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An effective presentation presents ideas more concisely than a written document and uses media to explain ideas and hold the audience’s interest.
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Like an essay, a presentation should have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
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Good writers structure their presentations based on the thesis, or point of view; main ideas; and key supporting details and create a presentation outline to organize their ideas.
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Annotating a presentation outline is a useful way to coordinate different parts of the presentation and manage time effectively.
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Visual aids are most effective when they are chosen with the purpose and audience in mind. They serve to add emotional impact to a presentation and to organize information more clearly.
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Visual aids should always be clearly related to the presenter’s ideas. Captions, labels, and other explanatory text help make the connection clear for the audience.
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Like writing, developing the visual components of a presentation is a process. It involves generating ideas, working with them in a draft format, and then revising and editing one’s work.
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Visual aids can be divided into two broad categories—image-based media and informational graphics.
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Widely available software programs make it relatively easy to create visual aids electronically, such as photo images, charts, and graphs.
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When using visual aids created by others, it is important to apply good research skills, follow guidelines for fair use, and credit sources appropriately.
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Delivering an effective speech requires paying attention to both verbal delivery and body language.
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Good speakers rehearse their presentation and, if necessary, get feedback from others to help them refine their presentation before they deliver it.
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Monitoring one’s vocal delivery involves paying attention to resonance, enunciation, volume, pitch, pace, and tone.
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Monitoring one’s body language involves paying attention to eye contact, facial expressions, posture, movement, and gestures.
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Good speakers plan ahead to help them manage the presentation effectively.