An oral presentation involves speaking in front of the class or a group of people.
The aim of an oral presentation is to:
It is important to engage your audience using various visual aids, such as
Appropriate body language and use of voice is important to convey meaning and keep your audience attentive.
Just like written work, a presentation has three main sections:
The introduction
The body
The conclusion
For more information see TAFE SA libraries' study guide on Presentations.
Before your presentation:
Aim to… | Avoid... |
Proof read all handouts/visuals | Typos, slang, acronyms (initials instead of words) |
Use visuals | Using no visuals or too many special effects/transitions |
Rehearse timing and positive body language Allow time for questions |
Being disorganised and running out of time |
Summarise your main points at the end | Ending abruptly, not planning for a strong ending |
Visit the area beforehand to check seating, equipment, lighting etc. | Arriving at the starting time, finding issues with the room and/or equipment |
During your presentation:
Aim to… | Avoid... |
Talk | Reading |
Stand | Sitting |
Move | Standing still |
Vary your pitch and speak clearly | Speaking softly in a monotone or mumble |
Make eye contact | Staring at the floor |
Seek feedback and involve your audience Give them opportunities to ask questions |
Ignoring your audience |
Display positive non-verbal cues, e.g. smiling | Negative body language, e.g. rolling eyes when someone asks a question |
Finish on time, with a strong statement | Going overtime |
After your presentation:
Media are images, soundtracks, video clips and other formats other than text. Various media can be be found on the Internet to add to your presentations. Don't forget to acknowledge media that you have sourced from elsewhere.
You can create your own media to include in your multimedia presentations. Your campus library may have the following equipment for loan:
Your lecturer may need to sign an Equipment Request Form for expensive equipment.
There may be strict borrowing times for some types of equipment.
You may also need to book the equipment in advance.
Ask for instructions if you are unsure of how to use the equipment.
Presentation software uses images, charts, images, sound and even videos to enable you to create a dynamic multimedia presentation.
You can use other people's media in a presentation, or you can create your own. Don't forget to provide citations for media that you do not create yourself.
There are many brands of presentation software
Prezi - works like one giant virtual whiteboard containing your entire presentation, where you can zoom in and out of sections.
SlideRocket - a collaborative, web-based application that integrates with third parties like Google Docs and Flickr, which is great for pulling live data and content.
Google Slides - are easy to store and share online, and can be downloaded as an app for phones or tablets.
Zoho Show 2.0 - includes live audio chat with presenters.
but the most popular is Microsoft PowerPoint.
See the TAFE SA software guide on Microsoft PowerPoint.
For Microsoft Office 365 training, including PowerPoint, click here.
Here are some tips to make your slideshow presentation more effective.
Watch Nancy Duarte's video on Five Rules for Presentations. (4.28 mins)
For more design and text hints, see Steal this Presentation.