THE

ORAL
PRESENTATIO
N
 PREPARING A SPEECH OR
ORAL REPORT
• SOME STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF
SPEAKING IN PUBLIC, WHETHER IN FRONT OF SMALL OR LARGE
GROUPS. JUST THE THOUGHT THAT THEY WILL BE FACING PEOPLE
ALREADY MAKES THEM JITTERY. HOWEVER, THIS IS A NORMAL PART
OF LIFE. WHEN YOU BECOME PROFESSIONALS, THERE WILL ALWAYS
BE A TIME THAT YOU WILL FACE AN AUDIENCE.
• IT MAY COME AS AN UNPLANNED ACTIVITY IN WHICH YOU WILL BE
FORCED TO SPEAK IMPROMPTU OR IT MAYBE A PREVIOUSLY PLANNED
EVENT THAT HAS GIVEN YOU SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREPARE.
WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, YOU NEED TO EXUDE SOME DEGREE
OF CONFIDENCE AS PRESENTATION OF ORAL REPORTS OR SPEECHES
CAN BE VERY THREATENING.
• AS STUDENTS, YOU SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES
YOUR WAY AND THAT REQUIRES YOU TO DELIVER A TALK.
• FOR EXAMPLE, IN CLASS, THERE WILL BE INSTANCES WHEN YOU WILL BE ASKED
TO MAKE AN ORAL REPORT OF A TOPIC ASSIGNED TO YOU. YOU MAY BE ASKED TO
DELIVER A SPEECH AS A CLASSROOM ACTIVITY.
• THOUGH YOU MAY FIND THESE TASKS DIFFICULT, YOU NEED TO TAKE THEM
SERIOUSLY AS THE WILL CERTAINLY BENEFIT YOU WHEN YOU BECOME
PROFESSIONALS.
• BEING ABLE TO SPEAK EFFECTIVELY IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE WILL ALWAYS BE
AN ADVANTAGE. SOME PROFESSIONALS BECOME MOST SOUGHT-AFTER SPEAKERS
BECAUSE OF THEIR GOOD ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
• THEY ARE INVITED TO GIVE KEYNOTE SPEECHES OR GIVE LECTURES ON A SELECT
TOPIC IN CONFERENCES OR GIVE TRAININGS IN SEMINAR-WORKSHOPS.
SOMETIMES, THEY ARE ALSO TAPPED TO GIVE A SALES PITCH OR A PRODUCT
PRESENTATION. LIKEWISE, THEY ARE ASKED TO DELIVER INSPIRATIONAL OR
MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES DURING GRADUATION CEREMONIES OR IN A SIMILAR
 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION AND PRINCIPLES OF
EFFECTIVE ORAL COMMUNICATION
1. AUDIENCE
• BE AWARE OF YOUR LISTENERS’ PROFILE.

• IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU KNOW YOUR LISTENERS—THEIR AGE, GENDER, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, RELIGION,
ECONOMIC STATUS, AND INTERESTS.

• MOREOVER, KNOW HOW MUCH THE AUDIENCE KNOWS ABOUT THE TOPIC.

• THAT WAY, YOU CAN AVOID DISCUSSIONS THAT MAY BE IN CONTRAST WITH THEIR BELIEFS AND PRACTICES, AND THUS,
MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISCOMMUNICATION CAN BE PREVENTED.

• FURTHERMORE, YOU CAN INTRODUCE NEW THINGS FOR THEM TO LEARN AND NOT SIMPLY REPEAT THINGS THAT THEY MAY
HAVE ALREADY LEARNED FROM PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.

• KNOW HOW TO READ THE POSTURE AND GESTURES OF YOUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS, AS THESE WILL SIGNAL TO YOU WHAT
KIND OF AN AUDIENCE THEY ARE.

• BE READY TO FACE DIFFERENT KINDS OF AUDIENCES, AS THERE MAY BE SOME WHO ARE QUESTIONERS, HECKLERS,
DISRUPTERS, HOSTILE, OR UNRESPONSIVE/BORED AUDIENCES.

• KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH ANY UNPLEASANT INCIDENT OR CONFLICT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE AND ALWAYS STAY IN CONTROL
OF THE SITUATION.
2. LOGISTICS
• IT IS SOMETHING BASIC OR ESSENTIAL FOR EVERY SPEAKER TO KNOW WHO IS ORGANIZING THE EVENT.
• KNOW WHO WILL BE INTRODUCING YOU AND WHO WILL BE SPEAKING BEFORE AND AFTER YOU.
• THAT WAY, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TIE UP THE EARLIER PRESENTATION WITH YOUR OWN, RESULTING IN A
MORE COHERENT PRESENTATION.
• YOU MAY EVEN GIVE THE AUDIENCE AN IDEA AS TO WHAT THE NEXT TALK IS GOING TO BE.

2.1 VENUE
• THE VENUE IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
• LOCATE THE LIGHTS, AND IF YOU HAVE MOVABLE VISUAL AIDS KNOW WHERE TO POSITION THEM.
• AS A SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW HOW TO POSITION YOURSELF AND HOW YOU SHOULD MOVE IN
FRONT TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE LISTENERS.
• REMEMBER TO WORK ON YOUR POSTURE AND AVOID BAD HABITS WHEN SPEAKING. DO NOT BLOCK THE
VIEW OF YOUR VISUAL AIDS AS YOU PRESENT THEM.
• EMPLOY A BALANCED POSTURE BY NOT STANDING ON ONE LEG ONLY.
• DO NOT LEAN ON ANY OBJECT THAT WILL GIVE SUPPORT TO YOUR WEIGHT.
• THESE POSTURES GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU LACK CONFIDENCE AND AUTHORITY.
2.2 FACILITIES
• ASK BEFOREHAND ABOUT THE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
• THESE FACILITIES SHOULD MATCH THE PRESENTATION AIDS THAT YOU WILL USE.
• IF THERE IS NO AVAILABLE PROJECTOR, FIND A WAY TO HAVE ONE, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR VISUAL
AIDS ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX.
• IF THERE ARE ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OR TECHNICAL GLITCHES YOU ENCOUNTER, KNOW
HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT THEM.

3. CONTENT OF REPORT/SPEECH/LECTURE
• BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED AS A SPEAKER, THE ORGANIZERS MIGHT HAVE SOUGHT YOU
DUE TO YOUR REPUTATION AS AN EFFECTIVE SPEAKER.
• IF THE EVENT AIMS TO INFORM, LIKE IN A CONVENTION, CONFERENCE, OR A TRAINING-SEMINAR,
YOU ARE EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE NEW INFORMATION.
• IF THE GOAL IS TO ENTERTAIN, YOUR SPEECH SHOULD BE LIVELY, AMUSING, AND LIGHTHEARTED.
• IF THE PURPOSE IS TO PERSUADE, YOUR PRESENTATION SHOULD SOUND CONVINCING ENOUGH.
• NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT ANY COMMUNICATIVE EVENT MAY HAVE MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE, BUT
THERE IS ALWAYS A MORE DOMINANT ONE.
 HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR THE BIG EVENT?
SOME TIPS FOR YOU
TO PREPARE FOR SPEECH :

1. READ A LOT.
2. PREPARE YOUR ORAL PRESENTATION WITH AN
INTRODUCTION, BODY, AND A CONCLUSION.
3. REHEARSE BY PRACTICING ALOUD AND GETTING
FEEDBACK DURING THE REHEARSAL STAGE FROM
THOSE WHO WILL ACT AS YOU AUDIENCE.
4. USE TECHNOLOGY
1. READ A LOT.

• RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC ASSIGNED TO YOU. WITH THE FAST-CHANGING TIMES, IT IS CERTAIN THAT THERE
ARE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE FIELD. AS A SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD BE KEPT
ABREAST OF THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS BY READING A LOT.

2. PREPARE YOUR ORAL PRESENTATION WITH AN INTRODUCTION, BODY, AND A CONCLUSION.

• THERE ARE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES TO OPEN AND CLOSE YOUR PRESENTATION:

• A.) USING A STARTLING OR SHOCKING STATEMENT;

• B.) BEGINNING WITH A QUESTION;

• C.) USING A QUOTATION;

• D.) NARRATING AN ANECDOTE OR A STORY;

• E.) SINGING A LINE FROM A SONG; AND

• F.) PRESENTING STATISTICS.

• THE STRATEGY YOU WILL EMPLOY SHOULD MATCH THE TOPIC THAT YOU WILL PRESENT. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU
CANNOT SING REMEMBER THAT YOUR INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUDING PARTS WILL LEAVE A LASTING
IMPRESSION ON YOUR AUDIENCE. AS REGARDS THE BODY OF YOUR PRESENTATION, EMPHASIZE THE MAJOR
POINTS YOU WISH TO MAKE, BACKED UP BY SUPPORTING STATEMENTS TO FURTHER ELUCIDATE YOUR MAIN
POINTS. ARRANGE YOUR THOUGHTS IN A LOGICAL SEQUENCE SO THAT YOUR LISTENERS CAN EASILY FOLLOW
THROUGH YOUR TALK. YOU CAN DO THIS BY EMPLOYING TRANSITIONAL OR COHESIVE DEVICES TO MAKE
3. REHEARSE BY PRACTICING ALOUD AND GETTING FEEDBACK DURING THE REHEARSAL STAGE FROM
THOSE WHO WILL ACT AS YOU AUDIENCE.
• YOU MAY INVITE YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS TO LISTEN TO YOU WHILE REHEARSING.
• THEIR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS CAN BE USEFUL FOR YOU TO IMPROVE YOUR PRESENTATION BEFORE THE
“BIG DAY.”
• FOR THE INTRODUCTION, USE GAMBITS SUCH AS:
• A. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT…
• B. I BELIEVE THAT THE TOPIC IS…
• C. LET ME RELATE A…
• FOR THE CONCLUSION, USE GAMBITS OR EXPRESSIONS SUCH AS:
• A. SUMMING UP THE POINTS I DISCUSSED EARLIER…
• B. TO SUMMARIZE…
• C. IN CONCLUSION…
• D. TO CONCLUDE…
• E. FINALLY…
• F. TO END MY TALK OR SPEECH….
• THEN, RESTATE THE HIGHLIGHTS YOU MENTIONED. YOU MAY ALSO CHALLENGE THE LISTENERS TO ACT ON THE
IDEAS YOU PRESENTED IF THE PURPOSE OF THE ORAL PRESENTATION IS TO CONVINCE OR PERSUADE.
4. USE TECHNOLOGY.
• IN THIS DAY AND AGE, MOST SPEAKERS USE TECHNOLOGY.
• TECHNOLOGY FORMS PART OF THEIR AUDIO AND VISUAL AIDS.
• THROUGH THESE TOOLS, LISTENERS CAN EASILY FOLLOW THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE THEY
NOT ONLY HEAR BUT ALSO SEE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRESENTATION.
• A DISADVANTAGE, HOWEVER, IS THAT SOME SPEAKERS RELY ON THEIR VISUALS THAT WHEN
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ARISE, THEY ARE CAUGHT OFF-GUARD AND THEIR PRESENTATION
GOES AWRY.
• TECHNOLOGY TOOLS SHOULD BE USED SPARINGLY.
• VISUALS SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO ENHANCE YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
• THUS, DO NOT COPY AND PASTE ON THE SLIDES WHAT YOU ARE TO SAY AND THEN SIMPLY
READ THEM VERBATIM.
• IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ONLY USE KEY WORDS IN YOUR SLIDE PRESENTATIONS.
• PICTURES THAT WILL REPRESENT A CONCEPT ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED.
• THE SAME IS TRUE WITH GRAPHS, TABLES, CHARTS, MAPS, QUOTES, AND IMPORTANT
 DELIVERING THE
REPORT/SPEECH/TALK

• USE OF BOTH THE VERBAL AND NON VERBAL CODES.

1. PARALINGUISTIC CUES
• INCLUDED IN THIS CATEGORY ARE POSTURE, GESTURE, FACIAL
EXPRESSION, AND MOVEMENT.
• THE EYES AND EYE- TO-EYE CONTACT ARE VERY IMPORTANT WHEN IT
COMES TO FACIAL EXPRESSION. THERE IS THE SAYING WHICH STATES:
• “THE EYES ARE THE WINDOW TO THE SOUL”.
• THIS MEANS THAT BY ESTABLISHING EYE CONTACT OR THROUGH
GAZING, ONE CAN DETECT THE EMOTIONAL STATE OF A PERSON.
2. PROSODIC FEATURES
• THERE ARE FEATURES THAT YOU HAVE TO OBSERVE WHEN PRESENTING.
• WHEN YOU SPEAK, AIM AT DELIVERING YOUR MESSAGE CLEARLY THROUGH INTELLIGIBLE AND
COMPREHENSIBLE PRONUNCIATION.
• YOU NEED TO ARTICULATE THE SOUNDS CLEARLY BY PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW YOU MOVE YOUR LIPS,
TONGUE, AND TEETH.
• AN ASPECT OF ARTICULATION IS ASSIMILATION.
• IT MEANS BLENDING THE FINAL SOUND OF A PRECEDING WORD WITH THE INITIAL SOUND OF THE FOLLOWING
WORD.
EXAMPLE:
• TO EACH HIS OWN
• TO EACHIZOWN
• THE PROS AND CONS
• THE PROSEND CONS
• THE SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS
• THUS PLENDOR IN THE GRASS
• FOR A WHILE
• FORA WHILE
PRESENTING IN GROUPS
• WHEN MAKING A GROUP PRESENTATION, EVERYONE SHOULD BE A TEAM PLAYER AND
MEMBERS SHOULD NOT COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER. NOTE THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE
WORKING WITH A TEAM, THERE SHOULD BE COORDINATION AMONG YOU. GUIDELINES
SHOULD BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A GROUP TASK. PLANNING IS OF THE
ESSENCE SO THAT YOUR PRESENTATION IS COHERENT AND DOES NOT BECOME
FRAGMENTED. AS YOU PREPARE YOUR PRESENTATION, NOTE THE FOLLOWING TIPS:
1. ASSIGN A SPECIFIC TASK TO EACH GROUP MEMBER.
2. DIVIDE THE WORK ACCORDINGLY. EACH MEMBER SHOULD KNOW THE PART
ASSIGNED TO HIM/HER, AS WELL AS THE TIME ALLOTTED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT.
3. PICK A STRATEGY ON HOW YOU WILL START AND END YOUR GROUP
PRESENTATION.
4. PREPARE YOUR AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS TO INCREASE THE INTEREST O YOUR
LISTENERS AND HOLD THEIR ATTENTION.
5. PRACTICE BY YOURSELF AND THEN COME UP WITH AN ACCEPTABLE SCHEDULE
FOR THE TEAM, ONE IN WHICH YOU CAN DO A GROUP REHEARSAL.
6. ASK FEEDBACK FROM YOUR TEAMMATES ON HOW
YOU CAN STILL IMPROVE YOUR PRESENTATION IN
PARTICULAR AND THE GROUP PRESENTATION IN
GENERAL.
7. AS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PRESENTERS, THINK OF
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE AFTER THE
PRESENTATION. IF YOU CANNOT THINK OF AN
ANSWER, SEEK THE HELP OF YOUR GROUPMATES.
8. AS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PRESENTERS, RESPOND
TO QUESTIONS EFFECTIVELY DURING THE QUESTION
TIME. IF IT HAPPENS THAT NOBODY FROM THE GROUP
KNOWS THE ANSWER, BE HONEST TO ADMIT THAT YOU
• MANY SPEAKERS BECOME TENSE WHEN MAKING SMALL AND BIG PRESENTATIONS.
THIS IS NORMAL. BECOMING NERVOUS ONLY SHOWS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR
PRESENTATION. YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THE AUDIENCE WILL PICK UP
SOMETHING FROM YOUR TALK. NOTE THAT A LITTLE AMOUNT OF NERVOUS TENSION
IS NEEDED IF YOU ASPIRE FOR AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE. AT THE BEGINNING,
YOU MAY EXPERIENCE ANXIETY; BUT AS YOU GO ALONG WITH YOUR PRESENTATION,
YOUR NERVOUS TENSION WILL EASE UP.
• WHITE & HENDERLINDER (1956) STATED, “WE DO NOT ACTUALLY FEAR THE
PROCESS OF SPEAKING AS SUCH BUT A NEGATIVE RESPONSE FROM THE LISTENERS,”
CLEARLY, THIS IS TRUE. WHAT PEOPLE FEAR IS NOT THE ACTUAL SPEAKING BUT THE
NEGATIVE REACTION, FEEDBACK, OR COMMENT THEY MAY GET FROM THE LISTENERS.
• STAGE FRIGHT CAN BE OVERCOME THROUGH SOME WAYS. ONE OF THESE IS BY
PREPARING FOR YOUR PRESENTATION THOROUGHLY. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU KNOW
YOUR TOPIC AND THAT YOU KNOW MORE THAN YOUR LISTENERS. ANOTHER WAY IS
THROUGH PRACTICING. THE MORE YOU REHEARSE OR PRACTICE, THE MORE
CONFIDENT YOU WILL BECOME. STAGE FRIGHT CAN THEN BE MINIMIZED. IT IS NOT A
NEGATIVE FEELING ALL THE TIME AS WELL. LEARN HOW TO CONVERT THIS SOCIAL
10 TIPS FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING:

1. NERVOUSNESS IS NORMAL. PRACTICE AND PREPARE!

2. ALL PEOPLE FEEL SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS LIKE POUNDING
HEARTS AND TREMBLING HANDS. DO NOT ASSOCIATE THESE FEELINGS
WITH THE SENSE THAT YOU WILL PERFORM POORLY OR MAKE A FOOL OF
YOURSELF. SOME NERVES ARE GOOD. THE ADRENALINE RUSH THAT MAKES
YOU SWEAT ALSO MAKES YOU MORE ALERT AND READY TO GIVE YOUR
BEST PERFORMANCE.
• THE BEST WAY TO OVERCOME ANXIETY IS TO PREPARE, PREPARE, AND
PREPARE SOME MORE. TAKE THE TIME TO GO OVER YOUR NOTES SEVERAL
TIMES. ONCE YOU HAVE BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THE MATERIAL,
PRACTICE A LOT. VIDEOTAPE YOURSELF, OR GET A FRIEND TO CRITIQUE
YOUR PERFORMANCE.
2. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. YOUR SPEECH IS ABOUT
THEM, NOT YOU.
• BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO CRAFT YOUR MESSAGE, CONSIDER
WHO THE MESSAGE IS INTENDED FOR. LEARN AS MUCH
ABOUT YOUR LISTENERS AS YOU CAN. THIS WILL HELP YOU
DETERMINE YOUR CHOICE OF WORDS, LEVEL OF
INFORMATION, ORGANIZATION PATTERN, AND MOTIVATIONAL
STATEMENT.
3. ORGANIZE YOUR MATERIAL IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE
MANNER TO ATTAIN YOUR PURPOSE.
• CREATE THE FRAMEWORK FOR YOUR SPEECH. WRITE DOWN
THE TOPIC, GENERAL PURPOSE, SPECIFIC PURPOSE, CENTRAL
4. WATCH FOR FEEDBACK AND ADAPT TO IT.
KEEP THE FOCUS ON THE AUDIENCE. GAUGE THEIR
REACTIONS, ADJUST YOUR MESSAGE, AND STAY
FLEXIBLE. DELIVERING A CANNED SPEECH WILL
GUARANTEE THAT YOU LOSE THE ATTENTION OF OR
CONFUSE EVEN THE MOST DEVOTED LISTENERS.

5. LET YOUR PERSONALITY COME THROUGH.

BE YOURSELF, DON’T BECOME A TALKING HEAD — IN
ANY TYPE OF COMMUNICATION. YOU WILL ESTABLISH
BETTER CREDIBILITY IF YOUR PERSONALITY SHINES
LANGUAGE.
INJECT A FUNNY ANECDOTE IN YOUR PRESENTATION,
AND YOU WILL CERTAINLY GRAB YOUR AUDIENCE’S
ATTENTION. AUDIENCES GENERALLY LIKE A PERSONAL
TOUCH IN A SPEECH. A STORY CAN PROVIDE THAT.

7. DON’T READ UNLESS YOU HAVE TO. WORK FROM AN

OUTLINE.
READING FROM A SCRIPT OR SLIDE FRACTURES THE
INTERPERSONAL CONNECTION. BY MAINTAINING EYE
CONTACT WITH THE AUDIENCE, YOU KEEP THE FOCUS
ON YOURSELF AND YOUR MESSAGE. A BRIEF OUTLINE
8. USE YOUR VOICE AND HANDS EFFECTIVELY. OMIT
NERVOUS GESTURES.
• NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION CARRIES MOST OF THE MESSAGE. GOOD
DELIVERY DOES NOT CALL ATTENTION TO ITSELF, BUT INSTEAD
CONVEYS THE SPEAKER’S IDEAS CLEARLY AND WITHOUT DISTRACTION.

9. GRAB ATTENTION AT THE BEGINNING, AND CLOSE

WITH A DYNAMIC END.
• DO YOU ENJOY HEARING A SPEECH START WITH “TODAY I’M GOING TO
TALK TO YOU ABOUT X”? MOST PEOPLE DON’T. INSTEAD, USE A
STARTLING STATISTIC, AN INTERESTING ANECDOTE, OR CONCISE
QUOTATION. CONCLUDE YOUR SPEECH WITH A SUMMARY AND A
STRONG STATEMENT THAT YOUR AUDIENCE IS SURE TO REMEMBER.
10. USE AUDIOVISUAL AIDS WISELY.
• TOO MANY CAN BREAK THE DIRECT
CONNECTION TO THE AUDIENCE, SO USE
THEM SPARINGLY. THEY SHOULD ENHANCE
OR CLARIFY YOUR CONTENT, OR CAPTURE
AND MAINTAIN YOUR AUDIENCE’S
ATTENTION.
THANK YOU!!😊