Structuring Your Oral Presentation Gilberto Berríos Departamento de Idiomas Universidad Simón Bolívar April 23, 2003

Situation F So you have selected a topic F You have done your research F Now you feel ready to organize what you are going to say

Purpose F To introduce you to outlining as the main tool for expressing your strategy

Objectives F Associate the concepts of strategy and outline F Identify the parts of an outline F Identify the elements expected in each part of the outline

Focusing: How Remember that: F Strategy = Structure F Structure = Outline Opening Xxxxxx Xxxx xxxx Development Xxxxx Xxx xxx Xxxxx Close Xxxxx And an outline looks like this

Structuring F Outlining F Keywords F Transitions F Expanding and summarizing

Structuring: A Strategy Map

Structuring the Presentation All outlines have three parts: F Opening F Development F Close Tell them what you’ll tell them Tell them what you’ve told them Tell them

Structuring: The Opening F Is always brief F Always includes an attention-getter F Usually includes self-introduction refers to title states purpose presents plan of talk F Never develops any idea Tell them what you’ll tell them

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will proceed in five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F By the way, procurement is very interesting because when we started trying to implement the model we found a number of tremendous problems which we solved creatively. You first greet the audience adequately.

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will proceed in five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F By the way, procurement is very interesting because when we started trying to implement the model we found a number of tremendous problems which we solved creatively. Then you identify yourself. You may want to establish your authority.

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will proceed in five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F By the way, procurement is very interesting because when we started trying to implement the model we found a number of tremendous problems which we solved creatively. Then you may describe your connection with the topic you will talk about.

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will proceed in five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F By the way, procurement is very interesting because when we started trying to implement the model we found a number of tremendous problems which we solved creatively. Next, you state your presentation purpose. In so doing, you may also be stating your scope (topic aspects you will cover).

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will proceed in five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F By the way, procurement is very interesting because when we started trying to implement the model we found a number of tremendous problems which we solved creatively. Then you announce your plan for the presentation.

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will follow the usual five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F By the way, procurement is very interesting because when we started trying to implement the model we found a number of tremendous problems which we solved creatively. And don’t be tempted to expand any information!!!

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will follow the usual five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F So, let me then start by talking about location. Instead, make a transition to the development immediately.

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will follow the usual five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F So, let me then start by talking about location. You could also insert an attention-getter here.

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will follow the usual five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F So, let me then start by talking about location. Or here.

Example of an opening F Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. F My name is XX and I have been working for this company for 20 years. F I have been involved in the project that we are about to discuss for 18 months, that is, since it started. F Today we will be reviewing some of the project’s achievements and drawbacks. F For that, our agenda will follow the usual five parts: location, procurement, resources, results, and conclusions. F So, let me then start by talking about location. Or even here.

WATCH OUT! F ‘Opening’ does not equal ‘Introduction’ F An introduction can happen anywhere in the presentation in order, precisely, to introduce new material. F The opening is just a conventional way to start the whole presentation

Structuring: The Development F Takes most presentation time F Is divided into parts –One part can be background info (i.e., introductory to an aspect) –As many as purpose requires –As many as time allows F Each part contributes to purpose Tell them

Structuring: The Close F Is always brief F Usually goes back to purpose –Reviews key ideas –Reviews presentation goals accomplished –Highlights central message F Never develops any new idea F Always ends in a memorable note Tell them what you’ve told them

Structuring: The Close F ‘Close’ does not equal ‘conclusion’ F Conclusions are usually summarizing statements about experiment results, etc. F You can imagine a presentation where, in the middle of the development, conclusions for Experiment A are presented. F My point is that close is not the same as conclusion.

Apply what you’ve learned When you write the OPENING, follow this model: Opening Attention getter: ______ Self introduction: ______ Purpose: ______ Plan: ______

Apply what you’ve learned When you write the DEVELOPMENT, follow this model: Development Part 1: ______ Aspect 1.1: ______ Aspect 1.2: ______... Part...: ______

Apply what you’ve learned When you write the CLOSE, follow this model: Close Key idea(s) to list: ______ Purpose review: ______ Central message: ______ Memorable note: ______

Thank you