Suggestions

1. Use visual aides to organize the presentation. Prepare your presentation using software such as Microsoft PowerPoint. Spend most of your time on the presentation content, with less time allocated for selecting color, fonts, pictures, etc…The content of your presentation far outweighs purely stylistic concerns. 

2. Practice your presentation a minimum of two times as a team.

3. Use body language (i.e., hand movements, smile) for emphasis and to show your enthusiasm for the presentation and topic. "Sell" your ideas to the audience!

4. Use overhead transparencies/slides as your "notes" during the presentation. Don’t put all of the detail on these slides.

5. Remove coins and keys from pockets.

6. Maintain eye contact with people in the audience. If you are nervous, seek out friendly faces first, which will give you confidence to look at others. 

7. At the beginning of the presentation, the first speaker should introduce himself/herself and the rest of the team and delineate the general topics to be covered. Make sure the transition to the next speaker(s) is smooth and that the audience understands the flow of the presentation. End the presentation by briefly summarizing main points.

8. Move around, but not excessively.

9. Use the presentation to communicate your knowledge of the project, command of marketing language and topics, and general readiness for a professional career.

10. Consider other visual aides that will help the audience better grasp your ideas. 

11. Dress, act, and speak professionally. Remember that the audience will rely on verbal and nonverbal cues in assessing the quality of your team, ideas, and presentation. 

Grading

Each team is evaluated from excellent (A) to poor (F) on the following six criteria. The average of these six scores is used to determine the final grade on the presentation.

1. Professionalism and Preparation

Excellent     Good     Average     Below Average     Poor

2. Enthusiasm and Creativity

Excellent     Good     Average     Below Average     Poor
 

Excellent     Good     Average     Below Average     Poor
 

Excellent     Good     Average     Below Average     Poor

5. Use of Supporting Materials (overhead transparencies, handouts, examples, etc...)

Excellent     Good     Average     Below Average     Poor

6. Courtesy and Handling Audience

Excellent     Good     Average     Below Average     Poor

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