Before familiarizing yourself with the various course-specific types of oral presentations assigned in different disciplines consider the following kinds of presentation formats frequently assigned in various courses across the curriculum, including the review of an academic article, the debate, the poster presentation, and the service learning presentation. Some of these assignments may require an online component; for more information about speaking online, see Chapter 28.
The Review of Academic Articles
A commonly assigned speaking task in many courses is the review of academic articles. A biology instructor might ask you to review a study on cell regulation, for example, or a psychology teacher may require that you talk about a study on fetal alcohol syndrome. Typically, when you are assigned an academic article, your instructor will expect you to do the following:
The Team Presentation
Team presentations are oral presentations prepared and delivered by a group of three or more individuals. Regularly used in the classroom, successful team presentations require cooperation and planning. (See Chapter 29 for detailed guidelines on how to prepare and deliver team presentations.)
The Debate
Debates are a popular presentation format in many college courses, calling upon skills in persuasion (especially the reasoned use of evidence), in delivery, and in the ability to think quickly and critically. They allow participants to analyze arguments in depth and to challenge and defend positions. Good debaters are able to argue different points of view, including positions with which they disagree. Much like a political debate, in an academic debate two individuals or groups argue an issue from opposing viewpoints. Generally there will be a winner and a loser, lending this form of speaking a competitive edge.
Take a Side
Opposing sides in a debate are taken by speakers in one of two formats. In the individual debate format, one person takes a side against another person. In the team debate format, multiple people (usually two) take sides against another team, with each person on the team assuming a speaking role.
The affirmative side in the debate supports the topic with a resolution—a statement asking for change or consideration of a controversial issue. “Resolved, that the United States should provide amnesty to undocumented immigrants” is a resolution that the affirmative side must support and defend. The affirmative side tries to convince the audience (or judges) to address, support, or agree with the topic under consideration. The negative side in the debate attempts to defeat the resolution by dissuading the audience from accepting the affirmative side’s arguments.
Advance Strong Arguments
Whether you take the affirmative or negative side, your primary responsibility is to advance strong arguments in support of your position. Arguments usually consist (at the least) of the following three parts (see also Chapter 25):
Debates are characterized by refutation, in which each side attacks the arguments of the other. Refutation can be made against an opponent’s claim, evidence, or reasoning, or some combination of these elements. An opponent might refute the other side’s evidence by arguing “The survey results used by my opponent are ten years old, and a new study indicates that opinion has changed by X percent.”
Refutation also involves rebuilding arguments that have been refuted or attacked by the opponent. This is done by adding new evidence or attacking the opponent’s reasoning or evidence.
“Flow” the Debate
In formal debates (in which judges take notes and keep track of arguments), debaters must attack and defend each argument. “Dropping” or ignoring an argument can seriously compromise the credibility of the debater and her or his side. To ensure that you respond to each of your opponent’s arguments, try using a simple technique adopted by formal debaters called “flowing the debate” (see Figure 31.1). Write down each of your opponent’s arguments, and then draw a line or arrow to indicate that you (or another team member) have refuted it.
The Poster Presentation
A poster presentation includes information about a study, an issue, or a concept displayed concisely and visually on a large (usually roughly 4 × 6 foot) poster. Usually, poster presentations follow the structure of a scientific journal article, which includes an abstract, an introduction, a description of methods, a results section, a conclusion, and references. Presenters display their key findings on posters, arranged so session participants can examine them freely; on hand are copies of the written report, with full details of the study.
A good poster presenter considers his or her audience, understanding that with so much competing information, the poster must be concise, visually appealing, and focused on the most important points of the study. Different disciplines (e.g., geology versus sociology) require unique poster formats, so be sure that you follow the guidelines specific to the discipline.
When preparing the poster:
The Service Learning Presentation
In a service learning presentation, students learn about and help address a need or problem in a community agency or nonprofit organization, such as may exist in a mental-health facility, an economic development agency, or an antipoverty organization. Typically, presentations about participation in a service learning project include the following information: