Module 2
Chapter 5 in previous module
Chapter 6: Purpose of Presentations
Need consider the general purpose, the specific purpose, and the behavioral purpose of a presentation
1. General Purpose
Informative
Explain, demonstrate, show, and teach details about a specific topic. Can diffuse tensions about conflicting views of a topic by implementing supporting evidence. Can run risk of being boring due to details. Can provide evidence for their personal perspective of a topic.
Persuasive
Enlighten and change beliefs of audience. It is key to clarify the specific side taken. Provide facts and statistics about the other’s position to improve credibility.
Entertainment
Makes a topic more enjoyable. Inspirational and motivational speeches can fall under this.
2. Specific Purpose
Specific purpose - what you hope to accomplish with your overall presentation.
Informative presentations will seek to explain, show, demonstrate, describe and inform
Persuasive presentations will seek to motivate, persuade or convince
3. Behavioral Purpose
The specific behaviors you want your audience to have as a reaction to your presentation.
Questions to Ask
What does the assignment or presentation invitation say I am supposed to use for my general purpose?
What are my overall goals for this presentation?
Then, critically evaluate the info you put down on paper,
What do I want my audience to do in response to my presentation? Do I want them to learn something or do I want them to change an attitude belief or action?
What topic interests me? What am I passionate about? What current events am I following?
What is my current position on this particular topic?
Ask yourself a few questions about the audience to clarify behavioral purpose:
How much does my audience already know about this topic?
Where does my audience stand in its personal position on this topic?
How far can I push my audience’s perspectives to change?
How much evidence or supporting material do I have to fully explain my concept or convince audience members of my position on the issue?
Chapter 7: Choosing a Topic and Building a Thesis
Choose a topic based upon
your personal passions
the audience’s interests
the presentation situation
Presenter’s Passions
Passion is important. What do you care about? Why do you care?
Audiences Interests
Presentation without audience in mind is like a love letter addressing it: To Whom It May Concern.
Consider who will be in the room, including the demographics. Helps narrow down specific area of topic you will discuss.
What info is important to this particular group?
What could save their lives? Everyone has a current problem.
The Situation
Why were asked to speak? What is the event/occasion.
Building a Topic
The scenario
Your passion
The audience’s Interests
The Situation
Result
The Thesis Statement
Thesis Statement = elevator pitch
Building a Thesis
Pull together all your materials: Ex: the goals and purpose of speaking, general topic, lessons shared, and traits of audience
Organizing a structure: Begins with purpose, then general topic, how it solves problem, lesson discussed, and how it benefits audience
Quality Control Assessment: Can it hold up to the expectations of the situation? Building a structure involves a test to see if it is stable. Testing thesis by asking qualifying questions to make sure it achieves the overall goals.
Chapter 8: Introductions and Conclusions
The Primacy/Recency Effect - the concept that the audience will remember the first and last things they hear most above all other info they are given.
Introduction Statement
Strong intro will ensure the audience stays.
Intro includes an attention getting device, orienting material, striking statement, and a preview statement.
Attention Getting Device
Does not start with “um” “good morning” or “my speech is about”. It can be stories, humorous statements, rhetorical questions, suspense, quotes, or even surprising facts.
Types of AGDs
Stories: show vulnerability or set up concept in a way to be easier to understand. Should be short but easy to understand.
Humorous statements: will make people more comfortable. Make sure humor will resonate with audience.
Rhetorical questions
Suspense: keeps audience engaged. Usually set up in a story format.
Quotes: helps build credibility. They aer often inspiring or challenging.
Surprising statistics or facts: can help diffuse controversial topics. Best if your purpose is persuasion. Using research is difficult when audience members tend to make their own opinions and turn a deaf ear.
Orienting Material
Do not assume that everyone knows about the topic you’re discussing. You need to explain the connection between your AGD and the material covered.
Striking Statement
Follows orienting material and provides promise/challenge to audience as a result of listening. Creates excitement or anticipation
Wrapping up the Introduction
Last elements are a thesis statement and preview of the presentation’s three main points. No rule as to where it should be placed. Preview must be stated at the end.
Conclusion Statement
Goal is to end presentation on a high note and make it clear that presentation ends. A strong conclusion will ensure that audience knows your finished.
Conclusion statement has review statement, thesis, a clincher, and coming full circle
Clincher
Conclusion’s version of the AGD. Will have a call to action, challenge, or reference back to the striking statement. Goal is to push the audience to a new belief or action.
Coming Full Circle
State some of things you said in your introduction.
Chapter 9: Presentation Cues
Preview, review, and transition necessary to communicate the structure.
A Smoother Journey
Gathering Content
You need to research and create the main points with a reason behind those points.
The Preview Statement
A list of each main point you plant to share with the audience. This is stated after the introduction and thesis. Preview statement provides them with exactly what you will cover.
The Review Statement
Found directly after the body of the presentation. It helps the audience settle in for the last words. Helps them remember what you were talking about.
Transitions
Transition includes internal review, a connection, and an internal preview. Does not need to be three different sentences. Best to use the last two after the intro.