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Learn how to create professional oral presentations by analyzing experimental results logically, planning, and engaging your audience through ethos, pathos, and logos. Discover tips on purpose definition, audience analysis, organization strategies, and visual aids preparation.
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Effective Oral Presentations Terry A. Ring Chemical Engineering
Ethos, Pathos, and Logos • Ethos—credibility • Pathos—emotional appeal • Logos—logical appeal (reasoning & evidence)
Technical Presentations • Much more Logos (logic) than Pathos (emotion) • Strive for Ethos (credibility)
Course Learning Objective • To produce a professional-quality oral presentation that presents, analyzes, and interprets experimental results logically and which are well organized and delivered.
Planning the Technical Presentation • Identify the purpose and the presentational objectives • Define the audience • Select a format and outline the presentation • Organize data and information • Draft the presentational script • Design and integrate effective visuals • Practice the presentation
Phase 1: Purpose and Objectives • Purpose– to inform, to teach/train, to persuade, or to sell • Objectives should be • Clear and briefly stated • Concrete • Action oriented (when appropriate) • Audience-focused
Phase 2: Audience Analysis • Listeners will differ according to: • Informational needs • Intended uses of data (of data, information, recommendations) • Knowledge of the topic • Range of experience in the topic field • Preconceptions of the speaker and presentation • Demographics • Size
Phase 2: Audience Analysis Cont. • Modify the topic, content, organization, format, and delivery • Anticipate and prepare for potential obstacles • Adjust, adapt, or alter the message during the presentation (This is hard to do!) • Design and include the most appropriate visual aids
Phase 3: Organization • Opening/Introduction • Attention-getting component (less important than Identification) • Establish interest • Identification component • Establish the topic significance, necessary background, and main argument • Forecasting component • Preview the order of topics
Phase 3: Organization Cont. • Middle/Body • Determine and limit the main points • Distinguish between main points and supporting evidence • Logically order the main points • Decide on the kind and amount of evidence needed • Keep depth and breadth symmetrical • Maintain unity and coherence of ideas
Phase 3: Organization Cont. • Examples of organizational strategies: • Chronological or sequential • Comparison or contrast • Cause-to-effect • Effect-to-cause • Familiar to unfamiliar • Geographical location • Importance • Problem - cause of problem - Solution
Phase 3: Organization Cont. • Conclusion • Reiterate the presentation objective • Review the main ideas • Remind audience of the “so what?” behind your research
Phase 4: Visual Aids • Advantages of visual aids: • Increase the message impact • Increase listener retention • Save time • Attract listeners’ attention • Add credibility • Strengthen organization, effectiveness, and efficiency • Assist the speaker
Phase 4: Visual Aids Cont. • Prepare appropriately • Prepare with specific audience in mind • Label drawings, figures, tables • Label important features of drawings • Show dimensions, measurements of drawings, figures • Use units consistently • Cite all outside contributions • gives speaker credibility
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special Note on Power Point • Present one major idea per slide • Use phrases rather than full sentences • Limit words to no more than 8 per line • Limit lines on the slide to no more than 8 • Use parallel sentence structure
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special Note on Power Point • Design consistent slides • Use the same colors, fonts, upper- and lowercase letters, and styling (boldface, underlining, italics) throughout each aid
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special Note on Power Point • Utilize appropriate type • Sans serif typeface for titles and major headings, or when only a few lines of text appear • 36-point type for major headings, 24-point type for subheadings, and 18-point type for the body of text • Use upper-and lower case type rather than all capitals
Serif Sans Serif Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special Note on Power Point • small flourishes or strokes at the tops • and bottoms of all letters • Times New Roman • Courier New • Garamond • Book Antiqua • more block-like and linear; they are designed without these tiny strokes • Arial Narrow • Haettenschweiler • Verdana • Century Gothic
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special Note on Power Point • Use color wisely • Apply color consistently across each aid • Use warm colors to highlight • Use blues, greens, and neutral colors backgrounds • Use contrasting colors for typeface and graphics • Keep the number of colors you use to a minimum • Stay within the same family of hues
Phase 4: Visual Aid Problems • Figure not labeled • Important features of figure not labeled • Dimensions of figure not given • Citation lacking
Phase 4: Visual Aids— A Special Note on Power Point Figure 1: Lathe • Figure labeled • Important features labeled • Citation presented • Dimensions lacking www.bhi.co.uk/ hints/lathadj.htm
Phase 4: Visual Aids Cont. • Use effectively • Reveal when appropriate • Refer attention when appropriate • Maintain audience focus
Phase 5: Rehearsal and Delivery • Rehearse to maximize effective delivery • Practice aloud with notes • Practice in a room similar to presentation venue • Practice with equipment to be used • Practice in front of an audience and/or record the rehearsal
Vocal Delivery Rate and pause Pronunciation Enunciation Conversational tone Physical Delivery Gestures and movement Facial expressions Posture Appearance Phase 5: Rehearsal and Delivery Cont.
Phase 6: Question and Answer Sessions • Anticipate questions your audience may ask • Bring additional materials to share with audience if necessary • Do not interrupt audience members • Keep your answers brief (if possible) • Thank your audience for their time and attention
A Summary of Technical Presentations • Technical presentations must be planned and prepared • Technical presentations must be organized with the audience in mind • Technical presentations should include well-prepared visuals • Technical presentations must be delivered effectively
References • Alley, M. (2003). The craft of scientific presentations: Critical steps to succeed and critical errors to avoid. New York: Springer. • Hager, P. J. & Scheiber, H. J. (1997). Designing and delivering scientific, technical, and managerial presentations. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. • Kenny, P. (1982). A handbook of public speaking for scientists and engineers. Philadelphia: Institute of Physics Publishing. • O’Hair, D., Steward, R., & Rubenstein, H. (2004). A speaker’s guidebook: Text and reference, 2nd ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s. • www.bhi.co.uk/ hints/lathadj.htm
For More Information Stacey Overholt, Communication Consultant– Center for Engineering Leadership Email: stacey.overholt@utah.edu Office Hours: by appointment. Terry A. Ring, Email: ring@chemeng.Utah.edu Office: MEB 2290