B) Presenting the purpose:

The purpose of this talk is to update you on…

                                     … give you the background to …

This talk is designed to act as a springboard for discussion.

                                     … start the ball rolling.

                                        … give you some facts and figures…

                                       … fill you in on the history of…

                                     … concentrate on…

                                     … limit myself to the question of…

 

c) Presenting the length of the report:

I plan to be brief.

   I shall only take … minutes of your time.

This should only last ….. minutes.

 

d) Presenting the structure of the report:

 I have divided my presentation into … parts .

Firstly, I shall speak about …

Secondly, I’ll present the results of …

Finally, I’ll try to draw some conclusion …

   The subject can be looked at under the following

 headings:

   My presentation is in three parts.

  My presentation is divided into three main sections.

 

e) Time for questions:

I’d be glad to answer any questions at the end of my talk.

If you have any questions, please feel free to interrupt.

There will be time for questions at the end of the

presentation.

I'd be grateful if you could ask your questions after the

presentation."

 

Check your knowledge

1.Match these less formal phrases with the more formal phrases in the table:

What I want to do today is…

It’s good to see you all here.

OK, shall we get started?

In my talk I’ll tell you about...

Today I’m going to talk about…

As you know, I’m…

Hi, everyone.

 

More formal	Less formal
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
It’s a pleasure to welcome you today.
I suggest that we begin now.
Let me just start by introducing myself. My nameis…
Today I would like to…
In my presentation I’d like to report on…
The topic of today’s presentation is…

2. Replace the words in bold with the words from the box:

after that   begin   I’m   realize  responsible for    sections  turn

1. I’ll start off by showing you…

2. I’ve divided my presentation into three parts.

3. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Gordon

    Smith.

4. Then I’ll move on to the problems…

5. Professor Brown is in charge of our new Plasma  

    Laboratory.
6.  I’m aware that you’re all busy preparing for the seminar…

3. Match the parts of the sentence:

1. Please, help yourselves

2. If we're all here,

3. I'd like to start by

4. I'd like to welcome Professor Smith.

5. After that I'd like to

6. Today, I'd like to talk about

7. If you have any questions,

 

a. describe the new project.

b. Thank you. It's good to be here.

c. to the handouts.

d. let's make a start.

e. please feel free to ask me.

f. outlining the plan for the day.

g. the success we've had with our research.

 

4. Fill in the gaps in the sentences below with a preposition:

on     from     by     as     at     on  by

Model: Thank you for coming.

There are copies...........the table.

I'd like to start...........outlining the process.

It's good to have Professor Jackson here...........Stanford University.
We can discuss any questions...........the end of the seminar.
I want to focus...........the latest aircraft design.

...........the end of this session, you'll be able to teach your staff how to use this program.

I'm talking to you today...........the designer of this new robotic system.

 

5. Complete the sentences with the correct word:

Model: It's good to meet you. have / take / meet

a) Did everyone _____a handout?give / get / go

b) Don't ____ about taking notes. worry / remember / think

c) Please ____ yourselves. meet/ have/ help

d) Please feel _____ to stop me.expensive / free / open

e) I'd like to ____ the previous survey. let / happen / describe

f) I want to ____ on the results first.look / worry / focus

 

6. Discuss these points in mini-groups and present your ideas to the class:

1. The first few minutes of a presentation are the most important.

2. Words like we, us and our make the audience more       interested in the subject of your presentation.

3. Formal and informal ways of greeting the audience.

4. Why is it important to find the proper words?

5. What makes a successful speaker?

6. How to get the audience’s attention?

7. Is it a good idea to make jokes or ask the audience rhetorical questions during your talk?

8. Do ‘presentation tricks’ help reveal the subject of your talk?

9. Is there a special dress code for a presenter?

10. How to deal with nervousness?

 

7. Read the introductions and say what is wrong with them:

1. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

2. Hello, guys. Let me introduce myself. I am here in my function as the Head of the R&D (Research
and Development Department). My name is Professor Brown. I should say it is a great honour to
speak in front of such a distinguished audience.

3. Good morning, colleagues. I’m Doctor Smith from the University of Chicago. What I’d like to
present to you today is the topic which engages me greatly. I don’t think many of you know much
about it.

4. Come on, guys! Shall we get started? As you probably know I’m the new manager. You know I’m
very busy. So let’s get started right now in order not to waste my time.

5. Wow! How many of you have come! It’s so unexpected. I’m afraid I didn’t realize that you would beinterested in such a dull (let me be sincere with you) topic.

 

8. Complete the paragraph with the following words:

 

talk about questions hear look at  brief act as points of view finally go along

 

  Good afternoon and thank you for making the effort to be here with us today. My name is Rachel Rawlings and I am responsible for public affairs. What I’d like to do today is _________ our recent corporate campaign. This _______ talk will hopefully _______ a springboard for discussion. I’m going to _______ the corporate campaign from three _______ : firstly, the customers; secondly, the financial institutions; and _______, the shareholders. If you have any _______ , just interrupt me as I _______. Your point of view may well be different, and we’d like to _______ from you.

 

9. Use one of the following expressions to replace each of theexpressions in italics in this introduction:

don’t hesitate I’m delighted in more depth a chance sections my purpose is I take care go through divide

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s a pleasure to be with you today. My name is Gordon Matthews and I am in charge of corporate finance at our headquarters here in Brussels. We are here today to review some key figures and to outline financial strategy overthe next five years. So what I intend to do is to break down this presentation into three parts: first, the financial review; second, the options facing us; and finally, the strategy I propose. If you have any questions, please feel free to interrupt me, but I should also say there’ll be an opportunity to discuss issues at greater length after my talk.