve considered central ideas for AND the order for the body of your presentation, let’s talk introductions. Give your audience a reason to be interested.

How do you invite people to your table?

Inviting Starts Consultation Time Draw them in with one of the “hook” or “lead” strategies you use in your essays. the personal anecdote/story Consultation Time thought provoking questions Quotation, song lyric, or short poem Unusual, impressive, or interesting fact/statistic

Bringing the Pieces Together

Practice Using your foodie flow chart, practice: Summary and Hand-off “Now that you have a sense of the texts sacred to the religion, Bob will offer some perspective on….”

Spice it up… What can you do to help your audience participate—to move, reflect on, or enjoy what is unique to your given belief system? What opportunities for audience engagement or interaction does your topic offer?

Dessert “Just as the comedian should leave ‘em laughing, the speaker should leave ‘em thinking.” -- Peter Jeff How might your touch back to the introduction in your conclusion? Conclusions should draw conclusions. Conclusions take on the “so what?” Why are these ideas worth considering, worth the audience’s attention?

Smile! Your audience is on your side! No READING. Practice builds confidence! Look at the audience and not the visual aid. Move around so the presenter is center stage and focus on your team-mates when you are not speaking. Energy! You’re on stage! Smile! Your audience is on your side!

So, it’s up to you, chefs! Take those quality ingredients, clean them up, arrange them thoughtfully, and help your audience enjoy the dish!