12. Oral Presentations

For many students, and even for many professionals, the thought of making an oral presentation can be anxiety-inducing. But the ability to speak clearly and confidently in public is an important competency. Getting comfortable facing an audience—whether online or IRL (in real life)—can serve you well in your professional life, increase your self-confidence, and improve your ability to communicate with others in a variety of situations.

Learning Objectives

This chapter contains the following sections to help you develop confidence and skills in making presentations, whether individually or as part of a team, and in designing visually effective presentations:

  • 12.1  Building Confidence as a Presenter
  • 12.2  Developing Presentation Skills 
    • Systematic process for deliberate practice
  • 12.3  Creating Effective Slideshows
    • Designing visual aids
    • Visual rhetoric
  • 12.4 Presenting as a Team