1. Make the right choice
Choose the subject you’re
most attracted to. If you have several topics to choose from, then trust
your instinct as first impressions are usually right. If you are given
one, narrow it to focus on what interests you most.
Don’t opt for a subject
just because you already know lots about it. Discovering a new topic
makes your task easier, as you can approach it without any preconceived
ideas.
2. Pin down your subject
Take advantage of your
stored knowledge and write down all the words that come to your mind and
use them as headings. Take a presentation on “Oceans”, for example:
Fishing Tides Inhabitants Ecology Tsunami Pollution
Then, ask yourself questions starting with “who”, “when”, “what”, “where”, “how” and “why”
- Who lives in them?
- Who studies them?
- When will they disappear?
- Where were the oceans that have disappeared?
- Who protects them?
- Who pollutes them?
- When did they appear?
- Where are they?
- How do they appear?
- Why should we be concerned?
- How should we preserve them?
- Why are there tsunamis?
All this brainstorming
should help you write your outline, that is to say, should help you map
out your presentation as it if were a journey, with a starting point and
an arrival point: each part is a necessary step in the process.
3. Avoid Internet traps
The internet is a gold mine
provided you know how to make good use of it. Draw a list of
questions beforehand rather than “jump headfirst” into a website.
Check the origin of the
site. “gov.UK” designates a government site, “univ-xxx.uk” corresponds
to a university, “org.UK” corresponds to an organisation.
What do you know about the
author(s)? Is he/she a researcher, a fan, a freak, a teacher? By the
way, teachers sites tend to be reliable.
Can you trust the site?
Is it “fresh”? If it dates back to 2002 and has not been updated since, forget it.
Is it “good quality”? Pay
attention to the language level and register. If you need to read the
same sentence ten times before understanding it or it is riddled with
spelling mistakes, you’d better move on!
Check if other sites
confirm the information you found in a given website. For example, as
you know, in Wilkipedia there is a bit of everything, since anyone can
add up information to the site.
4. Variety is the spice of life!
One of the advantages of
preparing a presentation is that you can tap into a variety of sources.
Go to a museum, to the cinema, to the theatre. If you go to the library,
ask the librarian for advice. Beware: once you have made up your mind,
don’t photocopy everything, it wouldn’t be “ecological” and you might
end up drowning in a sea of paper!
5. Write as little as possible on the visuals
If you read from slides you will probably bore your audience to death. Write headings, sub-headings, and examples on a limited number of slidesl. In order to be able to spot all of them easily, highlight them in different colours, for example use yellow for figures or dates and pink for quotations. Make sure you are familiar with the visuals you present, to feel confident in front of your audience.
There are other, more attractive ways of illustrating your presentation: create a word cloud , use prezi , glogster or a mindmap to really engage your audience.
6. What’s wrong with having fun? Don’t be afraid to use props!
Photos, videos, PowerPoint,
music, drawings... The aim is to catch your audience’s attention. A
presentation on Shakespeare? Why not begin you presentation reciting
Hamlet’s monologue while holding a skull in your hand?!
Check everything is under control: is the computer on? Does the projector work?
Watch out: don’t overwhelm
the public. Your goal is to spice up your presentation not to mask your
lack of knowledge by using distractors...
7. Stressed out?
Is your heart beating fast,
are your palms sweaty? Whether you’re shy or not, making a presentation
can be stressful. Here are some tips to help you get over it:
· Two days in advance
Do some physical exercise
and tire yourself out. This will release endorphins, a substance
secreted by your body which is highly efficient against stress
· On the eve of the big day:
Have a square, balanced
dinner, pasta or rice followed by fish or white meat and vegetables will
do. Have a camomile infusion or a glass of warm milk with honey
· Ten minutes before the real thing:
Think positive. Imagine a
pleasant scene: it’s summer time, the sky is blue and a wonderful smell
of lavender is floating in the air...
Breathe properly: close
your eyes, breathe in through your nose, then breath out slowly through
your mouth. Go on till you feel more relaxed.
8. Act it out! Become a presentation star!
Speak loud to sound convincing.
Rehearse: you may want to
ask somebody to play the part of the audience or just practise in front
of a mirror. Don’t forget to time yourself while you’re at it
Listen to yourself: watch out for unnecessary fillers such us “uh”, “you know” “well”...
Don’t beat about the bush. Each sentence should contain an idea. Use simple structures, ideally in the present tense.
9. What about body language? Here are some do’s and don’ts...
Do's
Vary your intonation. Be articulate and take a few pauses throughout your presentation
Look at everybody in the eye, NOT ONLY your teacher but all the other students
Make gestures to emphasise
important points. Take a pen in your hand. Use the board to write the
outline, a relevant word, a date...
If you’re sitting: keep a straight back, keep your feet on the floor.
If you’re standing: make sure everybody can see your face. Change place every time you start a new part.
Don’ts
Don’t mumble. Don’t use the same tone all the time. Don’t speak too fast or too slowly.
Don’t stare at your notes or at your shoes. Don’t focus on your teacher.
Don’t mess with your hair , don’t tug at your T-shirt twenty times in a row, don’t scratch your ear.
Don’t put your hands in your pockets or behind your back.
If you’re sitting: don’t wriggle your feet don’t swivel or twitch. Don’t cross your arms.
If you’re standing: don’t keep on walking to and fro but don’t freeze in the same spot either.
Don’t lean against the wall.
10. Post Sale Service
No “skulkers” wanted! Don’t try to avoid questions, they’re a chance for you to show off your knowledge.
Think about what questions
could be asked. Ask somebody to test you with complicated questions. Be
sly: you may want to leave out some points so you can fall back on them
during question time.
If you don’t know the
answer, you can “save face” by plainly admitting you don’t know and
saying: “I don’t know but perhaps somebody in the classroom will know”
or “I’m afraid I can’t answer now but I’ll find the answer for
tomorrow”.
