How to Prepare An Oral Presentation

Practice your oral presentation so that you can give it with ease.

In the course of your job you may be asked to give an oral presentation at a conference or meeting. Scientists often given presentations to explain experiments they have conducted. In business, an employee might be asked to give a sales presentation to a client or make a report to managers on the outcome of a work project. The key to a good oral presentation is preparation. Give yourself plenty of time to research your topic and write a strong speech.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Select your topic. Decide whether the purpose of your presentation is to inform or persuade your audience. Determine whether your audience will be experts on the topic or individuals with little knowledge of it, and whether your presentation will allow for audience interaction. Consider the location where you will make your speech and whether it has the technology to support visual aids.

2. Research your topic and collect data. If your oral presentation is on a scientific or academic subject, you may need to conduct experiments and surveys before writing your speech. A business presentation might require gathering financial, sales or employment reports. Consider writing your key pieces of information on index cards so that you can move them around as you figure out the best organization for your presentation.

3. Write an introduction to your oral presentation which provides an overview of your topic and gives the audience a road map as to how you will cover the topic. For example, if you are presenting ways to improve website traffic in the next quarter you might tell your audience that you will be discussing three strategies they can implement.

4. Write the body of your presentation using the structure you described in the introduction. Your organization of the body will depend on the topic and any expectations of your profession. Check with your supervisor to find out whether there is a required format. If you have written an article on your subject, do not assume that the oral presentation should be organized in the same manner since people do not process a speech in the same way they process printed material. A chronological structure works well if there is a clear sequence of events. Scientific presentations often use a methods, results and discussion structure. If the usual structure seems awkward, consider using an idea structure beginning with the idea that is most relevant to the topic.

5. Write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of your speech, makes recommendations for any future action and thanks the audience for their attendance. Decide whether you will entertain questions after or during the presentation. Unless your topic is very technical, reduce your speech to an outline and use the outline as a reference during the presentation. Prepare any handouts and visual aids that you plan to use. Rehearse your oral presentation until you are comfortable giving it without reading your notes. Arrive at the speech location with plenty of time to set up visual aids. Greet your audience as they arrive and enjoy your presentation.

References

• Bridgewater State College; How to Give Better Presentations; James Hayes-Bohanan; October 2010
• Concordia University, Student Learning Services: How to Prepare an Oral Presentation
• University of Kansas Medical Center; Initial Planning; Jeff Radel
• University of Kansas Medical Center; Preparation; Jeff Radel
• University of Kansas Medical Center; Outlining; Jeff Radel