Preparing your presentation

Presentation assessments require you to research a particular topic and then prepare and deliver an oral presentation on the topic. Some presentations are completed in a small group and require teamwork. Presentations are often accompanied by slides projected onto a screen, or shown as part of a video or online presentation.

Content
The content of your presentation will be centred around your research of the topic. For example, you may be asked to research a particular issue or a specific organisation, so you will need to read about that issue/organisation and collect relevant information. Then, the information will need to be organised and conceptualised clearly for your audience.

Structure
A presentation follows the usual structure; it has an introduction, a body and a conclusion. In your introduction, outline what you are going to talk about, how your talk is going to be structured, and perhaps what you are intending to achieve with the talk. You can engage the audience and begin strongly by giving a powerful quotation, surprising statistics or information, or asking a question.

In the body of your presentation, you should have clearly defined sections and evidence and examples. You may also have some tables, graphs or images as visual support material. You should deliver information step-by-step so that your audience can follow your ideas.

In your conclusion, recap the main points and reinforce the importance of your topic. You could go for a 'big finish' by inviting questions from the audience, or you can present some questions or issues to your audience to create further discussion.

Style
When people take things in by ear, they need to be reminded of the direction your talk is taking and how the major points link up. Therefore it’s a good idea to repeat the main points, and summarise what you have said. Use devices like 'So, where do we go from here?', 'That brings me to my next point ...', 'So far, we've looked at....'.

Steps of preparting a presentation

Preparing the content of a presentation is a process, just like preparing a written assignment.

Plan

Analyse the task and brainstorm ideas about the topic.
Develop a rough outline of what you might include. This can come from the assessment guidelines, or key points your educator has told you to include. You may want to do this in the form of a mind map.
Research your topic to find information by reading and taking notes.

Prepare

Organise your research into your outline and write each section of your presentation. Keep the time limit in mind and cut out any redundant or irrelevant information.
Summarise your speech into concise notes. These will eventually become your cue cards. Make sure when using cue cards, to number them. Dot points are best, as anything written in sentences will encourage you to read, especially if you are nervous.
Plan and prepare your visuals. Ensure your ideas are conceptualised clearly and that information from sources is referenced in either APA Style (Counselling, Psychology, Social Work), or Harvard Style (Criminology).

Practice

Practice presenting your speech in front of a mirror, or record for yourself, to ensure you get the timing right (often presentations last 20 minutes).
If you have enough courage, ask a friend or family member to watch you. Ask for feedback on volume, gestures, speed, and the clarity of your message.

Present

Arrive to class early. If you have access to the room and there is time, practice standing at the front to get a feel for the room and space. Also make sure any technology is working and ready to go. Have your cue cards ready and in order.
Have fun! You’ve worked hard to get to this point, so enjoy having everyone’s attention.