Process Essay: How to Make a Good Public Presentation

Introduction: The Process Essay in ENG1300 course is to describe a process of doing something step by step. Its function is informative and operative. This essay introduce 6 steps of preparing and giving a good public presentation.

Making a presentation is an essential skill for college students, instructors, managers or even business men. According to a report from Harvard Business School, most of message in contemporary commerce and social surrounding is spread by oral communication. A large percentage of vital ideas are certificated through presentations to consumers, sponsors and managers (O'Rourke). In any case, when a presenter is making a public presentation, he or she is evaluated by every audience. Only by managing to catch the concentration from the audience, can a presentation be successful.

This essay emphasis on six steps for a primary speaker about how to make a successful public presentation.

First of all, an appealing presentation demand for an influential topic. The topic can be related to heated social discussion, current events or controversial arguments which can appeal to the audience. Therefore, to catch an attention of the audience, a tedious or theoretical subject should be avoided. Additionally, a good topic is supposed to be dig deeply or be developed further. Some distinguishable or special viewpoints would be liked to be heard by most audience rather than common theories. Afterward, the next step is to work on the topic.

Before a topic is going to be presented, it should be analyzed in the preparation. The source of ideas is needed to support the topic. Enough information can be got from websites, social surveys or some academic reports. Besides, organizing is vital work for a presentation. A regular structure can help topic to be accepted more easily. In addition, using visual material is another approach to exhibit the topic better. PowerPoint or related video can be adopted appropriately in the presentation.

The forth step is practicing before formal performance which called “［R］ehearsal” (O'Rourke) . It is a process to refresh a presenter’s memory and find errors in presentation. Practice can be done in front of instructors or close friends. In this way, useful suggestions can be acquired by them. What’s more, some sudden emergency, such as equipment breaking or other interruption, ought to be consider by a presenter in priority.

After an adequate preparation, it is time to give a public presentation. However, symptoms like anxiety or fear are showed on many presenters even professionals. Anxiety may effect a speaker’s performance. It causes trembling, fidgeting, forgetting words, quivering voice and losing concentrate (O'Rourke). In that case, overcoming nervousness is the next step. Firstly, deep breath and self-encouragement can be made before going on stage. Furthermore, stress can be reduce when a speaker pay attention to the audience’ reaction instead of him or herself.

After that, the presentation can be started. There are plenty of strategies for a presenter on the stage. Details should be focused on in a presentation. On the stage, a speaker’s posture, gesture, facial expression, eye contact, pacing, vocal control can show his or her power (O'Rourke). In addition, a brief conclusion and certain answers for questions from an audience are required after finishing presentation. Moreover, personal demanding of microphone or equipment for presentation should be raised in advance if necessary.

The final step is to obtain an evaluation. The strategies of a speaker will be improved by effective feedbacks. In general, a presentation is evaluated by four criteria: content, delivery, preparation, impact. The preparation, the performance on the stage, the structure of a presentation and impact are all include in the criteria. Afterward, a reflection or analysis should be made by the presenter according to the criteria.

To sum up, an excellent presentation is not easy to be made. It requires needs of audience, pattern of organization and details in presentation (O'Rourke) . Therefore, the six steps are given to a primary learner to follow. Only by continued practice, mistake correction and improvement, can a speaker deliver a successful presentation.

Works Cited

O'Rourke, James. Confedengt Rresenting. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2008.