1. Managing Business and Professional Communication
Chapter Thirteen: Managing Informative Presentations
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2. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step One: Analyze the audience
Step Two: Select the topic
Topic should be relevant to the audience
Topic should fit speaker’s expertise and interest
Step Three: Select a Purpose
Inform, persuade, entertain, inspire
Writing a purpose statement is a key aspect of informative message development. See Table 13.2 Writing Your Purpose Statement in the text for specifics on writing a good statement.
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3. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step Three: Select a Purpose
Inform, persuade, entertain, inspire
Step Four: Formulate a thesis
Explains the central idea
Often previews major points
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4. Creating a Thesis Statement
Poor thesis statement:
“My speech is on the Olympic Games.”
Why is this a poor thesis statement?
·  It is stating the speaker as the subject.
·  It does not summarize the main idea of the speech.
·  It is not focused.
Example from text insert
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5. Creating a Thesis Statement
Better Thesis Statement:
“The origin and history of the Olympics Games continues to influence the events and games of the modern day Olympics.”
Why is this a better thesis statement?
-It enables the speaker to weigh information against it.
-Does a certain piece of information answer the question as to how the origin of Olympic games influence today’s events and games?
-It portrays exactly what the speaker will be talking about.
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6. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step Five: Develop the main propositions
Amplify the thesis
Answer the audience question or need
The thesis statement is one of the most important parts in creating an effective message. See the text, Table 13.3 Writing Your Thesis Statement, for in-depth information.
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7. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step Six: Support the points
Examples
Illustrations
Narratives
Testimonial
Statistics
Expert Authority
Definition
Analogy
Using a variety of sources and tailoring them to the audience is essential.
Examples – real cases or situations which have occurred
Illustrations – longer and more in-depth than an example, include stories or anecdotes which are hypothetical as well as true
Narrative – a visual account or description in story form
Testimonial – personal stories add credibility
Statistics – used to explain facts, reveals intensity or frequency of a theme’s occurrence
Expert authority – credible support
Definition – literary, operational, origins and processes
Analogy – compares how two things are alike
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8. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step Seven: Develop an informative body format
Strong outlining
Have a strong opening, body, and close
Use consistent symbols
Use one idea or key word per symbol
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9. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step Seven: Choose an effective informative body design
Topical
Spatial
Chronological
Cause to effect, effect to cause
Known to unknown
Simple to complex
Topical – breaks down major components of the speech without attempting to organize them by function
Spatial – moving through the topic on the basis of space
Chronological – refers to movement and progress of a topic across time
Cause to effect, effect to cause – talks about facts in terms of the causes of observed results and the results of observed causes
Known to unknown – connecting with a beginning point that the audience understands and moving toward what they do not understand
Simple to complex – structures info from the simple to the more complex
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10. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step Eight: Develop the Introduction
The functions:
Gain attention
Build rapport
Orient the audience to the purpose
Identify unusual words
Common mistakes:
Talking around the point
Apologizing
Using gimmicks
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11. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step Eight: (con’t)
Gaining attention:
Startling statements
Quotations
Illustration – real or hypothetical
Case example
Questions
Rhetorical questions
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12. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step Nine: Construct a conclusion
Offer a summary of main points
Offer a means of motivation
Give a strong closing statement
Avoid:
Apologizing
Adding new material
Talking around the point
Contradicting your position
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13. Steps to Develop Informative Presentations
Step Ten: Making Connections and Tying the Message Together
Enumeration
Linking Phrases
Questions
Previews and Reviews
Remember to cite all your sources!!!!!!
Citing sources is key as it builds your credibility and helps to avoid plagiarism.
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14. Special Types of Informative Presentations
Oral reports
Spoken news releases and oral briefings
Announcements should:
Present your position or role
Include straight, to the point facts
Offer solutions to the problem
Present reassurance
Be kept short
Introduction of speakers: name, occasion, speaker’s credentials, story, excitement
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008