1、Unit 3Gathering Other Preparatory InformationThe AudienceIThe Conference PlaceIIThe Time for You to TalkIIIThe Length for You to TalkIVReflections and PracticeV2After completing this section,you will be able to explain why it is important to understand your audience prior to delivering your presenta
2、tion;understand what factors of the conference place should be noticed;adapt yourself to the different time locations of the conference;finish your talk at the conference graciously.3Part IThe Audience4Preparation is the single most important part of making a successful presentation.The information,
3、like the audience who will attend the conference,the venue where the conference will be held and the length of time that you will be given to talk at the conference,etc.is the crucial foundation and you should dedicate as much time to it as possible to avoid short-cuts.Not only will the good prepara
4、tion ensure that you have thought carefully about the content that you want to communicate in your presentation but it will also help boost your confidence.51.The AudienceThe more you know about and understand the background and needs of your audience,the better you can prepare your presentation.It
5、is worth considering who will be the prospective audience and it is important to tailor your presentation to the audience.The following points of the audience should be considered:61.1 The size of the audience expectedThe size of the audience is an important influence on any presentation.In general,
6、the larger the group,the more difficult it is to satisfy everyone.Sometimes,just gaining the attention of a large group can be a challenge.The three most important qualities of large audiences that cause problems for presenters are the following:71.1 The size of the audience expected The members of
7、a larger group are less cohesive than members of a smaller group and the behavior of larger audiences is less predictable than that of smaller groups;The members of a larger group are likely to have less in common with one another than members of a smaller group.In any larger group,some members of t
8、he audience will disagree with you.81.1 The size of the audience expected The members of a larger group have a greater variation in attitudes,knowledge about the topic/theme,and educational level than members of a smaller group.Large groups present greater challenges for finding the appropriate bala
9、nce of technical andnontechnical information.91.2 The attitude of the audience expectedThe attitude of the audience toward you and your topic/theme can vary in several ways.The audience may like or dislike you and your topic,or take a neutral attitude towards you and your topic.If the audience has a
10、 positive attitude toward either you or your topic,you are off to a good start.If the audience dislikes you or your topic,try to discover the source of the negative attitude and make a special effort to be positive at the beginning of the presentation.101.3 The knowledge of the audience expectedWhat
11、 does your audience already know about your topic and what are their typical educational levels of the audience?The answers to these questions determine what you will need to do to adapt your presentation to fit this specific audience.When the audience is unfamiliar with your topic,or when your topi
12、c is much complex given the educational backgrounds of the audience,you can help the audience understand you by the following ways:111.3 The knowledge of the audience expected Use a vocabulary that everyone will understand;Explain technical terms;Make your organizational plan obvious,and make transi
13、tions clear;Repeat and emphasize your key points.12Part IIThe Conference Place132.The Conference PlaceIt can be of great benefit to have as much advance information as possible about the place where you are going to talk.When you are familiar with the surroundings,you can quell your fear while you a
14、re preparing your talk.The following points of the conference place should be considered:14 The size of the room;The seating arrangements;The availability of equipment,e.g.,microphone,overhead projector,computer equipment;The position of the light switches.Check if you need someone to help if you ar
15、e using audio/visual equipment and need to turn off the lights;The availability of parking facilities so you do not have a long walk carrying any equipment you might need to take.15Part IIIThe Time for You to Talk 163.The Time for You to TalkOften there is no flexibility in the time of day that your
16、 presentation is made.It may be arranged in the morning,in the afternoon or even in the evening or at the weekend.If you have the opportunity to select the time,the following points should be considered:173.1 MorningMorning is the best time to talk because people are generally at their most alert ti
17、me of a day.However,if it is late morning,there may be other problems,as people begin to feel hungry and think about lunch.183.2 AfternoonEarly afternoon is not an ideal time to make presentations for people often feel sleepy after lunch.Mid-afternoon time is better,whereas the end of the afternoon
18、is worse.193.3 EveningThere is a higher likelihood of audiences attention in the evening,especially when your presentation does not go on too long.20Part IVThe Length for You to Talk 214.The Length for You to TalkIt would be clever to find out how long you can talk and check if this includes the tim
19、e for questions.Beware of over-running time,for other presenters are following you.Also,it is important to remember that people will find it difficult to maintain concentration for long periods of time,and this is a good reason for making your presentation succinct,well-structured and interesting.22
20、Part XReflections and Practice 231.What information about the audience should a conference-goer keep in mind?2.What information about the conference place does a conference-goer need to catch?3.If your presentation time is arranged in the late morning and its length is 20 minutes,what preparations will you do prior to your presentation?24THANK YOU25
