Three
Metaphors and a Paradox
Or how to prepare for an oral presentation
First
metaphor – Tell us a story
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A
story is like a crystal -- transparent and multifaceted. It
focuses reality in a fascinating way that mesmerizes the eye, stirs the
emotions and moves the mind. Stories
can make your presentations more memorable and more fun, and they can help
advance audience toward knowledge. |
Now you
have a story; you have gathered the documentation, you have become familiar
with the vocabulary and the main concepts, and you are about to set to
organising things.
Second metaphor – Tailor
made for one show
Photograps Sources 1D-photo.com & Phileicanon
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Step 1: the Outline Write a sketch to give your presentation a general line. Typical questions to answer: ü Who's the audience? Friends, professionals, colleagues? ü What do I want to show, demonstrate or prove? ü What do they know about it? ü What's my initial question again? |
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Step 2: Preparing the different
pieces of the puzzle
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Step 3: Getting a global picture ü How do I get to the conclusion? ü Does the whole thing make sense? ü Is it that part really in the right place? ü Will I feel comfortable with this? ü What if I did that instead? ü This part is useless, I'll dump it! |
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Step 4; A stitch ins time saves nine Time now to decide
on the links you're going to use. ü Which link words? Which metaphors? Examples? ü Where to put rhetorical questions? How to keep them interested? ü How can I sum up the last part and announce the following one? Haven't we forgotten to check on
the pronunciation? |
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Step 5: Adjustments ü Try your presentation on. ü Ask a friend to listen to you or use your camcorder or even a mirror ü Watch the timing Adjust thanks to the feedback you get. |
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Step 6: Final checks Once you have performed the coarse / raw
presentation, you'll have to: a)
check you're meeting you objectives and keeping to the initial outline. b)
watch that the seams don't
show c)
iron out the last problems with
pronunciation d)
learn your part and brush up
frequently |
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Step 7: Conquer the world After so much preparation, thinking and rehearsal,
make the most of the time allotted to you.
Forget about the
dull taxman sitting at the back of the room. |
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Third Metaphor: English is like a chandelier
I like the metaphor of
crystal as, when you think of it, Baccarat, Murano or
Swarovski all turn sand into diamonds. This requires knowledge,
know-how and time. None is given but they may be acquired.
Once you have, you'll enjoy
both the pleasure of a well done job and the satisfaction of audiences that DO
listen to you.
So I'd like you to imagine
that your
English will be more like this piece of craftsmanship, when you have paid
attention to the features illustrated below.
Purity vowels
FIREWORKS ENGLISH
In cauda venenum grammar Pauses / breath Attention to detail vocabulary Sharpness consonants Focus concentration wit Smoothness voice
quality Fluency speech delivery Structure Voice modulation Rhythm and intonation
Paradox:
Wax Your Words
SOURCE : http://ecglink.com/library/ps/wax.html
On the one hand, wax was used by crooks to
trick Romans into buying faulty statues; once the wax had melted, the cracks in
the stone would show. This should not happen to you during a presentation.
On the other hand, students are regularly 'invited"
to improve their language skills by using phrases that look and sound English
(see below).
Well, paradoxically, these phrases may be
considered as wax when communication is concerned. They hinder clear ideas from getting across
straight to an audience.
Here is a series of examples taken from the web
or from real life.
What do you think?
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Superlatives are wax.
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“This is essential!”
“This is absolutely and
positively essential!”
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“This is essential!” “This
is true beyond any possible shadow of a doubt!”
If you wish to strengthen the simple assertion. “This is true!”, you can also do so by pouring
concrete examples to support it.
Trite expressions are wax.
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· “As you can see,”
· “if you
will," · “in conclusion,” · “it is indeed
both an honour and a privilege,” · “I would like to
take a few minutes,” · “Each and every
one,” · “throughout the
length and breadth of the land,”
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Groping expressions are wax.
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“What I'm trying to get at is ...,”
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“What I want to say is ...”
If you want to say something, say
it! Why not try a concrete example instead.
Repetitious expressions are wax.
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“As I said
before,”
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“and so I again repeat,”
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“let me reiterate here...”
If you wish to gain the emphasis
which comes from restatement—as you do in the opening and close of a conference
comment—go ahead and restate.
“And so forth” expressions are wax.
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“
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“Our marketing recommendations are now based on
research, data, statistical analysis, etc., etc."”
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See what I mean!
Weasel words are wax.
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“Of course, it's only my opinion, but ... .”
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“It seems to me ... .”.
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“More or less...
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to a greater or lesser
degree...
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or something like
that...”
Should I avoid word wax?
She who cleans her speech of waxy substance
creates a lasting impression of intelligence, directness, and professionalism.
Be sincere. Carve your communications without wax: you may rate a marble statue
in the end.
(Biased on Public Speaking As Listeners Like It, by Richard C.
Borden, Harper Collins,
Miscellaneous
Rhetorical questions
- And what have we got here? Here,
we've got a new ….
- What's a barrister? A barrister
is …
- You may not all know where it
took place. Well, it happened …
Aim at introducing new information while
stressing on its importance. Help revive attention when audience is losing concentration.
Using auxiliaries to
stress upon important pieces of information
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He killed her. -
Oh no, he didn't. -
Yes, yes. He DID kill her. |
- I love you, I want to marry you. - Come off it, will you. Leave me
alone! - But I DO love you! |
Save
your time, your energy and your words
It is not impossible for me to say I may say
It is difficult to buy a house for oneself Buying a
home is easy.