Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Effective Technical Presentations

Norman W. GarrickUniversity of Connecticut

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

A presentation is story telling

Organizing Your IdeasBe clear about what the story-line is

Remember a story has a BEGINNING – MIDDLE – ENDUse an outline to help keep you organized

Don’t leave your audience behind

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Know your audience

• What do they know?• What do they want?• What do YOU want then to know?• What do they expect?

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Put it on paper

• Use an outline - not a full text • Don’t Read the text

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Say that again

• Use repetition• Say it more than one way

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Body language

• Yes, you can use your hands!• Please don’t play with your keys• Let the audience see your enthusiasm for the

subject

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Some Graphics are Worth a Thousand Words

some…. fugetaboutit

• Visible• Simple• Understandable• Relevant

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Converse with Your Audience

• Remember that a presentation is a two way conversation

• Look at your audience• Pay attention to what the audience is saying to you

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

Prepare and Practice

• Prepare

• Practice, Practice, Practice

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

CE 4710/5710 

Case Studies in Transportation Engineering   Fall 2009

Name: Class Section:

Cities for Case Study First Choice Second Choice Third Choice

Bogotá, Columbia

Basel, Switzerland

Cambridge, MA

Curitiba, Brazil

Freiburg, Germany

Portland, OR

Seattle, WA

Stockholm, Sweden

Washington, DC

Explain reason for your first choice (one or two paragraphs please)

Norman Garrick, University of Connecticut

1. Bogotá, Columbia2. Basel, Switzerland3. Cambridge, MA4. Curitiba, Brazil5. Freiburg, Germany6. Portland, OR7. Seattle, WA8. Stockholm, Sweden9. Washington, DC