1. Plan and rehearse: You will have only six minutes to speak. The time will pass faster than you think. Most people over-prepare; so rehearse, and time your presentation.
2. Use note cards; do not read from your paper. Triple-space your remarks: they will be easier to read and you will feel more relaxed. You'll be able to make more frequent eye contact with your audience, too (very effective!). Speak as if you were talking to the far wall; this will help you project your voice.
3. Content: your presentation should give us an introduction to and overview of your project. In your introduction, try to create interest: What is significant about the subject? Why should we care about it? If the world changed because of it, briefly say how. End with a statement that reviews the main issues and makes clear your position on the topic (restating your thesis, if you have one at this point, works well here).
4. At the end of each oral report, discussion (minimum of four minutes) will start with a question from the person who immediately preceded the presenter with the last person on the list starting the discussion following the first presentation.
5. If you use Powerpoint slides with your presentation, drag and store them in the "Islamic Middle East" folder in "ClassSpaces on DataShare" (in "My Network Places" on the NMH Virtual Desktop). Do NOT bring CDs to the classroom.
Tips and Restrictions When Using Powerpoint:
1. No audio is permitted: the only sound in the room while you are presenting should be your own voice.
2. Unless you are including a quotation from a primary source on a slide, avoid lengthy sections of text in PowerPoint. slides. It is best to just put up topic headings and main points.
3. Images can be very effective. If you got them off the internet, include a bibliographical slide at the end with the URL (http etc.) indicating the source of the material.
4. With text, white font against a dark background is easiest to read. Avoid "busy" backgrounds on slides that can make text difficult to read; dark, solid color backgrounds are best.
5. Avoid animation except "fly in" bullets; animation takes up memory and can badly impede performance especially over the network.
6. Above all, PowerPoint should serve you, not the other way around; never let your Powerpoint slides dominate your presentation.