Presentations

Presentations are a type of assessment requiring a verbal delivery, often accompanied by a visual aid such as slides or a poster.

You will be required to present throughout your university degree in different ways. Individually, as groups, and, if pursuing a higher research degree, at certain milestones during your journey.  

There are a number of different types of presentations that you may be asked to deliver while at university. These presentation types vary in how visual they are and how you deliver them.

The different types of presentation are:

  • A presentation with slides.
  • A presentation with a poster as a visual aid, such as a research poster.
  • A speech. A speech is a spoken presentation delivered without visual aids, relying solely on your voice to convey your message. It focuses on clear and effective verbal communication to engage and persuade your audience, making your words and delivery the key elements of your presentation. Speeches can be a powerful way to connect with your audience.
  • Any of these types could also be planned and presented in a group where required and/or presented in person or online and/or recorded to share later.

NOTE: You may also be required to produce a written assessment to accompany your presentation. For information on how to plan, research and reference a written assessment, see the UniSkills Academic Writing information.

Presentation skills are key skills that are required in the workplace. The key here is knowing how to effectively communicate your ideas structurally, verbally, and visually. This guide begins by discussing how to prepare your presentation, then moves into the specifics around creating slides and posters and finally discusses delivery of your presentation and how to avoid some common mistakes.

What you will learn

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