Revised Project Plan

Pointers for Presentations and Visuals

Conquering Fear 1. Preparation 2. Positive Attitude, Self-counseling 3. Breathing, Visualization, etc.

Four “types” of delivery: 1. Manuscript (reading from prepared text) 2. Memorized (speech written/revised/proofed and learned verbatim) 3. Impromptu (no possibility of advance preparation/research, think on feet) 4. Extemporaneous (prepare well, use few notes, deliver “spontaneously”)

Audience Analysis 1. Group not “individual” analysis 2. Age 3. Cultural background 4. Education 5. Occupation 6. Politics 7. Religious affiliation 8. Sex 9. Socioeconomic status

Process 1. Analyze CMAPP

a) Context i) situation leading to presentation ii) size of room iii) size of audience iv) relationships with/within audience v) external or internal interference

b) Message i) answers to questions: what does audience know?/need to know? / want to know? ii) main points iii) subsidiary points, significant details, etc.

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c) Audience i) Audience Analysis (above) ii) Cultural referents iii) Level of discourse iv) Level of technicality

d) Purpose—inevitable overlap, but fundamentally: i) Informative: audience will know or understand something new/better ii) Descriptive: audience will see (in mind’s eye) something new or more clearly iii) Instructive: audience will know how to / be able to do something new/better iv) Persuasive: audience will change attitude/belief/behaviour

2. Identify objectives (what you want audience to remember: main points ã Outline’s level 1 heads) 3. Perform research, collect data ã information 4. Develop and work with formal, multi-level outline 5. Create speaking notes (words, phrases, icons, pictures, labels, etc.) 6. Rehearse

Three-part “rule” for perfect presentation: 1. Tell ’em what you’re gonna tell ’em 2. Tell ’em 3. Tell ’em what you told ’em

Introductory Segment 1. Use attention-getter 2. Introduce yourself (unless introduced by MC, etc.) 3. Provide initial summary (likely listing of objectives, above) 4. Establish speaker credibility/speaker relevance (why should they listen to you?) 5. Establish audience relevance (why should they be interested in this?)

Body 1. Conform to CMAPP analysis 2. Use transitions, e.g.,

Now that we’ve discussed ..., let’s look at …. We’ve already examined ...; so now we’ll turn to...

3. Use signposts, e.g., next..., first…, second…, third, etc.… 4. Use emphasis markers, e.g.,

Most important is…, … and I’d like to draw your attention to…

5. Use rhetorical questions 6. Summarize segments, e.g.,

So far we’ve seen three reasons: 1, 2… 7. Use repetition, e.g.,

... and as I’ve already mentioned…, … so, I’d like to repeat that…

Concluding Segment 1. Indicate closure, e.g.,

So, in conclusion, let me just…. Finally, I’d like to….

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2. Provide final summary (main points: “tell ‘em what you told ‘em”) 3. Specify action request (includes reiteration of theme, importance, etc.) 4. Provide a clear close, e.g.,

I do thank you for your time.... Thank you once again; I’ve enjoyed speaking with you.

Non-verbal characteristics I Paralinguistic features 1. Cultural referents (appropriate for CMAPP) 2. Enunciation 3. Facial expression 4. Gesture 5. Hesitation particles (um, uh, like, you know, etc.) 6. Level of discourse (appropriate for CMAPP) 7. Level of technicality (appropriate for CMAPP) 8. Movement 9. Posture 10. Pronunciation 11. Speed of delivery (variety) 12. Time constraints 13. Timing (e.g., jokes, pauses, etc.) 14. Tone/pitch/intonation (variety) 15. Volume (variety)

Visuals / Visual Aids 1. Illustrate, not overpower 2. Explain, not confuse 3. Maintain, not interrupt or impair “flow” 4. Simplify, not complicate 5. Enhance, not detract from 6. Fulfill specific intent—not be “mere frill” 7. Be visible to all 8. Be intelligible to all Text Slides

a) Use single words/short phrases only; no sentences; never paragraphs b) Never exceed total of title plus 6 points/lines c) Use serif for title, sans-serif for body-text (opposite of recommendations for documents) d) Maintain minimum 16 pt. text e) Avoid voice-over repetition: talk about/around text on screen f) Keep in order, keep readily accessible

Graphs/Charts a) Pie

i) items totaling 100% ii) general proportions of parts to whole iii) small number of wedges iv) maximum of one exploded section

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b) Line i) chronological progress—along X-axis ii) lack of continuous data change iii) Y-axis minimum/maximum points ã visual impression iv) Y-axis increments ã visual impression

c) Bar/Column i) comparisons/contrasts ii) numerous categories/series ã skyline effect… remember KISS iii) Y-axis sequence of horizontal bars ã visual impression of stability/instability iv) Y-axis minimum/maximum points ã visual impression v) Y-axis increments ã visual impression

d) Table i) Audience focus = selected cells, not full analysis ii) Visual impression: all other cells ã corroborative data

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