Top tip
"A simple and confident presentation is the best presentation. What matters more than what you say, is how you say it. And with minimum text, it has maximum impact."
– Karmanya Sareen
EEE Departmental Representative, 2016-17
The ability to prepare and deliver an effective presentation is a useful skill for both academic study and for the workplace.
You’ll learn a lot about presentation skills throughout your course, but we’ve got some useful advice to start you off.
It is important that you check with your Department to see if there is specific guidance you should follow when giving a presentation. Some Departments may offer detailed support on written and oral presentation skills.
Delivering presentations
As with many methods of assessment at university, the key to delivering a good presentation is preparation.
Before you start working on your presentation, consider the following:
Objective
What are you trying to achieve with this presentation? Think about the key points you want your audience to take away with them – how can you make sure that you get your message across?
Audience
Who are you delivering your presentation to? How many people will you be addressing? Do you know anything about them that could help you tailor your content to them? For example, some audiences might be well versed in the technical jargon of your subject, where others may need more plain language.
Location
Think about the venue where you will be delivering your presentation. What facilities will be available? How will the seating be arranged? A lecture hall could make the atmosphere feel very formal, whereas a seminar room might lead to a more conversational approach.
Guidelines
You may have been provided with guidelines you need to stick to as part of your presentation. Make sure you know how much time you have, whether there are any style constraints you need to work within, or if you need to stick to a set number of slides.
