1. Making Presentations for Academic Purposes
in English
Olga Lazareva
Associate professor of the Department of Foreign Languages
National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”
Department of Foreign Languages
Kharkiv, 2016

2. Content What is a presentation Preparation Designing visual support
Language
Delivery
Summary
Your questions
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

3. What is a presentation
A presentation is a way of communicating your thoughts and ideas to an audience
Oral report
Visual aids
Interaction with the audience
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

4. Preparation: What to Consider
Purpose
Inform / Report
Sale / Advertize
Entertain
Audience
How many people
Experts or non-experts
Cultures
Time
When?
How long?
Venue
Big hall or small room?
Local University or overseas
Equipment (+ / -)
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

5. Preparation: What to do
Brainstorm the ideas
Select the most important information
Formulate a good title
Structure your material in a logical way
Prepare visual aids
Think of possible questions
Rehearse!
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

6. Preparation: What to expect
More informed
More selective
More confident
More enthusiastic
Less nervous
Less dependent on notes
Less mistakes (if any)
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

7. Designing Visual Support: Tools
Technology
When no technology is available
PowerPoint
ClearSlide (SlideRocket)
CustomShow
SlideShark
Haiku Deck
SlideDog
Slide Bureau
Etc.
Blackboard / Whiteboard
Flip charts
Handouts
Posters
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

8. Designing Visual Support : Title Page
Use enormous letters for the title
You speak not only on behalf of yourself but also your institution
Remind your name and position
The venue and date
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

9. Designing Visual Support : Body Page Structure
Your Alma Mater is always with you
What we are discussing now
The Body of a Slide
Page number: for reference purposes
People may want to address you afterwards. Help them to remember your name
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

10. Designing Visual Support : Types of Information
Text / Tables
Bulleted / numbered list
Charts
Diagrams
Photos
Movies / Animation
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

11. Designing Visual Support : Spectacular Effects vs. Emphasizing
Flying In
Font size
Font colour
Appearing by click
Rotating
Growing
Falling
Contrasting colors
Using pictures as a background
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

12. Language: What to Say Introduction Main Part Conclusions
Attract attention (e.g. Dear ladies and gentlemen)
Introduce yourself
Welcome the audience (e.g. I am glad …)
Present the subject of discussion (Paraphrase the title !!!)
Explain how you will deal with questions
Main Part
Outline the major issues to discuss (if your speech is long)
Discuss the subject
Conclusions
Summarize your presentation
Thank the audience
Welcome questions (e.g. Now I am ready to answer your questions)
Dealing with questions
Thank
Repeat the question (Paraphrase)
Answer
Ask if you have answered
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

13. Language: Signposting
Say what you are going to say
Now we'll move on to...
Let me turn now to...
Say it
First of all, …
Let’s begin with …
Let's consider this in more detail...
Say what you have said
That's all I have to say about...
We've looked at...
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

14. Language: Signposting: Functions (1)
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

15. Language: Signposting: Functions (2)
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

16. Language: Functions: Comparing & Contrasting
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

17. Language: Describing Visuals: Pie charts
Example
The chart shows the relative size of populations of the countries of the European Union in We can see that the country with the largest population was Germany with 16.6% of the European Union's population. The 21 smallest countries of European Union are included in one group and make up about 30%. It is interesting to note that the four largest countries (Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy) together constitute more than the half of the European Union's population.
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

18. Language: Describing Visuals: Line Charts 
Examples
The domestic car market shows a significant growth of 50% for three consecutive years from 2001 to 2003.
House prices gradually climbed during the first half of the year before falling down sharply in August.
The world population grew dramatically between 1950 and 2010.
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

19. Language: Solid Text vs. Short Messages
The use of intricate sentences structures, especially including participle constructions or lengthy noun phrases, as well as sophisticated vocabulary abundant with professional terms may prevent the audience’s following the logic of your discourse and as a consequence reaching the goal of your communication.
Items that can be presented as a solid text
Quotations
Definitions
Examples
Use simple sentence structures.
Avoid participle constructions, use subordinate clauses instead.
Shorten long noun phrases if possible.
Use clear vocabulary
Explain the terms where necessary
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

20. Language: Vocabulary Clear Rich General purpose words +
General academic words +
Professional terms
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

21. Language: Filler words
You know
You see
I think
I believe
To my mind
As far as I know (remember)
I mean
.. just …
Etc.
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

22. Delivery Appear on time Dress appropriately Establish eye contact
TRY NOT TO READ
Use appropriate gestures
Involve the audience
Move
Be enthusiastic
Keep to time
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

23. Summary Presentation = Speech + Visuals + Interaction
Preparation = Information / Time + Rehearsingn, where n →∞
Design = Visuals + min(Words)
Language = Vocabulary + max(Signposting)
Delivery = Presentation * Enthusiasm - Nervousness
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

24. References Advice on making presentations
English for Academic Purposes
Olga Lazareva, NTU KhPI, Kharkiv, 2016

25. Thank you for your kind attention!