MEMO
To: English 302 Students
From: Chris Nelson, Course Lecturer
Date: [TBA]
Subject: Project 9: Providing Effective Oral Presentations
Your last group project of the semester asks you to draw on your experience thus far of working in groups to implement effective oral transactional communication. We have examined the criteria for effective visual and written design; you have also provided two oral presentations already: the Style Presentation and the Mock Job Talk. We will now cover criteria for providing effective oral presentations. This project asks you and your group to use your knowledge of the various means of writing and speaking we have examined during this semester to construct an engaging, transactional, and persuasive oral performance.
Task
As a group, prepare and give an oral presentation in class. Your topic can be anything, with the qualification that you provide a transactional presentation—one that persuades us to do something that is worthwhile—and you show us how to do it. I will evaluate primarily on your ability to persuade us toward a particular point of view and/or action. Obviously, your presentation must fall within the realms of good taste, so you need to make sure, as Locker points out, that your presentation is adapted to your audience(s).
Topics can range from showing people how to cook to illustrating how to use the library databases. The topics are endless, but you must work together as a group, your topic must be worthwhile to a college-level audience, and you must be persuasive that your topic is something worth doing. So, think of something you all would enjoy presenting to an audience, and then consider how best to adapt your message to your audience. How you “frame” a topic for your audience is an important consideration: reflect on my own oral presentation on Thursday regarding the abstract concept of “focus.” I “framed” my discussion about the benefits of focus from a particular point of view. Creating a frame, a way of understanding, for your listeners is one of the hallmarks of a good oral presentation.
Presentations will last for 20 minutes. On the day of your presentation, please provide me with an outline of your talk, so that I may follow the order of your presentation, and grade accordingly.
Considerations for Working Effectively as a Group
Group oral presentations often fall prey to the same weakness as other group endeavors: not enough time to prepare as a group. In order to counter this possibility, I suggest two things:
- take advantage of time during and outside of class to plan, meet, and practice
- make sure your topic is of interest to all group members, even if some of are not knowledgeable of the topic. Having even one member in your group who doesn’t care about your topic will throw off your presentation, and will result in a poor presentation that everyone will notice.
I do not require that you use Power Point for this presentation, but in the interest of using time efficiently, Power Point is one easy way to create visual aids if anyone in your group is familiar with the program. Other visual aids could be relevant clips from tapes or cds, or even visuals/graphs/ pictures on the over head projector.
Good Presentations Involve Planning
At the end of class on [date—TBA] we will decide when each group will give their presentation by picking numbers from a bowl: presentations will take place on Finals Day, [date—TBA]. You will have all next week to prepare for your presentation. Use class time wisely.
If you would like to use a computer projector, let me know by [date], so I may reserve one. You are responsible for providing your own laptop if you do wish to use power point or video as part of your presentation.
Finally, be sure to have a backup plan if you are using technology. In my years of attending conferences, I’ve witnessed first-hand how Murphy’s Law has tinkered with technology to ruin many a presentation. So, for example, if you are using Power Point, have your presentation ready on transparencies, just in case something goes wrong with your computer. You will be graded on having a backup plan if you need to implement one.
Evaluation Criteria Elements
In order to get an A, your group/group’s performance will:
- Have an identifiable beginning, which provides an overview of the entire presentation, and expresses the key point
- Ensure each speaker reinforces the same overall purpose/topic throughout the presentation
- Use Signposts
- Transition smoothly from speaker to speaker
- Supply at least 1 attractive, complete handout and 1 visual aid
- Speak with confidence
- Incorporate visuals that augment your oral delivery, rather than use visuals that you read from.
- Pronounce words clearly
- Attribute sources of information orally and on your handout
- Build a relationship with your audience
- Use the You-Attitude to highlight the benefits of your topic
- Involve your audience with activities
- Enforce time limits strictly
- Persuade your audience your topic is worthwhile to perform or understand
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to acquaint yourself with the often frightening act of public speaking by using the concrete techniques and strategies we covered in class and in Locker. This project also enables you to use the strategies for working together as a group for the purpose of delivering oral messages. Finally, it will acquaint you with strategies for oral delivery that you may use in workplace settings.
Length
Presentation: 20 minutes
Handout(s): 1 – 2 pages
Due Date
[date—TBA]
Points
This project is part of your final portfolio score. I will weigh together your reflection of putting the presentation together and my evaluation of your performance. See the Oral Presentation Evaluation Rubric for how I will use the Evaluation Criteria Elements to assess your and your group’s performance.