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KG604 Graduate Research & Critical Analysis Lesson Plan: Week 12 Dr. D. Tennyson, DBA
Group Presentations
KG604 Course Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
10. Develop and deliver an effective, informative, and impactful presentation.
A. 10 Tips for Improving Group Presentations (All in McArthur, 2011).
1. Hook the audience at the beginning. Every good speech entices the listener at the beginning of the speech. A group speech is no different. The introduction matters.
2. Introduce the team. Somewhere in the introduction, the cast of characters presenting should be introduced.
3. Write transitions. Every time members of the team switch into a speaking role, the speech should include a coordinated transition. Something simple might work: “Next, Emily will discuss the financial piece of this event.” Followed by a quick, “Thanks, Will.”
4. Move. The speaker should take center stage or a position in the foreground of the delivery area. Other members should flank the speaker by being visually “behind” the speaker.
5. Utilize visual aids well. Look at the audience while presenting, not the visual aid.
6. Share the work with visual aids. During a group presentation, the speaker should not be behind a computer or podium. Switch this job to a current non- speaker.
7. Build in strategic pauses. Rushing through your thoughts is a bad move in individual speeches, but in group speeches, rushing inspires more rushing. Slow it down. Pause. Don’t try to fill every moment with sound.
8. Pay attention to each other. There’s nothing that inspires audience boredom like presenter boredom. If you’re not the speaker, but you’re on the team, at least feign interest. Watch the speaker, respond nonverbally to the speaker. This sets the tone for how your audience will view the speaker and his/her information.
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KG604 Graduate Research & Critical Analysis Lesson Plan: Week 12 Dr. D. Tennyson, DBA
Group Presentations
9. Conclude the speech. The speech should be tied together at the end with key repetition of ideas and closing remarks. This is your chance to make the speech a cohesive one.
10. Practice. Rehearse the speech together at least three times. You should be able to predict the moves of your co-presenters to forgo the awkward stares at each other when someone misses a cue.
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KG604 Graduate Research & Critical Analysis Lesson Plan: Week 12 Dr. D. Tennyson, DBA
Group Presentations
B. Additional Tips for Successful Group Presentations (Dr. Tennyson)
1. Ensure that every team member participates in the presentation.
2. Use white or light-colored backgrounds to make it easy to read the words on the slides from the back of the class or online.
3. Include plenty of white space to facilitate ease of reading from different points in the class or online.
4. Use short bulleted phrases on the slides.
5. Use a font size that is large enough to see from the back of the classroom or online.
6. Ensure that numbers on charts or other graphics are large enough to be seen from the back of the classroom or online.
7. Position pictures or graphics on the slides where they do not interfere with the ability to read the slide.
8. Enter speaker notes on each of your slides to serve as a guideline for what you will say during the presentation; print the slides with speaker notes before the presentation and distribute the pages to each group member.
9. Speak loud enough for someone sitting in the back of the classroom to hear you.
10. Slow down and enunciate each word to ensure everyone in the room understands what you are saying.
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KG604 Graduate Research & Critical Analysis Lesson Plan: Week 12 Dr. D. Tennyson, DBA
Group Presentations
References
McArthur, J. A. (2011. November 11). 10 tips for improving group presentations.
Queens University of Charlotte. Retrieved from
https://jamcarthur.com/2011/11/01/10-tips-for-improving-group-presentations/