| The Annual UW Undergraduate Research Symposium |  |
Presentation Tutorial
Friday, May 16, 2008 in Mary Gates Hall
Presentation Tutorial by: Don Wulff, Associate Director, Center for Instructional Development and Research
Planning
What are some of the major issues to consider in planning for the presentation?
- Do some audience analysis.
- Decide on a purpose.
- Determine how much time.
- Work in an overall format of three parts. (introduction, body, conclusion)
- Organize in a research format. (questions, transitions?)
Also think about:
- Attention, Motivation, Overview (Pull audience into the topic.)
- Rationale/Need
- Approach/Method
- Results (statistics, examples-avoid imprecise words, e.g., "stuff, tons of. . .
- Implications
- Closure (Re-emphasize or reinforce, next steps, check understanding.)
Presenting
What are some special caveats to consider for successful delivery of the research presentation?
- Be in control. (Distance, posture, eye contact, gestures, pauses, voice)
- Think in terms of frameworks.
- Adapt if/when necessary. (Avoid references to time)
- Avoid speaking too quickly.
- Engage the audience. (Humor, examples, stories)
- Signal the audience (Remember, they are not reading but listening).
- Avoid verbal clutter. (Ahh, um, ya know, thinking out loud)
- Control fear. (Accept it, practice, analyze, visualize success)
- Leave time for questions.
- Smile
Self-Assessing
What are some ways to assess how you did after the presentation?
- Decide how well you achieved your goal(s).
- Remember, there is no one best way.
- Think in terms of things to change/improvements (not weaknesses).
- Think back to audience reaction.
- Do not be hard on yourself.
