• The eyes of the speaker should be on the audience rather than on a paper – do not read the presentation.
• If you have trouble weaning yourself from your notes, try giving the presentation 10 or 15 times – you’ll be surprised at how well you do!
• Try to be broad rather than detailed (stress concepts rather than facts)
• Powerpoint is helpful because some people learn visually.
• Don’t just read from the screen – fill in with interesting anecdotes.
• Be sure that what you say matched what’s on the screen (e.g., be sure you say things like dates correctly)
• Project your voice so you can be clearly heard in the back of the room.
• Visit the classroom the day or night before your presentation and put your presentation on the desktop so it’s ready to go.  Practice there in the empty room to gain confidence.
• It’s OK to have props of some sort, but try not to read from your notecards.
• Breathe and relax.
• Keep to the proper length of time.
• Prepare a handout to emphasize key points – email it to the professor in advance if you want him/her to make copies.
• Provide plenty of interesting details.
• Try to have transitions between powerpoint slides.
• Include a summary slide that’s labeled “conclusions” or “summary” so the audience knows when you’re done.

What makes a bad presentation?

Talking too fast
Not enough eye contact with audience
Reading from Powerpoint screen
No enough material; too streamlined
Don’t say “uh”, “OK”, ”yeah”
Do not go over time
Be thorough