What makes for an effective presentation?

Making an oral presentation in the classroom? 

Here are some tips:

• Know your audience: their background, interest, expectations. Speak in a language they will understand (neither too sophisticated nor too elementary) – engage your audience!

• Know your subject matter (you should not need to read every word)

• Organization: have an introduction, good flow from one idea to another, sum it up at the end (conclusion)

• Consider methods to convey and present information: don’t just talk, use some visual aides (consider using PowerPoint at the least)

• Know your goal: what information do you want to get across to your audience? What are the main points you want to stress?

• Limit what you present, be concise but informative

• Pacing: don’t speak too fast or too slow

• Speech: consider modulation, articulation, volume, clarity

• Timing: don’t go too far over or under your allotted time (condense material as needed)

• Practice, rehearse: reflect on your rehearsal performance, assess and critique yourself