Oral presentations

In the university context there are a number of different oral presentation forms: Lectures, papers, power point presentations, poster presentations, or even summaries of group work results.

Oral presentations are a very common form of active participation in courses in most degree programs, and in many cases are a prerequisite for taking a written exam.

First of all, it is important to clarify the objectives, scope and expectations in advance with the respective lecturer - e.g. during a consultation session.

A clear content structure, a coherent outline and the linking of individual sections to one another are essential prerequisites for the success of oral presentations.

A good presentation requires a solidly prepared basis in terms of content. For this purpose, the state of research must first be elaborated, central terms defined and the subject area narrowed down. In a further step, the presentation is structured according to its focal points and formulated in scientific language in the form of bullet points. This step is usually supported by media, e.g. in the form of PowerPoint slides and/or a table template. Reading from the template during the presentation is generally viewed rather negatively; as a rule, free speech and eye contact with the listener:inside are expected. Although monologic speaking makes up a large part of the presentation, the presenter is in a communication situation with the audience and must be able to deal with questions and comments from the audience accordingly.