Using media to present ideas . . .

2. Using media to present ideas . . . From Reading to Writing Heroes come in many forms, from the housewife in “A Chip of Glass Ruby” to the unnamed rescuer in “The Man in the Water.” Some heroes do their good deeds in the public eye, while others act quietly behind the scenes.

3. Using media to present ideas . . . However, even quiet deeds can make for an inspiring story, especially when shared in an effective presentation. One way to inspire or inform others is with a multimedia presentation, which combines sounds, visuals, and text.

4. Using media to present ideas . . . Politicians and businesspeople often use multimedia presentations to convey their messages at rallies, trade shows, and meetings of all kinds.

5. B a s i c s i n a B o x GUIDELINES & STANDARDS Multimedia Presentations Content A successful multimedia presentation should • capture the audience’s attention with a strong beginning • clearly, directly, and logically present information • use media appropriate to the content • end by stating the importance of the topic, summarizing the points made, or drawing a conclusion about the topic Delivery A successful presenter should • have good posture and maintain eye contact with the audience • vary his or her pacing as well as the pitch, tone, and volume of his or her voice • use gestures and body language to enhance the presentation • smoothly incorporate the media components into the presentation

6. Planning Your Presentation 1 Creating Your Multimedia Presentation To find a topic for your presentation, try brainstorming with your classmates about people whose work you admire. You might also talk with your family about relatives who have done something heroic. After you have chosen your topic, follow these steps:

7. Steps for Planning Your Multimedia Presentation 1. Gather information about your hero. What heroic act did the person perform? What was his or her motivation? What were the effects of his or her actions? Conduct research or interviews to collect answers to these and other questions you generate. 2. Think about your audience. What do they already know about the person? What do you want them to know? What background information will you need to provide? 3. Evaluate your information. Although your presentation may make an emotional appeal, be sure your facts are accurate. If necessary, use additional sources.

8. Steps for Planning Your Multimedia Presentation • 4. Organize your information. What type of resources are available? Which will help you get your point across most effectively? Here are some options to consider: • Audiotapes and CD’sallow you to present sound effects, including music and voices. • Flipcharts, posters, photos, slides, charts, and graphs allow you to present visuals in a variety of formats and don’t necessarily require the use of a computer.

9. Steps for Planning Your Multimedia Presentation • Videosallow you to present both sound and visual materials. • Computer presentation software allows you to incorporate sound and visuals and to produce graphs, charts, and drawings; you can even project a slide show from a computer.

10. Developing Your Presentation 2 Creating Your Multimedia Presentation Once your have gathered the information you want to include in your multimedia presentation, you can begin organizing it and creating the text and multimedia components.

11. Steps for Developing Your Multimedia Presentation 1. Create an outline of the points you will make. If you wish, you can write out your script word for word. Be sure to indicate where you will include your media elements. Remember that you may need to introduce and explain the audio and visual material you present. 2. Create a strong introduction and conclusion. Use a question, an anecdote, a startling fact, or a powerful quotation to grab your audience’s interest right away. End with a clear, powerful statement to leave a memorable impression.

12. Steps for Developing Your Multimedia Presentation 3. Gather and create your media components. Make sure that all images and text in your visuals are large enough to be seen at the back of the presentation area. Check audio materials to ensure that the sound can be clearly heard. 4. Evaluate your materials. Look critically at your materials to see whether you have used various media—including your oral delivery of the text—as effectively as possible.

13. Practicing and Presenting 3 Creating Your Multimedia Presentation Practice your presentation several times to become comfortable with speaking from your script or outline and handling your media elements. Keep the following points in mind as you rehearse:

14. Practicing and Presenting 3 Creating Your Multimedia Presentation • Use your voice effectively. Speak loudly enough to be heard, but vary the tone and pitch of your voice to keep your audience’s attention. Use changes in volume and pace to emphasize particular points.

15. Practicing and Presenting 3 Creating Your Multimedia Presentation • Maintain eye contact and use appropriate gestures and facial expressions. Keep your audience with you by looking directly at them and using gestures and expressions to maintain their interest and emphasize your points.

16. Practicing and Presenting 3 Creating Your Multimedia Presentation • Weave the media elements smoothly into your presentation. Make sure you know how to operate the equipment you will be using. Become completely familiar with the content of your visuals and audio materials so that you can talk about them knowledgeably.

17. Practicing and Presenting 3 Creating Your Multimedia Presentation When you feel confident in your work, you might want to invite several friends or family members over to review your presentation. If necessary, modify your presentation on the basis of their feedback.

18. Refining Your Presentation 4 Creating Your Multimedia Presentation TARGET SKILL VARYING YOUR MATERIAL To maintain your audience’s interest in your presentation, vary the types and structures of your sentences. For instance, asking a question can get your listeners’ attention, but asking several questions may confuse or bore your audience.

19. 53 Creating Your Multimedia Presentation Editing and Proofreading TARGET SKILL CONSISTENT FORM Because visuals frequently present a great deal of information in a small space, it is important that they be clear and easy to read. Using correct and consistent capitalization can help you get your message across effectively.