5H1 - Presentation skills I: Openings

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

Welcome, 5H!

Presentation skills

How to become a better presenter 

(in English)

02:29

Obama uses a classic rhetorical strategy: the three-fold argument. He talks about... (3 correct answers)

1. poor elderly people
2. disadvantaged children
3. racism
4. taking care of others

02:57

Obama uses three techniques in this speech: detail, storytelling, and antithesis. What is antithesis?

1. confronting his audience with unpleasant truths
2. pretending to be a victim
3. creating contrast with structures and examples
4. making things bigger than they are

00:54

How does Obama create a connection with his audience?

1. He tells a joke
2. He tells an anecdote
3. He tells a shocking fact
4. He places his speech in a bigger context

We can't all be Obamas, or Gormans, or Captain Holts, or *insert fantastic public speaker*...

.. but we can improve our presentation skills (in English) with some simple techniques.

This workshop is aimed at making you a more engaging and more confident public speaker. 

Presentation skills

• Effective openings
• Using your voice
• Rhetorical techniques

Effective openings

Opening with flair

Stating your purpose

Signposting

Opening with flair, what techniques can you use to do that?

Effective openings

Opening effectively means connecting with your audience: engaging them, interesting them in the story you're about to tell. 

Cold open

Almost every TV show or movie makes use of the 'cold open', an opening scene that serves as a teaser for the story to come. 

Historically, TV makers started using this technique to involve the audience in the plot as soon as possible to reduce the likelihood of their switching from a show during the opening credits. 

In public speaking, there are multiple ways of engaging an audience and opening your speech effectively. 

We will take a look at some examples, and discuss the most effective methods of opening a speech or presentation. 

For the next few clips, keep in mind the question: "What method of engaging the audience is used here?"

What method of engaging the audience does speaker Ric Elias use here?

“Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”

Maximum engagement: 

• using the power of imagination to put the audience in the story. 
• give details to guide the imaginaton, speak to the senses

What method of engaging the audience does president Obama use here, and why is it effective?

["You're going to miss me when I'm gone"] "You can't say it, but you know it's true"

Engagement:

• Using humor to appease your audience (get them to like you = get them to listen to you)
• Know your audience and stay close/true to yourself, don't overdo it. 

What method of engaging the audience does Kelly McGonigal use here?

"I have a confession to make. But first I want you to make a little confession to me.”

Engagement:

• Engage the audience by asking a question
• Engage the audience by using build-up (creating suspense and letting it linger for a while)

Other options

Storytelling (Obama's 2004 DNC speech)

Provocative statements

• “I want to discuss with you this afternoon why you’re going to fail to have a great career.” (TED-talk Larry Smith)

Using a quotation 

• "Congressman John Lewis, before his passing, wrote: "Democracy is not a state. It is an act."" (Victory speech Kamala Harris)

Asking a rhetorical question

• “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?" (TED-talk Simon Sinek)

Effective openings - grab attention

> Speak to the audience's imagination

> Tell a joke

> Asking a question

> Using build-up to create suspense

> Use a quotation (explain relevance later)

> Tell an anecdote

> Use  a provocative statement