UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, 7th Annual International Postgraduate Conference

Inclusion Exclusion

16-18th February 2006

Conference Presentation Skills Workshop

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Here are some guidelines and advice for preparation, planning, content, and delivery of your presentation at the 7th Postgraduate Conference. You might know some of these things already, but we would strongly urge you to read through the document carefully anyway.

I - Preparation

II - Planning

III - Content

IV - Presentation Delivery

V - Question & Answer Session

VI - Additional Points

For each topic you will find some theory, some tips for you to use in practice where this is appropriate, and finally a checklist with key issues for each topic.

I - Preparation

Theory

Practical Tips

  1. Look through your material and think about how much the audience will know.
  2. Your spoken presentation is not the written paper!

Checklist

Have you identified your target audience?

Is the content of your presentation appropriate for the time available?

II - Planning

Theory

Practical Tips

  1. Say what you’re going to say; say it; then say what you’ve just said!
  2. A useful rule for slides or transparencies is: 1 idea per slide/transparency, 5.6 words per line, 5.6 lines per slide/transparency.
  3. Think about what images might work well with the text on your slide. Remember the saying ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’.

Checklist

Is your presentation clearly structured? Have you defined what the different sections are?

Have you practised your presentation and made sure it runs to time?

Have you prepared, tested, and (where necessary) printed your audio-visual aids?

III - Content

Theory

Practical Tips

  1. Your presentation should sound as if you were speaking naturally. Use shorter sentences than you would if you were writing.
  2. To signal your structure, you can use linking phrases like: ‘Now I’m going to talk about…’; ‘At this stage, I want to show that…’; ‘We have just seen that… and now we will also see that…’ – or anything else you can think of!

Checklist

Is the written paper used only as a basis for the spoken presentation?

Does your presentation tell a story with clear messages?

IV - Presentation Delivery

Theory

Practical Tips

  1. If you are using slides which show the structure of your paper, they might work as your notes as well.
  2. Practising the presentation several times before the conference will help you feel much more confident when you actually have to speak.
  3. Try to look at different parts of the audience from time to time, including people at the sides and back of the room.
  4. If you have an important point that you can’t talk about in detail, you can invite the audience to ask you more about it in the question and answer session.

Checklist

Do you know where your session is happening?

Does your presentation fit into the time available?

Have you checked your visual aids work in the presentation room?

Will your voice and body language keep the audience’s attention?

Remember your posture, eye contact, gestures, and tone of voice.

V - Question & Answer Session

Practical Tips

  1. Make sure you have a piece of paper and a pen with you to write down the questions and ideas for an answer.
  2. If somebody disagrees with your presentation, ask them to explain why they feel that way.
  3. Think of the question and answer session as a chance to get to know members of the audience who might be useful contacts. Don’t think of it as an interrogation!

VI - Additional Points

Dealing with stress and anxiety

After the Presentation

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