This course offers trainings in presentation skills for a variety of academic settings. Through practices, students will gain knowledge of how to apply these skills effectively to their presentations, have confidence in tackling real-life situations. Students will receive constructive feedback from the instructor, who would help students develop successful strategies toward presenting ideas in a clear manner. Moreover, as audience, students will improve their listening skills by learning to ask insightful and stimulating questions to their colleagues.
As a 400-level elective course, Academic Presentation in English 13 equips graduate students with the necessary tools to deliver well-informed presentations.
By the end of this course, students will be able to deliver individual presentations at academic settings, being aware of verbal and non-verbal messages while engaging the audience, followed by a question and answer session, fielding questions from the audience.
Presentation skills, listening skills, communication skills
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The course will guide students through the process of giving a presentation - from the planning stages and awareness of the elements of an effective presentation, to signposting, through to the main body of the presentation to the final question and answer session.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Course Introduction - students will reflect on their ideas of what makes an powerful presentation Class Survey - provide the instructor with a sense of learners' language needs and presentation experiences. | Students are asked to join and become familiar with the online learning platform Edmodo. They will be asked to make a post introducing themselves. |
Class 2 | Presentation Language - students will share elements which form the foundation of every presentation, regardless of language skill or content: how to speak to be heard. | Students realise and will be asked to demonstrate elements of the language (pitch, tone, speed, volume) which every speaker can control during a presentation. |
Class 3 | Presentation Openings - what needs doing (defining the purpose of the presentation) and how to do so in a fashion that stimulates the audiences' interest. | The need for the presenter to engage their audience with a problem to solve. |
Class 4 | Presentation: the Main Body - how best can the presenter engage the audience and to use simple signposts in building a cohesive presentation. | Presenters will consider how to personalise their research to build a connection with their audience and become aware of cohesive presentation language. |
Class 5 | Presentation: the Conclusion - what needs to be done and how best to finish and achieve the presentation's purpose. | Presenters must be aware of the importance of showing the applicability of their main body's highlights to bigger phenomena. |
Class 6 | Presentation: the Discussion Platform - presenters will consider what kinds of questions might the presenter should able to anticipate and answering question strategies. | Presenters will gain language skills to use respectful language to not only answer questions, but to deflect questions and answer questions whose answers they are unsure of. |
Class 7 | Presentation 1 Part A - half of students will present with the audience tasked to provide thoughtful questions. | Students will be asked to present and demonstrate their ability to be active listeners. |
Class 8 | Presentation 1 Part B - the second half of students will present with the audience tasked to provide thoughtful questions. A final survey will be administered to gain insight into the learners' learning experience to propel learning in LAE.E442. | Students will be asked to present and demonstrate their ability to be active listeners. |
There is no required textbook in this course.
The subject will be organized around online material and class discussions. Edmodo will be used and is designed to help learners engage with required readings and video viewings.
Students are important resources as their experiences, feedback and discussions will enable a classroom community to strengthen and overcome individual weaknesses.
Presentation: 20 marks A marking rubric has been developed and will posted on Edmodo -- Content (15 marks) & Language (5)
Discussion: 10 marks -- Responding to Questions - 5 marks & Audience Member Participation - 5 marks
Total: 30 marks of final grade
Participation: 20 marks -- 10 marks in class and 10 marks online
None
It is recommended that students take this course in sequence with LAE.E442.
Attendance at the first class is compulsory for students planning to take this course.