Presentation language: lesson 4 (BE).

1. Three signposts to help you plan...

a) introduction/outline,

b) purpose/objectives,

c) conclusion.

2. Example language to fill in your plan:

a. The introduction/outline:

Let's start with the introduction – start off with something interesting: a 'word
origin', 'an interesting question', 'a definition of a term', even a 'personal
experience.

Example:

“Good afternoon everyone. It's been a pleasure to listen to your presentations,

and I hope that my/our effort will at least match yours. Have you ever heard
of Top Shop? It's a funny name, now isn't it! A 'top' shop, not a 'bottom' shop?!
A a shop selling toys known as 'tops'? Or is it about the item of clothing
known as a 'top'? Well, all will be revealed in our presentation...

An outline might help the listener to understand the order of your presentation,
i.e. the different parts, and sections of your single or group presentation. You
can do this after an introduction or following it. The example below follows the
above introduction...

“... now, firstly I shall describe our group’s purpose in giving this presentation,
showing you our objectives which might lead to discussion afterward.
Following this, Ozzy will talk about the history of Top Shop and how its
original business model was created by ….. who … Later, Mrs Osbourne shall
look at what role Top Shop has on employment, both internationally and
locally. Mr Black will then discuss a history of the products sold by Top Shop as
well as looking at what is available today. Mrs Sabbathson will follow this by
looking at the companies economic record over the past ** years, and finally,
we will conclude with a few words on the future of Top Shop. Of course, after
the presentation, please feel free to ask us about anything from our
presentation. We welcome discussion about this business....

b. Purpose and Objectives:

Your purpose will be a statement that suggests the general goal of the
presentation, and your objectives are specific goals that you want to achieve
by the end of a presentation.

Example (purpose): By the end of this presentation I/we hope to have

convinced you that 'Top Shop' is one of the most successful companies found in
Great Britain, and to have explained how and why the business has met with
such success. If we manage to make you interested in any way to buy their
products (for yourself or your future wife/girlfriend), then we will feel all the
happier...

Example (objectives): … additionally, (our objective is to)/we hope to have

infomed you about the running of the company, (e.g.) about its origins, ….
about products created by the company – from the past and the present -,
reasons for its success,... about the number of people employed in
(Japan/the UK/worldwide),... about the economic state which the company
is in now, i.e. it's turnover for the past few years and it's expected sales over
the next few years/decade.

c. The conclusion: a summary of the key points of your talk.

“In a nutshell, we think... / “In conclusion, we believe that / “'Top Shop

has been an incredibly successful shop which … / “ In summary, Top Shop is …

Reference:

Cheung, Yin Ling (2008). Teaching Effecive Presentation Skills to ESL/EFL

students. The Internet TESOL Journal, June 2008. Accessed April 2010 at:
http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Cheung-PresentationSkills.html