Oral Communication Toolkit

Prepare

Leave plenty of time for researching the topic;
Take time to draft, and redraft;
Develop slides, or OHTs that support, rather than summarise the presentation; and
Narrow the topic so it is manageable in the given time.

Identify the audience

Find out who they will be;
Find out about their level of knowledge or experience in the topic area; and
Decide what you will have to do to convince or persuade them.

Structure the presentation so it

Flows logically;
Proceeds through an introduction, body and conclusion;
Hangs together, with transitions between ideas and sections;
Builds to a strong conclusion; and
Stays within the time limit.

Practise

In front of a mirror;
Into a tape recorder or onto a video; or
Before a group of family or friends.

Engage with the audience by

Using eye contact;
Establishing credibility;
Using simple words;
Emphasising and repeating the main points;
Using ‘signposts’
Varying tone and pace; and
Smiling.

Enhance your presentation with

Well chosen and relevant slides or OHTs that are clear, easy to read and attractive to look at; and
Simple, uncluttered graphics.

Try to stay calm by

Rehearsing the presentation in advance;
Taking some deep breaths; and
Remembering that EVERYONE feels nervous in front of an audience.

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