Oral Presentation and Discussion Techniques

When writing a presentation:

• Know your audience
• Take extra care with the beginning and ending
• Use humor, if appropriate
• Be specific and avoid generalities

When preparing to give a presentation:

• Edit while you practice
• Practice Often
• Time yourself
• Record yourself
• Speak extemporaneously
• Make sure you have everything you need

During the presentation:

• Normalize your anxiety; check nervous habits
• Pay attention to audience cues
• Pauses are okay
• Make eye contact
• Speak loudly and clearly (low and slow)
• Use visual aides
• Maintain your time limit

In anticipation of class discussion:

• Take notes on the important points, then review them
• Think about the subject matter before class
• Think all around the points raised in class or in the reading material
• Identify points of contention, questions, and feedback for future reference
• Identify potential discussion topics and anticipate your responses

During class discussion:

• Pay attention to your individual learning needs
• Recall related points from your reading and experience
• Think critically of the conclusions and views that are expressed
• Listen carefully and respond thoughtfully
• Ask questions to clarify and/or guide further discussion
• Pick out the essential ideas and link them to your previous thinking in the subject
• Be specific and avoid generalities
• Address comments to specific people or points in the text
• Speak loudly and clearly

Adapted from notes in How to Study by Arthur Kornhauser and revised by Diane Enerson ©1993 Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Copyright © 1999 Laura W. Doto. Permission is granted to copy and use this material for educational and non-profit purposes only. This copyright statement and acknowledgement of authorship should remain intact on materials you copy from this website.