Instructions for Oral Presentations

409a, 409b, 459

1) To see the schedule of Oral Presentations click one of these three:

409a      www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy17/g17present409a.html
409b      www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy17/g17present409b.html
459        www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy17/g17present459.html

Your grade for this activity (20 points) depends BOTH on your presentation and your participation as an audience member when others are giving their presentation.

2) HOW TO BE A GOOD AUDIENCE MEMBER (5 points)

a) speak at least once in every class
b) look at the speaker and act like an audience
c) give others a chance to speak
d) make comments that are relevant to the topic

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR ORAL PRESENTATION (15 points)

1) Read through the entire material assigned, take notes, and think about it for a few days. Then discuss the content informally with someone. Explain what the main concepts are. See if you can define them without your notes. Note the reaction, and the comprehension or misunderstanding.

2) Prepare an outline for your 30-min presentation. Your presentation must take at least 28 minutes, but no more than 32 minutes.

3) Half of your presentation must be about the book section assigned. Half must be about Web materials on sub-topics of the book section. Note: many students lose points here because they don't devote half of the time to the Web materials. If two articles are assigned (instead of the book section), you must devote half of your time equally between the two.

4) Go through the assigned reading and write down some of its important sub-topics. Now use your Browser and a Web search engine to find materials relevant to one or more of the sub-topics.

5) Prepare a handout, or use the overhead projector. Useful handouts include one or more of the following: a copy of the outline, a test, an exercise, a table, a diagram, Web links, etc.

6) Make your presentation interesting. Do not just present what the material says, but also how you reacted to it and what your opinion is. This is what makes your oral presentation worthwhile and interesting--the combination of the material and your opinion. Remember: you need to state your opinion or implications you see for each segment as you go along, and not wait till the end to do so. Many students lose points for not following this important requirement.

7) Practice ahead of time. Do not read without looking up. Even better--just take outline notes, not full sentences, so you will be making up the sentences as you talk. This helps you stay in rapport with the audience. The skills you practice here are the same that will make you successful on your job.

8) Do not read. Speak spontaneously from the outline. This takes practice and sufficient preparation. Use your friends to try out your approach.

9) Find a way of involving the audience. Ask a question, for example, and pick someone to answer. Or ask for a show of hands on How many of you agree that X is the case? Have them fill out a test items--not more than two or three (do not use a whole test since it takes away from your time and focus). Be sure to explain each item: How do you understand it and why it is considred to be a measure of that trait.

Grading Criteria:

a) Did you stay within the scheduled time (28 to 32 minutes)?

b) Did you divide your time equally between the book section and the Web?

c) Did you mix the content with your own opinion throughout the presentation?

d) Did you read full sentences (not preferred), or used an outline (preferable)?

e) Did you maintain eye contact with the audience?

f) Did you involve the audience?

g) Was your content coherent, or disjointed and vague?

h) Did you act like you were well prepared?

i) Was your voice strong and clear?

j) Did you answer audience questions in a skilled way?