Centre for Academic Practice, Trinity Teaching & Learning

Presentation

A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team. In an oral presentation, one (or more) students give a talk to a group and present views on a topic based on their readings or research. The rest of the group then joins in a discussion of the topic, usually by asking questions or making comments following the presentation.

Typically used to….

assess your capacity to select and prepare materials appropriately for public presentation.
evaluate your ability to present information coherently and concisely.
assess ‘softer’ presentation skills, e.g. interactivity, ability to collaborate.
facilitate the development public-speaking skills.
enhance your ability to develop and present material within a specified timeframe/limit.
facilitate peer review and feedback (where peers provide constructive feedback on a presentation).

Key considerations when preparing and delivering presentations for assessment

When preparing for a presentation, it is important to refer to the guidelines provided by your lecturer. It is also important to keep the following points in mind:

Is the presentation being used for formative or summative assessment purposes (or both!)
If your presentation contributes to your final grade (i.e. is being used for summative assessment), how much is it worth?
What criteria is being used to assess your presentation? Has a rubric been provided?
What is the time limit? More often than not, a presentation will have a time limit. This will help you gauge how detailed your presentation needs to be.
Who is the audience? Knowing your audience is the first step to creating a presentation that will be engaging and interesting.
Less is more. Don’t overcrowd slides with information. It’s better to have a few key points/ideas which are easy to digest for your audience.
Be cohesive and concise. When preparing slides, make sure the presentation has a clear and logical flow to it, from the introduction to its conclusion.
Take your time and do your best to speak clearly.
Try to be engaging and include information that will grab your audience’s attention such as images, short videos or interesting facts that will aid you in holding the audience’s focus.
Practice. Public speaking can be a challenge, but the more practice you get, the easier it becomes.
Gather feedback and follow it. Following the presentation, it can be helpful.