1. Oral Presentation Skills for PhD
Desmond Thomas,
University of Essex

2. Aims of workshop
To raise awareness of specific skills and strategies needed to deliver effective oral presentations (in general)
To discuss how developing OPS can contribute to the success of a research project.
To identify key elements in a “research in progress” presentation
To consider strategies for dealing with questions after a presentation

3. What are the features of a good oral presentations ?
Content of presentation
Structure? Organization? Coherence?
Communication Skills
Language (eg pronunciation, suitable style etc)

4. Points to note: Obama video
Big difference between talking to an audience and talking to camera
Amount of preparation time possible
Signposting – not just through words but through pauses, stress, intonation
Frequent use of deliberate repetition
Importance of speed of delivery
Importance of body language

5. The role of oral presentations in helping your research project to progress
Clarify your thinking in two ways – by the very act of having to structure your thoughts and as a result of listener feedback.
Produce ideas that can feed back into writing and can suggest new avenues to explore in your reading
An integral part of a researcher’s experience: upgrading interviews, final PhD viva, presenting at conferences, delivering lectures etc etc
Any other?

6. Plan a “research in progress” presentation
What elements will you need to include?
Research topic/draft title
Reasons for choosing topic
Research questions and claims
Research methodology
Expected findings
Anticipated problems
How will you present the information and how to achieve a balance between …
What is presented orally
What is presenting in writing (handouts, text of slides …)
What is presented visually (pictures, charts, diagrams, data tables

7. How to deal with questions?
Anticipating likely questions
Clarifying what questions mean
Dealing with questions that you can’t answer
Dealing with inappropriate questions
Knowing when to cut short the debate

8. Reminder: Summer Term Topics
Overview of key reading and writing skills
The writing process – developing productive routines and developing a structured chapter framework
Writing chapter introductions and conclusions
Reporting and analysing findings
Developing academic style
Editing your written work
Oral Presentation Skills: The Viva