Chapter 17

Like most people, I do not like giving oral presentations. I get nervous and usually psych myself out. Chapter 17 listed some guidelines of how to give an effective oral presentation. I found several points that were very interesting and may be helpful for our upcoming presentations. The first was to plan the verbal and visual parts as a single package, which includes using graphics. I like using graphics because they help take the focus off me and they really do help the speaker be more professional, persuasive, and interesting. However, make sure that you talk to the audience and not your graphic. This is something that I have trouble with. My most preferred form of using a graphic of visual aid is power point or and an overhead. I like power point because the slides act like notes and using key words or points helps me explain my information more thoroughly.

The book also pointed out three different kinds of speeches; scripted talk, outlined talk, and impromptu. I have never liked scripted talk or impromptu. I feel that scripted talk can make a person sound monotone and boring. On the other hand, impromptu can be unorganized and very stressful because there is no preparation. My favorite and the only way I have ever done an oral presentation is by an outlined talk. This prepares you and makes it easier to add or take away certain parts of your presentation based on the reactions the of the audience. It also enables a speaker to be flexible and deliver in a natural speaking voice.

Anther tip the book gives is to try to speak in a natural conversation style, which is not the same as informal. It means to speak directly to your listeners while keeping it simple and natural. It also helps to speak with enthusiasm and use gestures. I have the hardest time with this because I get so nervous. It is hard for me to act natural. It has helped in the past when I have been passionate about my subject because it keeps your audience interested. However, it's easier said than done to accept the nervousness and work with it. I have heard this advice before and it has never helped. I think more than anything, public speaking becomes easier and less nerve wrecking the more you do it.