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Oral Presentations for Technical Communication: (Part of the Allyn & Bacon Series in Technical Communication)
Laura J. Gurak, University of Minnesota
Sam Dragga, Series Editor, Texas Tech University

ISBN-10: 0205294154
ISBN-13: 9780205294152

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2000
Format: Paper; 263 pp
Published: 11/24/1999

Suggested retail price: $80.20
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Oral Presentations for Technical Communication provides what most technical communication textbooks lack: clear, accessible instruction on speaking. This book helps students and professionals master public speaking in a technical or scientific environment, whether it be through traditional presentations with whiteboards and flipcharts or presentations with computer software such as PowerPoint. Unlike most general speech texts, which include examples from various disciplines, Oral Presentations uses specific examples from the fields of science and technology and shows how skilled technical communicators make complex information accessible to non-technical audiences.

The first three parts of the book focus on basic skills and concepts, including four basic types of presentations relevant to technical communication. The last two parts introduce more advanced topics, such as legal, privacy, and censorship issues, and the changing nature of presentations in the digital age.

  • Frequent examples appear from publications on science and technology, such as selections from The New York Times Science section.
  • Exercises at the end of each chapter include international, collaborative, and cyberspace exercises designed to update the reader's knowledge about the Internet.
  • A “Presenting …” section at the end of each part spotlights a prominent professional in technical communication offering advice to student presenters.
  • Software, copyright, international, and privacy issues are covered in Part 5.
  • A companion Website provides additional exercises, examples, outlines, and model presentations.

I.PRESENTING YOU, PRESENTING YOUR MESSAGE.

1.Oral Presentations in the Realm of Science and Technology.

Who Are Technical Communicators?

The Responsibility of Technical Communicators to the Public.

Technical Writing versus Technical Presentations.

Being a Good Listener.

Oral Presentations for Technical Communication.

Using Technologies to Give Technical Presentations.

In Summary: Getting Started.

2.Dealing with Nervousness.

What Is Speaking Anxiety?

Everyone Experiences It.

How Your Body Reacts to Anxiety.

How to Overcome Anxiety.

In Summary: Be Positive.

3.Ethos, Memory, and Delivery.

Rhetoric as a Framework for Oral Presentations.

The Classical Rhetorical Canons.

Ethos: Your Appeal Based on Character and Credibility.

Memory: Using Your Innate Abilities.

Delivery: Using Your Body, Voice, and Technology.

In Summary: Ethos, Memory, and Delivery.

4.Other Techniques to Build Confidence.

Join a Local Speechmaking Organization.

Give Presentations to Children.

Present to Small Groups.

Try Your Ideas in Writing.

Read Science and Technology Written for General Audiences.

Pay Attention to Museum Exhibits.

Attend Presentations and Be a Critic.

In Summary: Other Techniques to Build Your Confidence.

Presenting Saul Carliner, Past President, STC.

II.AUDIENCE, PURPOSE, BEGINNINGS, ENDINGS.

5.Know Your Audience.

What Is “Audience”?

Audience Types.

Important Audience Features.

International and Cultural Issues.

Changing to Meet Audience Needs.

Secondary Audiences.

Audience Analysis Worksheet.

How to Obtain Information about Your Audience.

In Summary: Know Your Audience.

6.Know Your Purpose.

Why Are You Giving This Presentation, Anyway?

The Situation and Context.

Types of Presentations in Technical Communication.

Audience and Purpose Worksheets.

Purposes, Purposes, Purposes.

In Summary: Know Your Purpose.

7.The Importance of a Strong Introduction and Conclusion.

The Importance of Introductions and Conclusions.

The Introduction.

The Conclusion.

Memorize the Introduction and Conclusion.

In Summary: Strong Introductions and Conclusions.

8.The Body of Your Presentation and How to Find Information.

Finding Information.

Organizing the Material.

Using an Outline.

Previewing the Material for Your Audience.

Citing Material in Your Presentation.

Providing Handouts.

Being Ready to Adapt.

In Summary: The Body of Your Presentation.

Presenting Daphne Walmer, Technical Communications Manager, Medtronic.

III.TYPES OF TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS.

9.Presentations That Inform.

What Are Informative Presentations?

Types of Informative Presentations in Technical Communication.

Tips for Creating Effective Informative Presentations.

Preparing Your First Informative Presentation.

In Summary: Informative Presentations.

10.Presentations That Persuade and Convince.

What Are Persuasive Presentations?

Types of Persuasive Presentations in Technical Communication.

Tips for Creating Effective Persuasive Presentations.

Preparing Your First Persuasive Presentation.

In Summary: Persuasive Presentations.

11.Presentations That Offer a Strategy or Action Plan.

What Are Strategy/Action Plan Presentations?

Types of Action Plan Presentations in Technical Communication.

Tips for Creating Effective Action Plan Presentations.

Preparing Your First Action Plan Presentation.

In Summary: Action Plan Presentations.

12.Presentations That Explain How to Perform a Task.

What Are How-To Presentations?

Types of How-To Presentations in Technical Communication.

Tips for Creating Effective How-To Presentations.

Preparing Your First How-To Presentation.

In Summary: Explaining How to Perform a Task.

Presenting Kevin Kinneavy, Technology Trainer and Manager, Minnesota Education Technology Alliance.

IV.SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND NON-EXPERT AUDIENCES.

13.Technical Presentations: Beyond Efficiency.

Making a Difference in Science/Technology Culture.

Beyond Efficiency: Technical Communicators and the Public.

The Introduction: A Good Place to Start.

Using These Techniques for Oral Presentations.

In Summary: Beyond Efficiency.

14.Shifting Science and Technology to the Public.

More Lessons from Science and Technology Journalism.

Genre: Shifting Modes.

Stasis: Shifting Points of Interest.

In Summary: Shifting Information to the Public.

15.Using Analogy to Explain Technical Ideas.

What Are Analogies?

The Power of the Familiar.

Analogies in Scientific and Technical Communication.

Using Analogies Wisely.

In Summary: Using Analogy.

16.Visual versus Verbal Communication.

Visual versus Verbal Communication.

Typefaces and Fonts.

Charts and Graphs.

Icons and Graphics.

Using Color.

In Summary: Visual versus Verbal Information.

Presenting Peggy Durbin, Communication Project Leader, Los Alamos National Laboratory.

V.PRESENTATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES.

17.Using Presentation Software.

What Is Presentation Software?

The Two Faces of Presentation Software.

How to Make Presentation Software Work for You (and Not the Other Way Around!)

Examples of Presentation Software.

In Summary: Using Presentation Software.

18.Other Technologies for Oral Presentations.

Overhead Projectors.

35mm Slides.

Flip Charts.

Multimedia Computer-Based Training.

Teleconferencing.

Videotapes.

Web Technology.

In Summary: Other Presentation Technologies.

19.Can I Use This Clip Art? Legal and Ethical Issues When Creating Presentations.

Copying and Scanning Images: A Scenario.

Copyright: An Overview.

When and How You Can Use Copyrighted Material.

Using Material from the Web.

Using Visuals from Printed Material.

Even If It's Legal, Give Credit.

In Summary: Copyright and Fair Use.

20.Privacy, Censorship, and Oral Presentations.

Privacy and Oral Presentations.

Censorship and Oral Presentations.

In Summary: Privacy and Censorship.

Presenting Lisa Kattan, Lawyer.

Index.

For Business and Professional Communication


Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students, contact your Pearson Higher Education representative for pricing and ordering information.

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