Presentations: oral

With enough planning and practice you should be able to deliver an effective presentation.

If you are giving a presentation for the first time, you may be wondering what it will feel like to be the presenter rather than the audience.  Every presentation is a learning experience, so reflecting on how it went afterwards might also be a useful exercise.

Here are some things to remember:

• Face the audience, don’t talk to the screen.
• Make eye contact with the audience. Don’t just focus on one person; engage the whole audience.
• Don't rely on a script. Use cue cards so you don't forget what you are saying.
• Talk clearly and loudly and with sufficient pauses.
• Take note of your body language. If you look confident, this will help you to feel confident.  

Watch this short video for some useful tips on how to give a presentation. Keep these tips in mind when practising your presentation to help you feel more confident.

View video using Microsoft Stream (link opens in a new window, available for University members only)