Effective Oral Presentations

1. Effective Oral Presentations Terry A. Ring Chemical Engineering

2. Ethos, Pathos, and Logos • Ethos—credibility • Pathos—emotional appeal • Logos—logical appeal (reasoning & evidence)

3. Technical Presentations • Much more Logos (logic) than Pathos (emotion) • Strive for Ethos (credibility)

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Phase 3: Organization Cont. • Conclusion • Reiterate the presentation objective • Review the main ideas • Remind audience of the “so what?” behind your research

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Phase 4: Visual Aid Problems • Figure not labeled • Important features of figure not labeled • Dimensions of figure not given • Citation lacking

21. 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

22. Phase 4: Visual Aids Cont. • Use effectively • Reveal when appropriate • Refer attention when appropriate • Maintain audience focus

23. 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

24. Vocal Delivery Rate and pause Pronunciation Enunciation Conversational tone Physical Delivery Gestures and movement Facial expressions Posture Appearance Phase 5: Rehearsal and Delivery Cont.

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. Scoring Rubric

29. 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