SWEUS
MASARYK    JULY 2018
Effective Introductions & Conclusions:
Structure And Style
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IN THIS WORKSHOP
•Brainstorm: What is your experience of presenting?
•Introductions  (TED Talks)
•Conclusions: dos and don’ts
•Anecdotes
•Over to you: a practice activity
•Evaluation and feedback
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Effective Introductions & Conclusions: Structure & Style

 SOME EXAMPLES
•Watch these openings to five TED talks (Technology, Entertainment, Design) How does each speaker
start the presentation? .What technique or strategy does each use?
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•https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation
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•https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are
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•https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_success_is_a_continuous_journey#t-41893
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•https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts
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•https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen
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SWUES, 21 July 2017, Jiřina Hrbáčková

SOME TIPS FOR INTRODUCTIONS
•Establish a good relationship with your audience
•Know the audience: who are they? What do they already know?
•Get your audience interested: story, a picture, an interesting fact, a question
•SHOW YOUR OWN ENTHUSIASM
•Explain something about yourself and your experience (unless a moderator has introduced you)
•Set out the content of the presentation: theme, outline, etc.
•Be clear about your goal for the presentation
•The questions problem!
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Effective Introductions & Conclusions: Structure & Style

CONCLUSIONS: DOS AND DON’TS
•DO
•Realise that the end is as important as the beginning
•Allow time for questions
•Think about a “second conclusion”
•Give your presentation a rounded ending
•DON’T
•just stop!
•“umm” and “err”: prepare for possible questions
•ignore the questioner: think of strategies to answer
•PANIC: body language
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Effective Introductions & Conclusions: Structure & Style

ANY ANECDOTES?
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•Who would like to share any positive or negative experiences of introductions or conclusions?
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Effective Introductions & Conclusions: Structure & Style

A PRACTICE ACTIVITY
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•Introducing and concluding a short presentation
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Effective Introductions & Conclusions: Structure & Style

WHAT? & HOW?
•Groups of 2 or 3. Prepare the introduction and conclusion to a presentation on one of these
topics. Use strategies to engage the audience . Time your introductions and conclusions to 3
minutes (in total). Be prepared to “perform”  to the group.
•starting a new job
•moving to a new house
•preparing for a job interview
•giving new students advice about life at university
•giving advice to someone traveling to Europe for the first time
•making the right career choice
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Effective Introductions & Conclusions: Structure & Style

WORKSHOP EVALUATION & FEEDBACK
•Some useful links:
•https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/3-steps-introduction/
•https://www.wikihow.com/Introduce-a-Presentation
•https://business.financialpost.com/business-insider/7-excellent-ways-to-start-a-presentation-and-c
apture-your-audiences-attention
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•https://www.ethos3.com/2014/12/the-best-way-to-end-a-professional-presentation/
•https://scientific-presentations.com/2010/02/01/the-conclusion-traps/
•https://www.presentationload.com/thank-you-slides.html
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Effective Introductions & Conclusions: Structure & Style