Planning and Preparing a Successful Speech

Structural Components of a Presentation

As you read this chapter, think about a time when you spoke publicly. This chapter will introduce you to the 15 steps involved in planning and preparing for a successful speech. Download the PowerPoint, COMM-515 Managing Communication

Chapter 4. Review the presentation to help you further understand the chapter. Review the websites found in the resources for this assignment.

Consider this material in light of the following questions:

Structure website:

What are the three structural components of any presentation? What do you need to know when putting each of the three structural components together for an effective presentation?

Speech website:

What are the language choices of any presentation? How do you formulate a language strategy based on the knowledge of your audience?

Delivery website:

What are the areas of delivery that are instrumental in enhancing a presentation?

Visual Aids website:

What is the assertion-evidence slide design? When should you adopt the assertion-evidence design in place of the traditional bullet text default of PowerPoint? Imagine that your workplace has a monthly breakfast meeting during which an HR consultant makes a short presentation on a topic that will help employees be more effective in the workplace.

This meeting is tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, due to a death in the family, the consultant will not be able to attend. You made the grave mistake of discussing this class with your boss; your boss volunteered you to speak on the topic of communication in the workplace and gave you the rest of the day off to prepare. You will prepare a five to ten minute voice narrated PowerPoint presentation on communication in the workplace. A video tutorial on creating this type of presentation is located in the Resources section above.

Design and deliver a presentation on communication in the workplace using PowerPoint voiceover. Be sure that the presentation covers the foundations of communication and provides examples of both good and bad communication.

The presentation should follow a logical and coherent sequence with a strong introduction, clear progression of ideas and thoughts, and an effective conclusion. Be sure to strategically use creative and attractive sound, volume, inflection, graphics, fonts, and formats that add value to the presentation.

Follow the 15 steps involved in planning and preparing for a speech: Your presentation should include introduction and conclusion slides with 10-15 body slides. Each slide should have approximately 40 to 60 seconds of narration. Use proper spelling, grammar, and APA formatting for your citations.