Specifications

• Prepare an outline: Use short phrases and/or long sentences

• Begin the presentation by answering questions such as:
  • Why is your work important?
  • Why is it interesting?
  • What motivated you?

• YOU ARE THE EXPERT
  Assume your audience knows very little about the topic you are discussing

• Graphical data (i.e. graphs and diagrams)
• Numerical data (i.e. tables and charts)
• Text slides (large font, bulleted information)
• Pictures
• Stick to the major points
  Too much information in each visual will confuse your audience
• Don't make the audience squint
  Use big pictures/prints
• Make images easy to read-Use color; 
  good = light yellow on a dark blue background
  bad = fuchsia (hard to read)
• CHECK SPELLING!

• AGAIN and AGAIN with the visuals you plan to use
• In front of people who know the topic well - they can check your technical accuracy
• In front to people who are not familiar with your topic - make sure the presentation is understandable
• Time yourself when practicing.  If your presentation runs consistently longer than 10 minutes, shorten it.
• Pace yourself. If you feel like you are going too slow - you are speaking at just the right speed

• Visualize success - Think "I am an excellent speaker"
• Make eye contact to engage your audience.  Focus on a friendly face
• RELAX!  Take your time.  BREATHE.
• Avoid reading to your audience.  Practice enough so that reading is unnecessary.

TOP

SWRP

ESR

PSU

The Student Watershed Research Project is a 
self funded program of Portland State University's
Environmental Sciences and Resources