Presenting information

Presenting information

Learning Outcomes • Present your written assignment effectively; • Apply citation style based on the American Psychological Association (APA format; and • Practise effective techniques for oral presentation.

Steps in Writing an Assignment • Select a topic • Analyse the topic • Search for information • Evaluate and select • Take notes from resources • Plan an outline • Organise and consolidate • Write the paper • Review assignment • Present before deadline

Common Faults Found in Assignment • Unfocused treatment • Shallow treatment of topic/subject • Badly organised content (poor presentation) • Lack of fluency and flow • Poor introduction • Poor conclusion • Boring presentation • Irrelevant information

Introduction • Body of Content • Conclusion • Accompanying Information • Quotations & Paraphrasing • Citation Style Writing the First Draft

a) Introduction • Scope of the paper • Setting the scene or clarify what the main issue is • How you intend to approach it

b) Body of Content • Contain your ideas, opinions and facts • Explained and argued out systematically and logically • With each idea or issue or argument flowing smoothly from one to another

c) Conclusion • A good conclusion should provide the read with a sense of completion or closure • Your conclusion should tally with the introduction and the body of content

d) Accompanying Information • List of References • list of materials referred to and used in the text • reflect the scope and depth of your reading • Footnotes or Notes • notes at the bottom of the page that contain the relevant information • can be in the form of a citation or explanation of information

e) Quotations & Paraphrasing • Quotation • ideas and opinions of other people being reproduced verbatim • Paraphrasing • ideas and opinions of other people rewritten using own words

f) Citation Style • Documenting all the sources used in a paper • Types of resources/references are: • books • Journals • Specific topics in a book • Websites • Other types of materials (newspaper articles, audio-video materials, etc.)

The Final Draft • Is the assignment focused? • Did I plan and prepare well? • Does the content show understanding of relevant issues related to the topic? • Does the writing show evidence of wide reading and research on the topic? • Is there a logical development of issues from one paragraph to another? • Are the arguments convincing and supported by evidence? • Is the analysis clear and logical? • Is the language simple and precise? • Does the conclusion answer questions raised in the body of content?

Assignment Format • Use A4 size white paper. Do not mix sizes. • Leave a right margin of 3cm. • Title Page on the first page with complete personal details. • Put name and matric number in all pages. • Use font size 12 points. • Font type Times New Roman is the font generally used. • Number all pages. • Correct pages for all diagrams and illustrations. • Bind or staple the assignment.

Writing Essays under Examination Conditions • Apply same steps as writing an assignment. • Choose questions on topics that you are confident of answering. • Spend few minutes jotting down ideas • Quickly organise them systematically.

Oral Presentation • Audience and purpose of presentation • You would need to know the audience because it affects: • The equipment you use • The level of preparation you need to make • The type of attire you need to wear • The language you use (formal or informal) • The setting of the room

Oral Presentation • Planning and preparation • Understand the breadth and depth of th topic • Understand the audience • Be comfortable with the environment • Decide on the type of presentation • Check whether appropriate equipment is available • Check whether the materials to be used are available • Duration of presentation • Start preparations early • Check on availability of equipment • Test the equipment • Decide on suitable attire • Test the presentation • Be creative • Keep text to minimum

Presenting information