Presentation skills - University of Salford

Presentation skills

Suzanne Waugh

Study Skills Consultant

Presentations

• What is the presentation about?

• How long does it have to be?

• Who is the audience?

• Will you have PowerPoint or other facilities?

• Is it an individual or group presentation?

Don’t forget…

• Look at the

assessment criteria

• Make sure you

understand what

you’re being asked to

do

Using technology

• Make sure you know

how to use the

equipment properly

• What sort of

PowerPoint slides are

appropriate?

You choose ….

Good or Bad?

Using PowerPoint

• Don’t put too many words on each slide

• Remember your title slide

• Keep the slides in a logical order

• Be careful of using colours which clash

• Don’t overdo the animation!

But…

• Make sure you don’t

rely 100% on the

technology

• Have a back-up plan,

just in case!

• Familiarise yourself

with the room

beforehand if possible

Other visual aids

For example:

• Whiteboard or

interactive whiteboard

• Posters

Using whiteboards

• Make sure your

handwriting is legible

• Use the correct type

of pen!

• If using an interactive

whiteboard, make

sure it is calibrated

first and that you

know how to use it

Using posters

• Make sure diagrams

are large enough

• Don’t put too much

detail onto your

poster

The content

• Plan your

presentation like you

would plan an essay

• Introduction, middle,

conclusion

• Structure – are you

explaining things in

the right order?

The content

• Have you done

adequate research?

• Have you referred to

the theories, policies

and academic

literature if

necessary?

• References

Handouts

• Are you providing

handouts?

• What are you going to

put on the handout?

• Is it clearly written

and well presented?

• When are you going

to give the handout to

the audience?

Presenting - tips

• Face the audience and try

to make eye contact

• Make sure the audience

can see the screen

• Where will you stand?

• Speak slowly and try to

project your voice

• Take a break for a few

seconds if you need to

Presenting - tips

• Use prompt cards or brief notes – don’t read from a script

• Will you hold prompt cards or will they be on a table?

• Remember your conclusion – end on an important point

• Be yourself!

Dealing with nerves

• Memorise the first 2

or 3 sentences of

your presentation

• Rehearse

• Rehearse some

more!

Dealing with nerves

• Breathe deeply

• Speak slowly

• Take a few seconds

to compose yourself

• If all else fails, make

sure your main points

are on the screen

• The audience do

understand that you

might be nervous

Dealing with questions

• Try to think beforehand about what you might be asked, and plan your responses

• Take your time, and answer calmly

• Remember – most people are not trying to catch you out!

For more information

• Look at the Presentation Skills guide at

www.salford.ac.uk/skills-for-learning