Tips for delivering a good presentation

*Provide an introductory sentence at the beginning and a summary statement at the end (that is, first tell them what you are going to tell them, then tell them, and then you tell them what you have told them)

*Practise the delivery of the presentation three or four times in front of a mirror or video camera

*Start with an arresting statement, a metaphor or other comment that will capture their immediate interest

*Build in pauses in your delivery

*’Signpost’ to the audience throughout the presentation by returning to the overall structure and the key stages

*Plan to engender some well-placed and appropriate humour

*Stand confidently and do not lean or slouch

*Wear comfortable and professional clothing

*Time and plan each five-minute segment

*Never hand out information at the beginning, unless it is controlled and you ask the audience to turn each page as you work through the information

*Slow your speech down and practise sounding bold and confident, lift your head when talking

*Be aware that some people may have hearing impairment or not be a native English speaker

*Ensure you talk to the back of the room, not the front rows

*When answering questions include the audience, don’t just speak to the questioner (if the question could not be heard by everyone, repeat it for the audience)

*Read from well-prepared cards or notes (avoid reading a paper)

*Don’t race to get everything in at the end

*Occasionally smile.

From Carey Denholm, ‘Effective Oral Presentations during candidature’,

in Carey Denholm & Terry Evans (eds) Doctorates Downunder: Keys to Successful Doctoral Study (Melbourne: ACER Press, 2006), pp.147-148.