10 Speaker Presentation Tips

							                    10 Speaker Presentation Tips

1. Define the scope of your presentation:
   Unless you are providing an overview of a broad area of law try to define the
   scope of your presentation. A detailed study of one issue or a combination of a
   couple of points can be much more effective than a broad overview of an area of
   law. Your goal should be to deliver practical and useable information to your
   audience. Keeping this in mind, select significant or challenging areas of your
   subject and present these in detail.

2. Develop an outline and stick to it:
   Prepare an outline for your own use, list the key subjects you will cover, along
   with the learning objective for each, and corresponding page numbers in the
   course materials. Stick to your outline when presenting and do not go off on
   tangents, therefore, avoiding audience confusion.

3. Practice does make perfect:
   Even if you have given many presentations, this point is very important.
   Successful presentations are a reflection of the preparation the presenters have
   devoted before the actual presentation takes place. Presentation practice does
   make a difference in how effective your presentation will be.

4. Use examples and illustrations:
   Examples, real and/or hypothetical can give your presentation substance and will
   help make your presentation more successful. This does not mean that your
   presentation should be comprised entirely of examples or cases but limited use
   will help attendees better understand some points.

5. Suggest practical applications attendees can use:
   Your audience wants to really use the information you are presenting. Show them
   how to do it. Point out potential pitfalls and suggest strategies for avoiding them.
   When there are alternative courses of action, present the advantages and
   disadvantages of each.

6. Convey your own interest/involvement in the subject matter:
   Audiences can tell when a presenter is passionate about a subject. While gestures
   and hand movements can distract an audience if used effectively they can also add
   to it. The best way to communicate your passion on a subject is through efficient
   limited voice changes and body gestures. Vary the pitch, tone, and pace of your
   presentation as if you were engaged in an animated conversation. Hand, head,
   and body gestures can also be used to convey your interest in a subject matter.
   However, be sure to only use those gestures that feel natural to you.

7. Use humor sparingly:
   If it is brief and relevant, humor can be another effective tool for helping your
   audience relax. It is not required, and many great presenters do not use it. So use
   humor selectively and only at appropriate times. And always avoid humor that
   any attendees might find the least bit offensive. Such humor reflects poorly on
   you, the program, and on the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

8. Use visual aids when appropriate:
   Visual aids can grab and hold attention, clarify concepts, and raise the interest
   level of your audience. However while they can enhance your presentation be
   careful not to use them as your presentation notes. Also when using PowerPoint
   for presentations, please be sure to use a font size that will be visible, even from
   the back of a conference room. Furthermore, make sure not to wait until the last
   minute to notify us of your audio visual needs.

   If you are using PowerPoint slides for your presentation, please make sure to
   include them as part of your written materials. However, do not submit copies of
   your slides as a substitute for substantive written materials.

9. Use the sound equipment that is available:
   Please make the best use of tabletop or podium microphones. Frequently, podium
   presenters do not adjust the height of the microphone to their own height or tend
   to not speak directly into the microphone. This not only makes it hard for
   attendees to hear but also proves frustrating for the audio visual team to pick up
   the sound for recording purposes. Also if you ever prefer a lavaliere microphone,
   please let us know prior to the event and we will try to have one available for you.

10. Audience questions:
    Usually, it is advisable to ask the audience to hold questions until the conclusion
    of your presentation. When you do take oral questions, repeat each one so people
    in every part of the room can hear the question. Also try to keep the needs of the
    entire audience in mind and limit “case-specific” questions that may not apply to
    many CLE attendees. If time does not permit taking questions at the end of your
    presentation, please be willing to answer them during a break or outside the
    meeting room after your presentation.