In chapter 15 I was surprised to learn how much font and
size of the text in a slide affects a
presentation. After reading the chapter,
I noticed how many presentations I have seen where the slides distracted me
from the person speaking. Providing a
visual aid during a presentation is very important but it should support your
argument and not confuse your
audience. Unnecessary picture and quotes
that don't relate to the topic hurt more than help a presenter.
After reading chapter 15, I have determined I will use a simple
yet classic style on my portion of the presentation. This is best done by using
supporting images and short statements that is easy for the audience to
remember. Another skill I have learned is
the importance of repetition in a presentation.
I was aware that it was important to restate your purpose to make sure
it is clear, but after the reading I understand it is important to make sure
the presenter hammers home the point of the presentation and why it should
matter to the audience. By utilizing
these techniques, the presentation is more professional, remember able and
understandable.
I have noticed that good presentations don't involve reading
directly from the slides. The best presentations
are when new information is offered on the slides or a summary of what the
presenter is discussing. The audience
should not be able to read along with what the presenter is saying. Also, the person speaking must engage the
audience and attempt the make their presentation relatable. For me, a presenter must be relatable to
their audience or their argument becomes ineffective. Also,
a presenter's tone and delivery affect the perceptions of the presentation by
the audience. A presenter should avoid
using filler words like, umm, you know, and like. When a presenter avoids using these words and
chooses instead to pause they seem much more thought out and insightful.
Additionally, humor plays a big role in maintaining an audience interest. Using appropriate humor in a presentation can
relax the person speaking and endear themselves to audience much better.
