Presentations
During your time at university, you may be expected to deliver a presentation as part of your course assessment. For many students, standing up and delivering a presentation to a group can be a challenging experience, but by giving yourself plenty of time for preparation and practice, you can learn how to deliver with confidence and make an impact with your chosen topic. Use the resources on this page to help you learn how to design and deliver a clear, informative and visually appealing presentation.
Presentation skills
Before you begin preparing your presentation, ensure you understand what’s expected of you. Carefully consider the assignment criteria, including your time limit and whether you need to provide a handout. It is advised that you spend the same amount of time planning your presentation as you would an essay.
Top tips: Presentation skills
- Make eye contact with your audience and be aware of any ‘presenting mannerisms’ you might have which your audience could find distracting, such as fumbling in your pockets or jangling your keys. Practicing with friends or family can help identify these.
- Consider whether you can present a tired topic in a fresh and innovative way. Adding a small element of originality or a memorable moment can help you stand out from your peers.
- Be passionate and authentic. You cannot inspire others if you are not inspired yourself. It helps, where possible, to choose a topic you are genuinely curious or excited about.
- Practice, practice, practice. Relying on a script will create a barrier between you and your audience. Using the slides to prompt well-rehearsed material is a better alternative.
Top tips: Designing skills
- Websites like Unsplash, Canva and Pixabay are useful for sourcing copyright free images.
- Be mindful of excessive animation and text heavy slides.It is likely you will be expected to follow usual academic conventions, such as having a formal tone, clear structure and references.
- Try to use a minimum size 44 font.
Useful guides and toolkits
Guides:
Online courses:
- Learn presentation skills with LinkedIn Learning
- LinkedIn Learning Presentations Playlist
- LinkedIn Learning Top Tips for Public Speaking Playlist