Learning English

Structure of a basic presentation

In an academic or business situation you may have to give a presentation. There are many different styles of presentation but there is a basic structure which can be used as a template.

Introduction
Tell your audience what you're going to be talking about. Here are some phrases you could use:

• Let me start by...
• I'll start by...
• First of all I'll...
• I'd like to begin by...
• My aim/purpose today is...

Body
Deliver your presentation with a clear structure and good signposting. This means using appropriate vocabulary to link and develop ideas. Here are a few suggestions:

• Moving on
  Let me now turn to...
  Let's move on to...
  Turning to...
  I'd like now to...
  Next...
  Let's look now at...
  
  
• Ordering information
  Firstly... secondly... thirdly... lastly
  First of all... then... next... after that... finally
  To start with... later... To finish
  
  
• Giving examples
  For example...
  A good example of this is...
  To illustrate this point...
  This can be seen...

Conclusion
Summarise your points and any conclusions.

• Before I finish I'd like to...
• Let's recap, shall we?
  
• I'd like to sum up now...
• Let me summarise briefly what I've said...
• If I can just sum up the main points...
• So, in conclusion/summary...

Read the text and complete the activity

Preparation

Planning
Plan your presentation carefully. Thorough preparation will make you more confident and help you to overcome your nervousness.

Objectives
Think about what you want to achieve. Are you aiming to inform, persuade, train or to entertain your audience?

Audience
Whom exactly will you be addressing? How many people will be attending? What do they need to know? What do they already know? What will they expect in terms of content and approach?

Content
Brainstorm your ideas first. Then decide which are the most relevant and appropriate to your audience and to your objectives and carry out any research that is necessary. Be selective. Don't try to cram too much into your presentation.

Approach
A good rule of thumb is to tell your audience what you're going to say, say it, and then tell your audience what you've said. Try to develop your key points in an interesting and varied way, drawing on relevant examples, figures etc. for support as appropriate. You might also like to include one or two anecdotes for additional variety and humour.

Organisation
Think about how you will organise your content. Your presentation should have a clear, coherent structure and cover the points that you wish to make in a logical order. Most presentations start with a brief introduction and end with a brief conclusion. Use the introduction to welcome your audience, introduce your topic/subject, outline the structure of your talk, and provide guidelines on questions.

Visual aids
If you have a lot of complex information to explain, think about using charts, diagrams, graphs etc. on a flipchart or on screen. Visual aids can make a presentation more interesting and easier to understand, but make sure they are appropriate and clear - don't try to put too much information on each one.

Rehearsal
Allow time to practise your presentation - this will give you a chance to identify any weak points or gaps, and assess its length relative to the time available. You will also be able to make sure that the timing of each section is appropriate, and to ensure that you can pronounce any figures and proper names confidently and correctly.

Delivery

Nerves
You will probably be nervous at the beginning of your presentation. Dont worry - most people are nervous in this situation. Try not to speak too fast during the first couple of minutes - this is the time you establish your rapport with the audience and first impressions are very important. You may find it helpful to memorise your introduction.

Audience rapport
Try to be enthusiastic - your interest in the subject will carry your audience along. Look around your audience as you speak - eye contact is essential for maintaining a good rapport. You will also be able to pick up signals of boredom, disagreement or lack of interest, in which case you can make amendments or cut your presentation short.

Body language
Stand rather than sit when delivering your presentation and try to be aware of any repetitive movements, awkward mannerisms or hand gestures that might irritate your audience.

Voice quality
You must be clearly audible at all times - the golden rule is that everyone must understand everything! - so don't let your voice drop at the end of sentences. If you vary your intonation, your voice will be more interesting to listen to and you will be able to make your points more effectively.

Visual aids
Use your visual aids confidently, making sure you allow your audience time to absorb information from flipcharts and screens.

To do

Practise the language of presentations in the quiz.

End of session

That's the end of this session. We hope you've picked up some useful tips for academic English and giving presentations.