How to Give a Presentation
Alex Montgomery
POL 373: Global Ecological Politics
2007-04-17
Outline
I.	Organizing
a)	The Outline
b)	Information Flow
c)	Style Tips
II.	Presenting: Yourself
III.	PowerPoint: Your Worst Enemy
a)	Things to Do
b)	Things to Avoid
IV.	Summary
I.a) Organizing: The Outline
1.	…should look something like this:
I.	Your Puzzle (+Your Answer)
II.	Current Perspectives (No Straw Men)
III.	Theoretical Basis (assumptions, actors, processes, structures, etc.)
IV.	Empirics
V.	Conclusions/Further Research/Implications
I.b) Organizing: Information Flow
•	Assess audience knowledge
•	Introduce key concepts, terms early on
•	Have additional slides ready (and slides that can be cut)
•	Divide information between slides & notes
•	Signpost throughout the talk
I.c) Organizing: Style Tips
•	Outlines don’t have to be boring
•	Talks are not books: Repeat yourself
•	Fit your organization to your subject
•	Handouts?
II. Presenting: Yourself (1/2)
•	First impressions are important
•	Speak clearly (“loosen tie; speak up”)
•	Face Audience (+ make eye contact)
•	Practice, practice, practice
•	Don’t read your talk
•	Sound interested
•	Slow down
II. Presenting: Yourself (2/2)
•	Standing or Sitting?
•	Laser Pointers and Other Bad Things
•	Covering up Your Slides
•	Have Something to Drink
•	Supporters in the Audience?
•	When to Take Questions
III.a) PowerPoint: Things to Do (1/2)
•	Have a backup
•	Do a test-run before the presentation
•	Boot computer before presentation
•	Bring your own cables
III.a) PowerPoint: Things to Do (2/2)
•	Full Sentences v. Fragments
•	One to Three points Per Slide
•	One to Three minutes Per Slide
•	Don’t Read off your Slides
•	Consistent Slide Design
III.b) PowerPoint: Things to Avoid
•	Miniscule Text
•	Annoying Animations
•	Ugly Themes
•	Irritating Backgrounds
•	Complicated Slides
•	Unclear Plots
IV.Summary
•	Organize your thoughts
•	Practice personal presentation
•	PowerPoint is a means, not an end