How to Ace Your Final Presentation

Slide 1

Slide 1 text

HOW TO ACE YOUR FINAL PRESENTATION IN PROFESSOR RICK’S COURSE Fall 2024

Slide 2

Slide 2 text

REQUIREMENTS

Slide 3

Slide 3 text

original research

Slide 4

Slide 4 text

The Professional Writing Program requires you to do research that’s original. What does “original” mean? It means that you created the document at hand; it did not exist before.

Slide 5

Slide 5 text

Read an article Watch a movie Listen to a podcast Conduct an interview Conduct a survey

Slide 6

Slide 6 text

sourcing

Slide 7

Slide 7 text

You’ll want to identify the source of your research. Otherwise, your peers may treat your findings with skepticism.

Slide 8

Slide 8 text

if then example The info is well- known Do nothing The population of America The source is not critical to your point, but some people might wonder about it Show your source on the slide How many people lack access to a clean, working toilet Your source is critical to your point Verbalize your source The number of Apple executives who Steve Jobs fired

Slide 9

Slide 9 text

counter- arguments

Slide 10

Slide 10 text

You must address objections from people who disagree with you. Do not focus on the easy objections (“straw men” arguments). Instead, wrestle with the hardest ones (“steel-men” arguments).

Slide 11

Slide 11 text

powerpoint

Slide 12

Slide 12 text

You must use PowerPoint. Alternatives like Google Slides, Prezi, and Keynote are useful. Yet they remain inferior to PowerPoint in both functionality and ubiquity. The latter point is particularly important. Put simply, PowerPoint is the de facto tool of business communication.

Slide 13

Slide 13 text

LOGISTICS

Slide 14

Slide 14 text

your .ppt file

Slide 15

Slide 15 text

Please either bring your deck with you on a thumb drive, or download your deck to the desktop of our classroom computer, before 6:30 P.M. In naming your .PPT file, don’t use your headline (for example, “10 Reasons Macs Are Better Than PCs.ppt”) or the name of the assignment (“Final Presentation.ppt”). Instead, use your own name (“Steve Jobs.ppt”). Arrive early. We’re on a tight schedule and we need to start promptly at 6:30.

Slide 16

Slide 16 text

order of speakers

Slide 17

Slide 17 text

We’ll proceed alphabetically.

Slide 18

Slide 18 text

grace period

Slide 19

Slide 19 text

Your talk should last between 4 minutes and 30 seconds and 5 minutes. No shorter, no longer. After 5 minutes, I’ll provide a 15-second grace period. After that, I’ll need to cut you off. No exceptions.

Slide 20

Slide 20 text

your first words

Slide 21

Slide 21 text

Don’t start by saying, “I’m Steve.” We know who you are. 1. I just called you by name. 2. Your peers see your name on a sheet they’re writing on. 3. And your name is on the title slide.

Slide 22

Slide 22 text

lighting

Slide 23

Slide 23 text

Control of the lights is up to you. Decide if you want them on or off — and design your deck accordingly. If the room is dark, use light colors and avoid all-black backgrounds. If the room is light, use dark colors and avoid all-white backgrounds.

Slide 24

Slide 24 text

clicker

Slide 25

Slide 25 text

You’ll have use of my clicker, so there’s no need to stand in front of the computer. Though, as you’ll recall from my own troubles, you won’t want to wander far.

Slide 26

Slide 26 text

notecards

Slide 27

Slide 27 text

No notecards.

Slide 28

Slide 28 text

q&a

Slide 29

Slide 29 text

After you finish your talk, you’ll take a question or two from the audience. The Q&A does not count toward your allotted time.

Slide 30

Slide 30 text

peer reviews

Slide 31

Slide 31 text

Peer Review #1 You’re required to rehearse your presentation with a partner from class. (I’ll assign partners.) To this end, please download the document, “Presentation Peer Review #1,” from ELMS. This document is due, on ELMS, by 6:30 P.M. on our last day of class.

Slide 32

Slide 32 text

Peer Review #2 You’re also required to review your peers’ presentations in real time. You can download “Presentation Peer Review #2” from ELMS.. This document is due, on ELMS, by 10 P.M. on our last day of class.

Slide 33

Slide 33 text

YOUR SLIDES

Slide 34

Slide 34 text

title slide

Slide 35

Slide 35 text

You need a title slide — along with a catchy title.

Slide 36

Slide 36 text

end slide

Slide 37

Slide 37 text

Your end slide (or last slide) is what people see when you’re taking questions. (The Q&A does not count toward your time.) So make your slide memorable. Don’t just list your contact info or show a word like “questions” or “thanks.” Make this slide something that leaves an impression.

Slide 38

Slide 38 text

one big takeaway

Slide 39

Slide 39 text

Make sure to explicitly identify your one big takeaway. For example: “If there’s one point I can leave you with today, it’s that Apple values your privacy over our profits.”

Slide 40

Slide 40 text

thesis

Slide 41

Slide 41 text

Near the beginning of your presentation, you must state your thesis in one sentence. Make it perfectly clear, upfront, what your purpose is.

Slide 42

Slide 42 text

agenda

Slide 43

Slide 43 text

Please explicitly preview your topics — both on the screen and by articulating them.

Slide 44

Slide 44 text

OTHER STUFF

Slide 45

Slide 45 text

clothing

Slide 46

Slide 46 text

If your clothing is relevant to your topic, don’t assume that people will make the connection; make it for them. You’re not required to dress up, but if you’re so inclined, I’d encourage you to do so.