ENG 106: Composition 2 |
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By the end
of this lesson, you should be able to do each of the following:
Read Chapter
17 of Everything’s an Argument before you come to class on Tuesday. Write notes
for your oral presentation and bring them to class on Thursday. Think Fast: Make a
list of instructions for preparing and giving an oral presentation. Presentation: Oral
Argument (Professor Canada) Cooperative Learning: Work
together with a partner to brainstorm some material for your oral
presentation. Discussion: During
this time, we will discuss the insights and questions that have emerged
during our “Think Fast” exercise, my presentation, and cooperative learning. Workshop:
Practice giving your oral presentation to a partner. Discuss ways to improve the
presentation. Think Again: Using
your partner’s feedback, revise your oral presentation. Conferences: During
these one-on-one conferences, I will review some of your writing, orally quiz
you on lesson objectives, and field your questions. Announcements: We
will wrap up this lesson with announcements regarding upcoming lessons, as
well as other relevant subjects. Terms
Make sure
you know the meaning and significance of each of the following terms:
Everything’s an Argument contains a
chapter on oral communication. Updated January 3, 2003
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Introduction
Over the past several weeks, we have discussed a number of
strategies that make for effective communication: claims, evidence, topic
sentences, and so on. In this
lesson, we will look at some techniques that can help you be effective in
oral environments, including presentations and interviews. Discussion
Presentations
Many courses and careers require you to give oral
presentations. While preparing such presentations requires many of the same
skills involved in writing--research and organization, for example--some
additional elements are also involved. When you were a child, your parents
might have taught you to "Stop, look, and listen" before crossing a
street. My advice for giving an effective oral presentation is similar:
"Talk, look, and listen." Talk to your audience.
This suggestion sounds self-evident, but note that talking is different from
reading. Too many presenters lose their listeners' attention because they
read from a script. It is hard to follow someone reading a speech for two
reasons. First, we often do not write the way we talk. The syntax of written
sentences tends to be more complex than that of spoken sentences; thus,
listeners may struggle to comprehend your meaning if you read from a script.
Second, many people do not use intonation—vocal clues such as pitch, pace,
and volume—very effectively when they read. Because intonation makes speech
easier to understand and more appealing, you are better off talking because
intonation most likely will come naturally when you talk. Preparing to talk
to your listeners rather than read to them is not difficult. First, instead
of writing out your speech or presentation and then reading from it, prepare
a one-page outline that you can project on a screen or copy and hand out to
your listeners. Next, using this outline as a guide, practice talking about your
subject until you feel comfortable. Finally, during the presentation, just
talk. Avoid beginning with a generic statement such as "My topic is
_______." Instead, open with a question, an anecdote, or something else
that will grab you audience. As you talk about your subject, refer
occasionally to the outline you have projected or handed out. Look at your audience.
Speaking from an outline rather than a script has another advantage. It
allows you to make eye contact with your audience. Try to look at every
listener at least once and avoid talking too much to one group or person,
such as the teacher. Listen to your audience.
You probably have met people who monopolize conversations, rarely showing any
interest in someone else's ideas. If you're like me, you probably don't enjoy
talking—or rather listening—to such people. Your audience may feel the same
way if your presentation consists of a 20-minute monologue. Instead of a
monologue, make your presentation a type of conversation or discussion. If
your listeners already know something about your subject, call on some of
them to provide definitions or explanations. If you are presenting totally
new material, you still can engage your listeners by providing some
information and then inviting them to come up with examples or relevant
anecdotes. Interviews
Being an effective oral communicator can help outside
college, as well. After all, a
key component of just about any employer’s hiring process is an
interview. A few strategies can help
you answer questions in an interview.
Before you arrive, for instance, you will want to review your resume
and practice answering questions with a friend or an expert in job hunting.
Many career centers, including the one here at UNCP, offer mock interviews
and feedback to help you polish your interviewing skills. Prepare succinct,
specific responses to questions about your strengths, weaknesses, work
habits, and career goals. On the day of the interview, dress conservatively and show up five minutes
early. When you meet your interviewer, shake hands firmly, make eye contact,
smile, and commit the person's name to memory. During the interview, sit up
straight, speak up, smile when appropriate, and convey a sense of energy and
enthusiasm. If the opportunity arises, make a brief comment or two to
demonstrate your knowledge of the field and the organization. Example: In an
interview at a newspaper, you might say: "I noticed that more than half
of the stories on your front page the past few days have been local. Are you
emphasizing local news coverage in order to compete with network news?" It will be hard to relax during your first few interviews, but practice
will put you more at ease. In general, the more relaxed you are, the better
impression you will make. Conclusion
We have completed our lessons for this semester. Next week, you need to come only for
your final presentation. Be sure
to arrive on time and to come prepared.
See next week’s lesson for details. |