New
New
Year 8

Delivering a formal presentation

I can deliver a presentation, using effective body language and strategies to ensure a confident delivery.

New
New
Year 8

Delivering a formal presentation

I can deliver a presentation, using effective body language and strategies to ensure a confident delivery.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Body language and eye contact support the successful delivery of a presentation.
  2. Gesture and posture can be used to engage the audience and to add emphasis to important points.
  3. Spoken language often needs to be slower than feels natural.
  4. You need to consider your spatial behaviour- too much movement can be distracting but too little can be wooden.
  5. It's okay to feel nervous, find the strategies that work for you.

Keywords

  • Body language - non-verbal cues or gestures such as facial expressions and posture

  • Naturalistic - with reference to presenting, this means speaking in a relaxed way without scripts

  • Gestures - movements of the body (especially hands or arms) to express ideas or emotions

  • Posture - refers to the way someone holds themselves when they're seated or standing

Common misconception

Content alone is enough for an effective formal presentation.

Consider the most engaging speakers and how they use tone, gestures and eye contact. Delivering a presentation is so much more than just the words on a page.

You can illustrate the importance of word choices by offering a list of synonyms and asking them in what situations they would use them.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pupils will need an existing presentation they have planned/written to complete the tasks for this lesson. This lesson could be adapted for other forms of spoken language e.g. a speech or performance.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the purpose of creating cue cards for a speech?
to ensure the speaker relies solely on the script during the delivery
to memorise the entire speech word for word
Correct answer: to provide key ideas and prompts to structure the speech delivery
to avoid eye contact with the audience
Q2.
Which of the following should not be on a cue card?
sentence starters
ideas from your introduction
Correct answer: full sentences
key ideas
rhetorical devices
Q3.
What type of questions invite developed responses, rather than just a 'yes' or 'no'?
an open question
a closed question
Correct answer: a rhetorical question
Q4.
Which of the following is a synonym for 'magnificent'?
Perhaps this is due to rising temperatures
Correct answer: No, that's completely incorrect.
This might suggest a bigger problem.
Maybe this suggests a lack of opportunities.
Q5.
Which word beginning with 'c' describes a small card used during a speech or presentation to help the speaker remember key points or prompts?
Correct Answer: cue
Q6.
Which is the best definition of the term 'sophisticated vocabulary'?
a collection of words on the same theme
a vocabulary that includes technical terms and jargon
Correct answer: an extensive and advanced vocabulary
a vocabulary full of colloquial expressions

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following would you use to show confidence when delivering a speech?
Correct answer: open body language
fidgeting
Correct answer: good eye contact
closed body language
Correct answer: upright posture
Q2.
When delivering a speech your eye contact should be ...
focused on the ground.
focused on your script.
focused on one member of the audience.
Correct answer: focused generally on the audience.
Q3.
Which word can be used to describe the non-verbal cues or gestures such as facial expressions and posture in spoken language?
Correct Answer: body language
Q4.
Which of these strategies can help you feel less nervous when delivering a speech?
Correct answer: taking deep breaths
Correct answer: practising your speech
speaking quickly
Correct answer: upright posture
using a script
Q5.
With reference to delivering a presentation, which word means speaking in a relaxed way without scripts?
convincing
compelling
Correct answer: naturalistic
strained
Q6.
Which word beginning with 'p' can be described as the way someone holds themselves when they're seated or standing?
Correct Answer: posture