PRESENTATION SKILLS

THE SayBODY
it!

Lecturer: Nguyen Duc Duy Tan, M.A.

0707315044 | duytan@lhu.edu.vn
 POWERFUL
TECHNIQUES
 “When we’re presenting, it can feel unnatural to say the same word over and over again. But, I’ve
REPETITION noticed that repetition really works when I listen to a presentation. It really helps to clarify and
consolidate the key points.”

Pay attention to the following extracts

1. You will drive back home or wherever you are going
afterwards carefully – very carefully – even if you are late. To emphasize how you should drive

2. Who - who makes this dangerous? You – you my dear

people, car drivers, taxi drivers and bus drivers. You – you To clarify the people who may cause traffic dangers
my dear people make life of cyclists every day’s challenge.
3. Remember however in a hurry you are, and however in a To stress on the situation of taking part in traffic
hurry your passengers are, there are definitely more
important things to life than being on time.
4. Which means that you’ve got a much – much – better chance
To emphasize the possibility of the situation on the road
to knock down a cyclist.

5. They don’t give you the right of not being careful. They don’t
give you the right to overtake cyclists sharply, and they don’t To strongly emphasize what drivers must not do
give you the right to break speed limits when the roads look
empty.
 “When we’re presenting, it can feel unnatural to say the same word over and over again. But, I’ve
REPETITION noticed that repetition really works when I listen to a presentation. It really helps to clarify and
consolidate the key points.”
Task 1:
Read the extracts and present them with repetitions to demonstrate the purposes
1. Intellectual property is undeniably present in every single part of our lives.
(to emphasize the popularity of intellectual property)

2. Whatever we do, wherever we are, whatever we see or hear is all related to intellectual property.
(to emphasize the relevance of intellectual property)

3. Back then intellectual property protection was non-existent compared to our 21st century, for example, where IP laws are literally
omnipresent.
(to emphasize how real the situation is)

4. I cannot really see any reason why we should continue to perpetuate this by giving loads of protection to some and increasing the
losses of others. Why do we have to do something which results in uncertainties?
(to emphasize how the presenter perceives the actions)

5. Intellectual property rights last a very long time.

(to emphasize the long-lasting feature)
Refer to the final slide for answer keys
 “I quite like using rhetorical questions as they create expectation
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS and a feeling of dialogue. They’re also a useful tool for outlining
and signposting the structure.”

In this part of the presentation, I’m telling you about the achievements we’ve made. The Global Group took
another major step forward last year. As a specialist in telecommunications we have moved into a new league
with sales up by 23 per cent to €2.135 billion. We have continued to strengthen our leading market positions These questions
all over the world. serve as
That’s our achievements. And now, how have we obtained such big success? • transitions to up-
coming points
We have • tools to make
• made further inroads into the markets of Asia, Latin America and the Middle East audience predict
• successfully integrated newly acquired business into our own operations, with positive synergetic effects what is coming
• taken further action to restructure operations and cut costs • devices to make
• initiated efficiency drives in the mobile phone products sector more
• improved teamwork within the Global Group and with customers and suppliers under the “Year of Sales” communication
initiative, and increased our capacity for innovation. with audience and
build rapport
So, what are we going to do next?
We are continuing to concentrate on superior products and solutions which set up apart from the rest of the
competition. Our efforts remain geared towards strengthening our market potential through innovation,
increasing our attractiveness to end consumers and trade alike, and identifying opportunities for expansion.
 “I quite like using rhetorical questions as they create expectation
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS and a feeling of dialogue. They’re also a useful tool for outlining
and signposting the structure.”

Task 2:
Read the extracts and use a question in order to connect two consecutive points together.

Now let me break down this formula. Organisms exist only during certain geological intervals. So you have to find rocks of the right age,
depending on what your interests are. If you want to find trilobites, you have to find the really, really old rocks of the Paleozoic -- rocks
between a half a billion and a quarter-billion years old.
A question will be inserted here…

Now, if you want to find dinosaurs, don't look in the Paleozoic, you won't find them. They hadn't evolved yet. You have to find the younger
rocks of the Mesozoic, and in the case of dinosaurs, between 235 and 66 million years ago.
A question will be inserted here…

Now, it's fairly easy to find rocks of the right age at this point, because the Earth is, to a coarse degree, geologically mapped. This is
hard-won information. The annals of Earth history are written in rocks, one chapter upon the next, such that the oldest pages are on
bottom and the youngest on top.

Refer to the final slide for answer keys

 “Good presentations often have lists with three different words, three identical words, three
RULE OF THREE phrases or three sentences. Lists of three have a sense of completeness and research
shows that listeners wait for and expect a third item in a list.”

Instead of saying Say

Cycling is a (1) fast and (2) convenient way of travelling. Cycling is a (1) fast, (2) convenient and (3) non-polluting
way of travelling.
You my dear people, (1) car drivers, make life of cyclists
(1) every day’s challenge. You my dear people, (1) car drivers, (2) bus drivers, (3) taxi
drivers, make life of cyclists (1) every day’s challenge, (2)
every day’s struggle and (3) every day’s fight for life.

I know that you have to drive under much pressure. (1) I know that you have to drive under much pressure. (1) You
You have to follow a tight schedule and (2) your have to follow a tight schedule; (2) your passengers can
passengers can get angry at you. get angry at you if you don’t overtake a slow cyclist; and (3)
you are sick and tired of cyclists jumping at red light.
 “Good presentations often have lists with three different words, three identical words, three
RULE OF THREE phrases or three sentences. Lists of three have a sense of completeness and research
shows that listeners wait for and expect a third item in a list.”
Task 3:
Complete the extracts from speeches with the words given in order to make ‘rule of three’ phrases.
judged or hurt have to pay someone for it I don’t feel pretty wouldn‘t, couldn’t
uniqueness and you don’t you ever give up on you I see you, I hear you even have to respect you

“Here I am, representing each and everyone of you who ever felt excluded, (1) ………………… because you don’t fit into the standards. I
am here to day to be your voice and our young girls, and celebrating individuality, (2) …………………. (3) ………………… you and I’m
here for you.”

“To all of you watching here, come close to the screen and listen. People don’t have to like you. People don’t have to love you. They don’t
(4) …………………. But when you look in the mirror, you’d better love what you see. You’d better love what you see.”

“To anyone who has ever – ever – had a dream and thought your dream wasn’t, (5) ………………… come true. I am here to tell you that
this is what believing looks like; this is what thriving looks like; and (6) ………………….”

“I’m not perfect. Sometimes (7) …………………; sometimes I don’t want to sleep; sometimes the dragon I’m slaying is myself. But I’m
worth it. I don’t have to barter for my worth; I don’t (8) …………………; I came out of my mom’s womb worthy.”

Refer to the final slide for answer keys

 “We are bigger than our competitors” is an example. Another contrast technique is to use words that are
CONTRAST opposites. Kennedy did it in that famous speech, “symbolizing an end not a beginning” and “United, there is
little we cannot do ... Divided, there is little we can do”.

1. You should always prepare your presentation and never rely on two things presenters have to do
PowerPoint.

2. We need to attack the competition and not just defend our market an emphasis on what needs doing
position.

3. We don’t want to be behind the curve, but in front of it. a clarification of the main objective

4. The change in the law was the reason for their failure and our two contradicting effects
success.
 “Good presentations often have lists with three different words, three identical words, three
CONTRAST phrases or three sentences. Lists of three have a sense of completeness and research
shows that listeners wait for and expect a third item in a list.”
Task 4:
Underline the contradicting elements in the following sentences.
1. She always said it was her best film, although the critics hated it.
2. Rather than a military solution, we should be looking for a political one.
3. Some plastics are easy to produce, but difficult to dispose of.
4. Instead of a quick resolution to the war, their tactics prolonged it.
5. Most people think he's French, but in fact he's from Canada.
6. The model weighs only four kilos, whereas the full-scale version will weigh four thousand.
7. Despite the President's personal popularity, his party lost the election.
8. The novel was all his own work - or he claimed it was.
9. The area is a popular tourist attraction, and yet completely un-spoilt.
10. Unlike most of our competitors, we've actually made a profit this year.

Refer to the final slide for answer keys

 “Good presentations often have lists with three different words, three identical words, three
CONTRAST phrases or three sentences. Lists of three have a sense of completeness and research
shows that listeners wait for and expect a third item in a list.”
Task 5:
Complete the sentences with the phrases provided, then underline the contradicting elements.
to simplify it can be different take care of the people your passenger as well
we ourselves to maintain customersbut restructuring
1. The changes we have made are designed not to confuse but ........................
2. I don’t argue the fact that you might have a very good reason to pollute... but when your kids grow up, ........................
3. You have to not only obey the road rules, but ....................... on the road.
4. Because you are responsible not only for your life, but for the lives of ........................
5. This project is not ......................., but attract more new ones.
6. I strongly believe that we are in need of not only relocating ....................... as well.
7. Not anyone else but ....................... need to stand up and go.

Refer to the final slide for answer keys

SELL AN EXPERIENCE Put the audience in the situation which brings alive the point you want to
make, for example by talking about a relevant personal experience.

SURPRISE ADDITION Give your audience a bonus. Offer one more idea for suggestion at the
end of your presentation.

Task 6:

Listen to a tour operator giving a talk about holidays in Croatia and identify the techniques she uses.

Refer to the final slide for answer keys

Task 7:
Present a short talk about an attractive tourist destination. Remember to use the powerful techniques presented in the previous sessions.
Task 1: Task 4:
1. every single part (of our lives)
2. all
1. her best film – hated it
2. military – political
ANSWER KEYS
3. literally 3. easy to produce – difficult to dispose of Task 5:
4. I cannot really see 4. quick resolution – prolonged it • Rule of three: culture, history and the
5. very long (time) 5. French – Canada good life
6. model – full scale / four kilos – four • Sell an experience: let me take you on a
Task 2: (suggested answers) thousand journey…
1. Is it also how we find dinosaurs? 7. personal popularity – lost the election • Contrast: You don’t just come for sun;
2. What about finding rocks now – at 8. was – claimed it was you also come for culture, history and
present times? 9. popular tourist attraction – completely fun.
un-spoilt • Repetition: let me repeat that one more
Task 3: 10. unlike – actually made time. Croatia is culture; Croatia is
1. judged or hurt history; Croatia is good life.
2. uniqueness and you Task 5: • Surprise addition: Oh and one more
3. I see you, I hear you 11. to simplify thing…
4. even have to respect you 12. it can be different
5. wouldn’t, couldn’t 13. take care of the people
6. don’t you ever give up on you 14. your passengers as well
7. I don’t feel pretty 15. to maintain customers
8. have to pay someone for it 16. but restructuring
17. we ourselves