1. EPQ 2017 Giving Effective Presentations
MR Godfrey
09 February 2017
Last week Ms Wright gave some excellent tips on how to present your data and this week I am going to concentrate a little more on the mechanics of the presentation; in particular I will look at how you might go about giving your presentation.
In the military we also talk about the prelims.
Organise the seating
Adjust the lighting
Double check the technology
CHECK YOUR FLIES!
So why are you making a presentation?
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

2. Most effective way of getting your point across
EPQ 2017 Why give a talk?
Most effective way of getting your point across
Very valuable transferable skill that your future employer will greatly value
Often a part of interview process
Builds confidence
Firstly, it is a most effective way of getting your point across.
You have spent the past 6 months studying a topic that fascinates you and now you need to pass on that passion with enthusiasm in a way that captures your audience.
Furthermore, the ability to give a good and clear presentations to a public audience is a skill that you and your future employer will value greatly in a wide range of situations.
Presentation skills, alongside writing and research skills, teamwork, and time management, are key transferable skills, which will have relevance to your future career in whatever field that may be.
Prospective employers expect reference to these key skills in applications, and short presentations are increasingly used as part of an interview process.
When you address the issue of your presentation, think about how to develop the skills involved in giving it and not just about the topic you will be talking about.
You will have done a great deal of research and you have to know the topic thoroughly so this process makes you more confident in the subject you are going to talk about.
Standing up in front of an audience, can be scary – the only way to overcome this is to get lots of practice!
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

3. EPQ 2017 Planning for and preparing your presentation
Giving an effective talk is largely about thinking ahead and carrying out thorough preparation. There are various stages in preparing your presentation. You can break down each step into chunks such as these.
Title?
If you are giving a presentation as a part of an EPQ, you will need to cover the research that you have conducted. So decide a title of your talk – this may be your EP title. The title will need to inform the audience about what will follow.
Purpose?
You also need to make clear what are you hoping to achieve with your presentation? Being clear about its purpose helps you decide what to include or omit, and what approach to use. For example:
if the presentation aims to inform or explain the process you have been through, it helps to have a logical order and to use examples
if the presentation aims to persuade people that your conclusions are right, it also helps to be convincing - use plausible evidence and show positivity and enthusiasm.
In the context of your EP, it is likely that one major aim of your presentation will be for you to reflect on the process you have undergone and its success.
Research the topic, so that you know enough about its background to feel confident with your particular angle on it. Get your facts and figures ready. Remember, you will still need to reference any sources, facts, figures you use just as you would in an essay.
Understand the brief and know your audience
You should be aware of the following before starting your presentation:
Time and duration of your presentation
Mode of presentation (Are you going to be on a stage or in front of class? Will it be formal/informal?)
Venue and what facilities are available
Assessment criteria
Make sure you know your brief because there is no point preparing your talk until you know it.
To pitch a presentation correctly, you must consider the audience in terms of their level of knowledge, the degree of formality and the type of language used. Here are a few things it is helpful to find out:
What do members of the audience do? (Are they pupils, teachers or others?)
What level of knowledge do the audience have on the topic that you are going to talk about?
What will be new to them?
Is anything that you are going to say which will alarm them?
What is the benefit to the audience of listening to your presentation?
Once you've considered these points you can now begin to choose what you will say and show in your presentation, knowing that it will be of interest or benefit to your audience.
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

4. EPQ 2017 Decide on your structure
Introduction
Main Body
Conclusion
Say what your going to say
Say it
Say what you have said
Your presentation should have a clear beginning, middle and end ie an introduction, main body and conclusion. It is important to get your message across and saying it clearly and then repeating it will help the listener receive the message.
So - Say ‘what you are going to say, ‘Say’ it, then ‘Say’ what you have said.
Your presentation should always have a take home message or the main finding as there could be more than one conclusion. For instance, in the context of the extended project you may want to reiterate something interesting that you have learned about the subject your project addressed.
Or, you might want to emphasise something you have learned whilst undergoing the research process – for instance that in future you’ll approach time management differently!
Take Home Message
The main finding
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

5. EPQ 2017 Planning for and preparing your presentation
With a structure in mind you now need to prepare the script.
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

6. EPQ 2017 Narrow your topic and prepare your script
Decide on your main headings
Consider using subheadings
If using slides, decide on the number
Consider writing brief notes, for instance onto ‘prompt cards’
Refine and narrow the topic so that you have a few main points or headings (usually between three to seven, depending on the length of the talk – a common structure is 3 x 3; 3 main points with 3 sub-points) on which you can elaborate, together with supporting evidence for your argument or train of thought.
For a 10min presentation it is recommended to limit your talk to 6-7 slides if using PowerPoint.
Even if you are not using slides, this is still a helpful guide to the number of headings you should be working to.
Unless you are confident that you can ad lib and not forget important details, write brief notes onto ‘prompt cards’ to help make sure that you cover the ground you intend to, and in the right order.
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

7. EPQ 2017 Narrow your topic and prepare your script
Put main points on ‘flash’ cards
Note main points
on sheets of
paper
There are various ways of making notes. Choose the one that suits you.
You may choose to write out your notes in full; having rehearsed a few times you may then be able to memorise them and deliver with the help of a crib sheet containing the main headings.
Or you may choose to create flash cards or diagrams
Diagram or chart
Fully written out text
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

8. EPQ 2017 Planning for and preparing your presentation
Now you need to consider what your audience is going to look at.
Visual aids are always critical!
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

9. EPQ 2017 Are you using visual aids?
Handouts
Quiz sheets or audience polls
Flip chart paper/white or black board
Power point slides and projector
Present prototype or object of interest
Short activity / game
Pictures/movies/posters
Audio music or radio clips or your own recording
It’s worth considering using visual aids as they are another way of helping people to understand what you mean and remaining engaged with your talk.
Here are a few things that you might do:
You may decide to distribute handouts. Keep these relatively short and use bullets points.
Ask questions to reinforce key points.
Retro tools such as flip chart paper/white or black board may add some style to your presentation
Most commonly presentations will use power point slides and projector but there are many other media that can be used
Power point sides are one of the most common, popular and effective visual aids used these days. So we will deal with this in a bit detail and talk about some do’s and don’ts.
We’re now back in the territory of technology and it is important to avoid some common errors, if possible.
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

10. This is Comic Sans MS 36 This is Comic Sans MS 28
EPQ 2017 Make it big enough!
This is Comic Sans MS 8
This is Comic Sans MS 12
This is Comic Sans MS 18
This is Comic Sans MS 20
Small text will be very difficult to read. A recommended size for the main body is between 20 – 28 and between 30 – 40 for the headings.
This is Comic Sans MS 28
This is Comic Sans MS 36
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

11. EPQ 2017 Cars running in Street
Boston
New York LA
San Francisco
Montana
North Dakota
Texas
Florida
December
11,
22,
10, 5, 4, 8,
January
February
March
April
15,
30,
15,
18, 7,
10,
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Too much detail
This slide has too much detail and no audience will be able to make sense of it. So it is an absolute critical not to include things in this detail for you PowerPoint presentation. So to convey the message in this slide in more simpler way you may have to compromise with the detail a bit as on the next slide.
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

12. EPQ 2017 Cars running in Street
East
West
North
South
Winter 99 60 27 54
Spring
111 73 33 61
Summer
135 45 75
Autumn
This slide captures the main information in a much simpler format. Some detail has been sacrificed, but this will be much more useful to the viewer than the previous version. It is your job as a presenter to be an editor: you are doing the hard work for your audience, choosing what it is most helpful for them to know and how best to present it so that they can understand it and find it interesting and informative.
The KISS principle will help.
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

13. Sound may be distracting Use it only when it is absolutely essential
EPQ 2017 Keep it simple
Click the icon in the centre for the sound
Sound may be distracting
Use it only when it is absolutely essential
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

14. Too much animation will spin your
EPQ 2017 Keep it simple
Too much animation will spin your
& the audience’s heads so use with caution
Too much animation will spin your
& the audience’s heads so use with caution
Too much animation will spin your
& the audience’s heads so use with caution
Furthermore, while it is important to refer to your slides, it is certainly not beneficial to read them out unless you are adding emphasis to some critical statements.
Too much animation will spin your
& the audience’s heads so use with caution
Too much animation will spin your
& the audience’s heads so use with caution
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

15. EPQ 2017 Planning for and preparing your presentation
Next one must consider rehearsal!
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

16. Practice, practice, practice
EPQ 2017 Rehearse your talk
Practice at any time
Practice, practice, practice
It really is true that practice makes perfect – or at least better and more relaxed – when it comes to giving a presentation or talk.
Here are few suggestions for how you might go about gaining this practice.
Deliver it to yourself – for instance in front of a mirror if possible
try it on your friends
try it on your gran!
If you decide to practice your talk on other people, don’t just choose people you know will be really nice. But don’t choose to practice on someone who is usually negative and discouraging either! What you want is somebody who will listen and given you helpful feedback.
All good in theory but how about the practice. Are there any obvious pitfalls?
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

17. So if that is HOW NOT TO DO IT what can we do to make it a success:
So if that is HOW NOT TO DO IT what can we do to make it a success:
Try to ensure there are no distractions
External - people walking past
Technical – noises/ lights
Personal – mannerisms/ gimmicks/ dress
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

18. EPQ 2017 Delivering an effective presentation
Introduce yourself
Smile and sound interested
Tell the audience the structure of your talk
Use the right language for your audience
There are certain essentials when you stand up to give a presentation, particularly if you are not known to your audience.
Introduce yourself
Smile and sound interested
Tell the audience the structure of your talk
Use the right language for your audience
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

19. Try to make eye contact with as many people as possible
EPQ 2017 Eye contact...
Try to make eye contact with as many people
as possible
Creates a positive atmosphere
Makes the audience feel included
Audience gets more out of your talk
To make eye contact is one of the most important parts of delivering a talk or visual presentation. So try to make eye contact with as many people as possible.
This creates a very positive atmosphere and makes your audience feel included in your presentation. As a result they get more out of the presentation.
It is also important not to move about too much even if you want to connect with the audience; this can be very distracting.
Similarly, it is important not to try to hide behind your props or the lectern; be positive and look confident.
When you start to talk:
Do not mumble
Do not hide
Do not waffle
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

20. EPQ 2017 Pace and Pauses DO NOT FACE THE SCREEN! DO NOT MUMBLE!
Maintain right pace
Use your voice and pauses to move between
points
Your voice is the key to your presentation so make sure that you speak clearly and audibly.
Do not mumble and certainly don’t face the screen when you are talking.
It’s important when talking to maintain an appropriate pace, not too slow and not too fast. If you are nervous you may be tempted to talk fast and you may not realise it. The only way to learn to speak at the right pace is to practice.
Do not forget to take pauses and use your voice and pauses to move between points
Pauses for emphasis
Pauses not only while presenting but also between the slides to give audience some time to absorb what you have presented so far
Pauses are very powerful and allow you to emphasise and get your point across.
Most importantly relax, breathe (it’s surprisingly easy to forget to do this) and remember that your audience is on your side.
MLK was an expert. Have a look at his use of pauses and the slow pace of his delivery, so essential when addressing a large audience and in order to emphasise the message. He doesn’t use too many words and he doesn’t over complicate his sentences.
Relax, breathe deeply and remember
that your audience is on your side
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

21. EPQ 2017 Pace and Pauses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

22. EPQ 2017 Planning for and preparing your presentation
That’s something to aspire to!
So when you think you have finished all that remains is to open up to questions from your audience!!
Handling questions is a skilful business and it is worth just considering this now.
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

23. EPQ 2017 Handling questions
Pause and give yourself a little time before answering
Questions are opportunities not threats
If you do not know the answer there are ways to buy time, for example:
you can acknowledge the question, noting what is interesting or thought provoking about it
ask the questioner to repeat or rephrase the question
Don’t try to answer a question that don’t know the answer for
If you have an answer... Don’t be tempted to waffle!
Do not jump to answer.
Pause and give yourself a little time to organise your thoughts before answering.
Also think if you have already answered the question during the presentation or your research.
Try not to see questions as threats but rather take it as an opportunity to talk more about your work even if the question seems confrontational.
If you do not know the answer you can buy time by saying it is a very good question, or say thanks for the question.
If you do not understand the question and you need clarification it is ok to request to repeat or rephrase it and while you say that, you can think of possible answers.
Do not answer the question if you do not know the answer.
It is fine not to know answers, no one is expert on everything, if you think it raises an interesting issue, acknowledge it and say thank you for the question/it is an interesting question/it’s a very good point but that is something that we have not considered but it will be interesting for future study.
If you know the answer do not waffle.
One approach is to break down your answer in clear brief points.
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

24. EPQ 2017 How prepared are you?
Decide on your title and aim
Know your brief & audience
Decide on your structure
Narrow the topic and prepare script
Decide on visual aids
Rehearse your talk
Deliver your talk
Handle questions
In conclusion then, you will have covered all the bases by following this process and you should be as prepared as you can be to deliver your presentation.
DO NOT BE AFRAID!!
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

25. EPQ 2017
Good Luck!
EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG

26. EPQ 2017 Effective Presentations MHG