Launchpad Activity 6

For when you need to share information, or show someone how a conclusion was arrived at or how to do something.

Activity 6 – Informative Presentation

Duration: 4 mins
Pre-requisites: Activity 1-5.

Outcomes

By the end of this activity, you will be able to:

  • Inform the audience with a presentation, which emphasises design and structure with a focus on sequencing.

Objectives

To do this, you will need to keep the following objectives in mind:

  • Choose a topic and method of delivery about something you know well.
  • Decide on the key points and plan the sequence.
  • Plan how to illustrate each point.
  • Plan your conclusion.

The Why…

For when you need to share information, or show someone how a conclusion was arrived at or how to do something.

Where do I start?

Start by thinking about what you know a lot about.  Hobbies, your work, interests are all good places to start.  Ask your family and friends for ideas as they can often recognise skills and knowledge and expertise that you have that you take for granted. A demonstration speech explains how to do something or how to achieve something using either physical demonstration itself or some kind of visual aid or both. You can choose to do a physical demonstration or presentation which informs the audience about something. The emphasis is on design, structure and sequencing so keep this in mind when you are planning and preparing.

The How

Specific guidelines on how to tackle this activity.


Choose a topic and method of delivery about something you know well. Examples could be:

  1. A Demonstration which shows a procedure like pruning a rose bush, covering a book, braiding hair, framing a print, making a cocktail, preparing a recipe, arranging flowers, building an electronic widget, changing settings in a smartphone, etc.
  2. A Presentation, using PowerPoint slides or other media (could be visual/ audio), handouts, whiteboard, etc.
  3. A Case Study with details of the background situation, and some visuals to support findings, etc.


Decide on the key points and plan the sequence

  1. Logically think through the key steps, stages or processes involved and document them in a logical order, easy for the audience to follow.
  2. Demonstrations may be divided into stages such as 1) Preparation, 2) Doing the Task, 3) Points to remember about timing or equipment.
  3. It is important to plan the sequence of procedures or stages and to explain the reasons for each. 
  4. Although this seems quite straight forward, the challenge lies in presenting the information in a way which the audience will fully understand (and remember!)

Plan how to illustrate each point

  1. Remember not all the audience will be able to see clearly, so you will have to think of ways that will help them to understand what you are talking about by considering angles, positions of exhibits and so on.
  2. Will you demonstrate? Show pictures? Give analogies? Tell a story to help them remember an important point? 

Plan your conclusion

  1. Usually a conclusion wraps up the main points and gives recommendations or top tips. 

Hints, tips and traps

  1. Avoid including too much information.
  2. Avoid a chronological list of events.
  3. Choose something that people would find surprising or wouldn’t expect.
  4. Beware of ‘oversharing’ (it could be embarrassing!)
  5. Avoid things that may be inappropriate or offensive.
  6. It is wise to avoid topics around religion and politics.
  7. Rostrum is not a platform to market or sell your products or services.

Guidelines for Program Director:

  • When a person is allocated the activity in the Program (i.e. with notice), tell them they will be called upon to answer the Topical Question (TQ) on the day and remind them to:
    • Listen carefully to the question
    • Form an opinion
    • Prepare and provide supporting arguments
    • Give an answer to the question.

Resources that may be helpful

  1. Links to speaking hacks (#7, #9 etc)
  2. video links
  3. how to sheets