Presentation Skills: Key Elements
Introduction Slide
- Thesis/Topic
- Name, date, class
- Version presentations
- Backup method
A Good Thesis
- Thesis Definition: The central message or argument
- Different from a topic
- Short enough to remember
- Example:
- Weak: “This presentation is about marketing.”
- Strong: “Effective marketing strategies can increase customer retention by 20%.”
Active learning
- Why
- 10 minutes before heart rate slows down
- Sense of engagement / danger
- Think-Pair-Share or Breakout:
- Good for creating initial energy, especially if a quiet crowd
- Pose a question, have participants discuss in pairs, then share with the group
- Live Polls or Quizzes:
- Use tools like Mentimeter, Kahoot, or Slido to pose questions
- Show of hands (or fingers 1,2,3,4, …)
- Avoid right/wrong questions
- Application problem
- Written problem to allow for processing time
- Gives time to walk around for one-on-one input
Slide design
- One thought per slide: Thesis
- Bullet points 6x6 grid?
- Image focus
- Use PPT slide design
- Sourcing good images
- Open license images
- GenAI images
- WordArt (encode meaning)
Body
- Good Posture:
- Stand tall with shoulders back
- Weight evenly distributed
- Avoid fidgeting or slouching
- Eye contact:
- Ping-pong from person to person around the room
- Hold eye contact for 3-5 seconds per person/group (one sentence)
- No notes
- Direct audience to slides to help them see what is important
- Room movement
Voice
- Typical Mistakes:
- Speaking too quickly (nervousness)
- Speaking too slowly (monotony)
- **Use pauses to **:
- Slow down
- Emphasize critical points
- Breath Deeply:
- Inhale slowly through your nose, filling your diaphragm
- Hold for a moment, then exhale slowly
- Repeat before speaking or during pauses