April 9, 2010 Archives
Topic:
Practice Oral Presentations
Deliver a two-minute speech that makes an argument you are planning to incorporate in Paper 3.
For this practice speech, what you say is less important than how you say it.
Additional Tips
For a course I used to teach on technical writing, I prepared a handout on oral reports. Many of those points apply to academic reports. I've included some of those key points below.
For this practice speech, what you say is less important than how you say it.
- DO prepare, but DON"T try to memorize, and DON"T read word-for-word from a script.
- DO time your speech so that you don't run over or under.
- Slide shows (such as PowerPoint presentations) can be very useful in the right context. But this assignment does not ask you to create a slide show. (In fact, I am not a big fan of the sins that PowerPoint tends to encourage... see "How NOT to use PowerPoint.")
- Remember that your audience wants you to succeed. In general:
- speak up so the back row can hear you
- make eye contact
- try not to fidget
- know your material well
- be interesting (lists are boring; choose fewer examples, or just a single case study, and go into greater depth)
Evaluation
This assignment applies to your class participation grade. I will give you feedback in the following areas:
- voice: volume, pace, and tone
- non-verbals: eye contact, posture, gestures, etc.
- preparation: timing & apparent comfort level
- content: depth and quality of argument
Additional Tips
For a course I used to teach on technical writing, I prepared a handout on oral reports. Many of those points apply to academic reports. I've included some of those key points below.
Continue reading Practice Oral Presentations.
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