ANATOMY OF AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION
by Dr. Philip Rothschild

Presenters...start your engine

• 1. Presentation system is up and ready to go prior to starting.
• 2. Presenters are positioned strategically throughout room.

a. Presenter at lights
b. Presenter at keyboard
c. Presenter in front of podium

• 3. Presentation seems "seamless" (rehearsal is critical).

Guide your audience through your presentation

• 4. Clear introduction, body, and conclusion
• 5. Introduction provides for a thumbnail overview of what will happen.
• 6. Conclusion is not just a rehash of what was talked about chronologically, but instead prompts us to action (emotionally, intellectually, physically or spiritually).
• 7. Use internal previews and summaries, transitions and signposts.
• 8. Take a position in your presentation, but present both sides of the issue.

Liven up your presentation

• 9. Use a provocative question, illustration or quote to start your presentation
• 10. Use "emphasis" by vocal inflection, repetition, pausing, or varied pace. (esp. #s, %, etc.)
• 11. Engage the audience through eye contact.
• 12. Involve the audience with brief questions and activities.
• 13. Give audience time to respond.
• 14. Acknowledge audience for giving a good response; correct response not person.

Displaying your presentation

• 15. Seldom use all caps.
• 16. Use contrast in your presentation (be aware some colors don' show up clearly in rooms).
• 17. Hide and reveal elements systematically.
• 18. Make headings and subheadings descriptive.
• 19. Points should be substantive, but not lengthy sentences.
• 20. Spell check your slides.

Improving the substance of your presentation (and paper)

• 21. Write with an objective tone, without inflammatory language or indignant tone.
• 22. When defending one view, do not sound close-minded.
• 23. When presenting information/evidence, your position is often strengthened when you discuss the other point of view.
• 24. Be careful not to misrepresent someone else's view.
• 25. When arguing for a point of view, offer reasons that an unbiased clear-thinking person would find persuasive.
• 26. Use credible resources (be careful of web sources).
• 27. Cite your sources and provide a bibliography in proper format.