Chapter 8

Presenting Information

October 2015
1. Written Presentation
2. Oral Presentation
I Identify topic/issues • Identify research problems

N • Identify information sources: Primary/

Searching for Secondary/ Tertiary
F information • Identify Information Resources
O (Bibliographic & Knowledge databases)

R • Keyword Search
M Search strategies • Exploratory

T • Fixed Fields

I Information resources
• Printed materials, e-books, articles from
online databases, websites
O
• Reading: Scanning / Skimming
N Selection / evaluation • Critical & Analytical Reading
• Note-taking

P Organisation &
• Classification, Index/ Filing
Consolidation
A
T • Research format, written or online,
powerpoint presentation, thesis/
H Presentation
dissertation
 Presenting information clearly and effectively is
a key skill in Information Literacy.
 Written presentation: assignments, project
papers theses etc.
 Oral presentation: seminars talks meetings etc.

o Effective, step-by-step preparation and the

method and means of presenting the
information should be carefully considered.
o Preparation is the most important part of
making a successful presentation.
In any presentation, look into:
1. Content of presentation.
2. Format and Structure (Thesis, case studies).
3. Language.
4. Citations, quotations and
footnotes.(footnotes and the list of references
should be included)
5. Plagiarism.
6. Important: Understand School/Faculty
Requirements.
Written Presentation
• The reader of a paper can skip parts and
take a preview at the conclusions and go
back to relevant materials to understand
the results.

Oral Presentation
• The listener by necessity has to follow the
order in which the speaker presents his
material.
 In an academic writing assignment, you will:
 ask a good question,
 then find and analyse answers to it,
 and choose your own best answer(s) to
present.
 Your paper (presentation) communicates
and share your thoughts and findings.
 Provide your answer with logic and
evidence.
Assignment
Writing an assignment in an academic exercise:
you make your stand on certain issues and
support it with reasons and evidences.
Analyse
Edit & Proof
Question
read

Find information
by
Plan & Research
draft & Reading

Develop
argument
• Assignments, Essays, Research Reports & Project
Papers
– Select topic
– Analyse the topic
– Search for information
– Evaluate and select
– Make notes from resources
– Plan, Organise and Consolidate Information
– Write paper
– Review assignment
– Present before deadline
• Theses or Dissertation Format
– Introduction
– Literature review
– Methodology
– Results
– Discussion
– Conclusion
 Ten Steps
1. Select a topic
2. Analyse the topic
3. Search for information
4. Evaluate and select information resources
5. Take notes from resources – read
6. Plan an outline
7. Organise and consolidate
8. Write the paper
9. Review Assignment
10. Present before Deadline
Introduction
 to state the scope of your paper,
state what the main issue is
and how you intend to approach it.

Body of Content
 Main body of content should contain your ideas
opinions and facts.
 Explain and argue out systematically and logically.
 Paragraphs should be interconnected.

Conclusion
 Always refer to the topic when writing conclusion.
 Ensure that conclusion tallies with Introduction.
 A good conclusion gives reader a sense of closure
 Common faults found in assignments

1. Unfocused treatment
2. Shallow treatment of subject
3. Poorly organised content –keep to outline
4. Lack of fluency and flow
5. Poor introduction
6. Poor conclusion
7. Boring presentation
8. Irrelevant information
 All information gathered need to be cited by the source.

• A reference list must include every source (book, chapter

or article) that you have cited in your writing.
• Must reflect the scope & depth of your reading.
• Ensures no plagiarism – can check ideas & facts.
• Complete bibliographical details. Give credit where due.

Bibliography contains additional references to works in the

same subject area. A bibliography contains all the above
plus your background reading, where some sources have
not been cited.

Appendices containing supporting information such as

questionnaire survey results etc. are to be included.
  Footnotes or endnotes
 Notes at the bottom of the page that contain
the relevant information.
 Can be in the form of citation of resource of
explanation.

 Two main purposes:

a. to greatly elaborate a point made in the main
text or to acknowledge a source in great detail.
b. to give additional information which would not
be appropriate in the main text but which may
be essential for particular readers to gain a full
understanding of a context.
What is referencing? (citing references)
Referencing, or citing, is an essential component of
academic writing, as it acknowledges the sources of
information you have used to complete your assignments.

Why is Referencing important ?

 ensures that you are not accused of plagiarism.
 identifies your sources and enables readers to locate
them.
 acknowledges and shows respect to author, give due
credit.
 demonstrates the validity or credibility of your
arguments.
 demonstrates the extent or how wide your knowledge is
of the relevant literature.
 If exact words are reproduced, use
quotation marks and provide details of the
source in the form of footnote or cite
immediately.
e.g. ‘To be or not to be’ (Shakespeare)
 Example of quotation with source following
the quotation:
 Cortrell (2001) reinforces this by stating
that, ‘most of us develop frameworks that
inhibit learning usually based on previous
experiences of learning’.
 Typical elements in bibliographic citations from the
print publication world includes of:

 author, editor, translator, organisation

(corporate author) or other creator of the
content.
 title and subtitle.
 edition or version.
 name of journal, series, encyclopaedia, or other
parent publication in which the work appears.
 publication information:
 place of publication
 name of publishing body
 date of publication
 When doing academic research, preparing
your assignments, you need to read widely
and study the works of other researchers.
Referring and using the works or the ideas of
other people without acknowledgement is
called plagiarism.
 It is, therefore, very important that you
acknowledge the ideas and opinions from a
particular author, as they are the author's
intellectual property.
 There are several styles for listing sources
(citing). MLA, APA, Harvard, etc.
 Use Endnote, Zetoro, RefWorks, Excel software to
manage your reference.

*Referencing will be discussed in the next chapter.

Plan Everything Out
• Who
• Timing
• Technology
• Dress
• Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!
Basic preparations
 Know your topic; breadth and depth;
research well
 Know your audience level, size, language.

 Purpose of presentation; to promote, to

convince.
 Be comfortable with environment, room
layout, seating arrangements.
 Type of presentation; power point, oral,
audio, graphics, Technical reports, video.
 Equipments; appropriate equipments
available.
 Duration of presentation.

 Start preparations early.

 Power point Slides/ Prezi/ Web Pages.
 Specify topic and presenter at the beginning.
 Use legible fonts.
 Limit 6 lines per slide.
 Use minimum text – using diagram illustrations etc.
 Ensure smooth flow.
 Use illustrations e.g. animation colours etc visual
appeal .
 Speak simply and clearly.
 Elaborate points on slides, no new ideas.
 Be focussed.
 Is the introduction clear?
 Are all paragraphs structured around a topic
sentence?
 Are paragraphs connected?
 Is there an explicit conclusion?
 Have the available sources been fully
incorporated?
 Is the bibliography complete and correct?
 Check.