Next week we will turn our attention to the first of two presentations in the presentation project. While we will address each of these presentations separately and as they are due, refer back to this guide to review the purposes and general guidelines for the both. As you begin to develop your plans for each project, you should also refer back to our textbook chapters 10 and 11 for tips and tricks beyond this page. 

Overview

Beyond email and tweeting, we often must pitch ourselves and our ideas – in conference engagements, interviews, among colleagues, with clients, and with prospective employers. These two presentations allow you to develop your communication skills as a speaker and as a composer of PowerPoint slides and videos. They also allow us to consider the writing that accompanies these compositions.

When discussing writing, the word write is often connected with the act of putting words on a page; but writing is more than that. When we refer to writing in this class, what we are really considering is the organized development and polished communication of ideas. In the beginning of the semester, you were asked to write down they types of writing you do every day and every week. Likely most of you included lists, texting, social media, etc. But, as students, you likely also engage in writing that is creative or links to larger purposes. It may even be translated into other media but begin as brainstorming, note taking, storyboarding, planning, etc. 

The Presentations

Presentation 1: Social Media Analysis

Presentation 1 asks you to briefly critique the social media presence of a company or individual and is to be done in tandem with the Social Media package. In doing so, you are also thinking about how to build your own brand and public presence.  

Presentation 1 should be 3-5 minutes and delivered as a PowerPoint or Google Slideshow. You must also include a voice component, which you may include as a voiceover within the slides or as part of a Kaltura video in which you use the slides to present your work.

To learn more about recording and uploading with Kaltura, which is available in iCollege, you can find instructions on the Using Kaltura page (see iCollege). I will also add a brief video next week about using Kaltura to build and preserve your videos in iCollege.

The details for this presentation will be available in the Presentation I iCollege page.

Final Presentation Due: October 7 @ 5 pm

Presentation 2: The Pitch

Presentation 2 is a one to two-minute elevator pitch that includes a one-page proposal memo. Your pitch is the dynamic version of the memo and should be completed as a video (preferred) or as a narrated PowerPoint. You may pitch a product, an idea, or yourself. Presentation 2 should be fully developed, regardless of what you are pitching, and include specifics.

The details for this presentation will be available in the Presentation II iCollege page.

Final Presentation Due: November 16 @ 5 pm

Presentation Tips

The key to good writing and a good presentation is preparation. Don’t forget:

• Assemble talking points in a logical way, so that they flow together. Lead with the most important information.
• Include repetition of phrase to help organize and pace talking points, in the same way you might use it in a persuasive paper. For example, The first reason…, The second reason…, The final reason…
• Rather than memorize your presentation, make notes and have them handy. Those notes can be prompts that are a part of your visual package or they can be notecards, but they should not be full sentences. 
• Spoken language should be clean and simple. Think about the way that the news is written for an anchor vs. the way news may be written for a written investigative piece. In a spoken presentation, you want to be brief, to the point, and clear. Get rid of all unnecessary words.
• Practice, even if you are recording. Time yourself as you practice to make sure you are not moving too fast or too slowly. A practiced presentation is one that feels natural and makes you look prepared.
• Slow down and enunciate your words.
• Visit the writing tips for spoken media ist on pg. 271 of the textbook.

The Reflection

After the conclusion of your second presentation, you will complete a short, one-page reflection. Remember, reflections should reflect on your learning experience, the work you have done, and what skills you have developed. A strong reflection will be considered and discuss both strengths and weaknesses, as well as benefits.