Chapter 15 Organizing Presentations Steps of the presentation preparation process 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

. Determine a topic Limit the topic Determine the purpose Research the topic Organize and outline the presentation Select supporting information Prepare notes and manuscript for delivery Rehearse the presentation.

Most presentations consist of 3 main elements: Intro Body Conclusion

Introduction purpose: Get audiences attention State thesis Establish ethos as a speaker Orient the audience Preview the main points

Attention device = tool used by speakers to grab the interest of an audience Seven popular attention devices: Humor Quotations Stories References to occasion, audience, or topic Rhetorical questions Startling statements Personal experiences

Thesis statement = clearly written, simple sentence or question that states the point you expect to make in the presentation Audience orientation = provides audience members with information they likely do not already have but will need in order to understand a presentation

Things important for orientations are Definitions Background information Motivations

Chronological order = arrangement according to the time in which something occurs Sequential order = arrangement according to the steps of a process Spatial order = arrangement according to how a topic is put together or by the physical location of its elements Topical order = groups ideas by logical theme or division Other types of persuasive persuasion patterns: Cause-effect Problem-solution Monroes Motivated Sequence

Cause-effect = consists of 2 parts: (1) cause some action, event, or situation; (2) effect some consequence of that action, event, or situation Problem-solution = consists of 2 parts: (1) problem and (2) solution; often has a method of presentation, i.e. advantage vs. disadvantage for audiences unlikely to accept proposal Monroes Motivated sequence = multiple steps : (1) attention much like introduction step to presentation, designed to create audience interest in learning/knowing more; (2) need make audience aware that a problem or need exists, help audience identify with or perceive need; (3) satisfaction speaker presents solution to problem explained; (4) visualization speaker helps audience visualize benefits of solution, how they will profit; (5) action if audience is convinced that solution is beneficial, speaker asks for action, exactly as wanted