presenting_in_english
.pdfpresenting in englislr Sec f i ~ 5~ zfkrther techniyucs
Further Techniques
How to develop your public spealcing style to impress and influence your audience
"It looks as if the bulb's gone!"
Rhetorical Questions 1
The rhetorical questions below can be used in many different situations. Complete each of them using the following pairs of words:
where + did how + working what + attribute
how long + making |
how + do |
how much + is |
what sort + looking |
how soon + seeing |
what + waiting |
where + go |
how come + feeling |
what + take |
1. For the fifth year running we've managed to increase sales volume. So, . . . . . . . . . . . . did we . . . . . . . . . . . . it?
2. The opportunities in Eastern Europe are better now than they've ever been. S o , . are w e . . for?
3. We've lost ground to the Swedes both in Scandinavia and at home. So, do we . from here?
4. We've spent the best part of a year ploughing money back into R&D. So, can we expect to start results?
5.This is the third time we've launched a new product, only to have to withdraw it within the first six months.
So, . . . . . . . . . . . . do we have to go on . . . . . . . . |
. . . . the same mistakes? |
6. The $8 million they offered us is good, but not good enough. |
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So, . . . . . . . . . . . . of figure are we . . . . . . . . . . . . |
for? |
7.We offered them a very attractive package, but they turned us down flat.
So, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . we go wrong?
8.As you know, we launched a strict cost-cutting campaign last year.
So, . . . . . . . . . . . . we're not . . . . . . . . . . . . the benefits yet?
9. Turnover topped $2 billion again this year.
So, . . . . . . . . . . . . of that . . . . . . . . . . . . profit?
10. In spite of the recession, the demand for luxury goods is increasing.
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S o , . . . . . . . . . . . . do w e . . . . . . . . . . . . |
this to? |
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11. |
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time our partners have been in breach of contract. |
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So, . . . . . . . . . . . . action do we propose to . . . . . |
. . . . . . . ? |
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12. |
Obviously, we won't see the real results of the reorganization for some time. |
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So, . . . . . . . . . . . . do we know it's. . . . . |
. . . . . . . |
? |
Present the points several times, paying particular attention to stress and rhythm.
Rhetorical Questions 2
m TASK I
Match the rhetorical questions on the left with their one-word answers on the right:
1. |
So, just how bad IS the situation? |
a. . . . . Positive. |
2. |
So, just how difficult IS it? |
b. . . . .unPREcedented. |
3. |
So, just how sure AM I that we can do it? |
c. . . . . imPOssible. |
4. |
So, just how competitive ARE we? |
d. . .. .specTACular. |
5. |
So, just how good ARE the results? |
e. . . . . STATE-of-the-ART. |
6. |
So, just how unusual IS this trend? |
f. . . .. unBEAtable. |
7. |
So, just how small IS the risk? |
g. . . . , cataSTROphic. |
8. |
So, just how new IS this technology? |
h. . . . .NEgligible. |
The cassette provides a good model for you. Use it to check your answers after you have done the exercise.
How many of the adjectives above can be preceded by:
a.absolutely?
b.practically?
m TASK 2
Now look at this pattern:
So, just how bad is the situation?
> I'll tell you how bad it is. It's absolutely catastrophic!
So, just how difficult is it?
> 1'11 tell you how difficult it is. It's practically impossible.
Notice how the second sentence reinforces the rhetorical question. Reinforce the other rhetorical questions in Task 1 above in the same way.
Now look back at Rhetorical Questions 1 on page 62 and do the same.
pre.renting in rnglish 5.3 |
further techniques |
Rhetorical Questions 3
m TASK
Complete the presentation extracts below using the following words. In each extract the same word fills both spaces.
answer |
point |
result |
problem |
idea |
objective |
advantages |
chances |
prospects |
1.We've made fifteen different improvements to the basic product and the customers are still complaining.
So what's the ......... . |
? The ......... . |
is the product itself is out-of-date. |
2.We've spent twice as much money marketing the product in Mexico as we have in the States.
And what's the ......... |
. |
? The .......... |
is we've badly neglected the home market. |
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3. Let's turn to the question of sales targets. |
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What's our main ......... |
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. ? Our main .......... |
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is to reach the three million mark |
within the next six months. |
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4. We're still having no luck getting the Brazilians to accept our British cola. |
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So what's the . . . . . . . . . . |
? |
The .......... |
is to give it an American-sounding name. |
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5. We keep trying to get a foothold in the European market and we keep failing to do so. |
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So what's the . . . . . . . . . . |
? |
The .......... |
is we have to sell there if we're to survive. |
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6. After a lot of hard thinking, we've decided to phase the luxury models out. |
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So what's the .......... |
? |
Well, obviously, the . . |
. . . . . . . . is to go downmarket. |
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7 . I'd like you now to consider the future of the home computer industry. |
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What are the ......... . |
? |
Well, the .......... |
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are excellent, but only for the right kind |
of company. |
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presenting in english 5.3 |
further techniques |
8.We could, of course, increase our marketing budget and try to beat the Japanese at their own game.
But what are our . . . . . . . . . . |
? |
Well, frankly, our |
. . . . . . . . . .are slim. |
9. The obvious disadvantage of setting up in Hungary is its economic situation. |
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But what are the . . . . . . . . . . |
? |
The . . . . . . . . . . |
are the low cost of land, an excellent |
exchange rate, and the possibility of getting government funding for the project.
Present the extracts several times, paying particular attention to stress and rhythm.
PRESENTATION
Complete the following frames using information relevant to your work, company or interests. In each case, first state the situation, then ask and answer a rhetorical question.
presenting in english 5.4 |
further techniques |
Dramatic Contrasts 1
TASK
Match up the two halves of the contrasts below:
1.If we don't take care of the customer,
2.While our competitors are still doing the feasibility studies,
3.Instead of just sitting here saying nothing can be done,
4.Asking difficult questions now is a lot easier
l
5.In the 80s the shelf-life of a new PC was three years;
6.Remember, it can take years to win new business,
7.The only difference between an ordinary manager
8.Everyone said we'd never do it,
9.Either we downsize by 25% now
a.it's a question of money.
b.than correcting stupid mistakes later.
c.and an extraordinary one is that little extra.
d.we've actually gone ahead and developed the product.
e.or we'll be downsizing by 50% in eighteen months time.
f.but we went ahead and did it anyway.
g.why don't we get out there and actually do something?
h.but it only takes seconds to lose it.
i.these days it might be obsolete in three months.
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10. It's not a question of time; |
j. someone else will. |
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Look for patterns in the dramatic contrasts above eg. If w e don't |
...,someone else will. |
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Notice how many of the extracts above rely on a simple opposition: |
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we - someone else |
nothing - something |
now - later |
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Notice also how the voice tends to rise on the first half of each contrast and fall on the |
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second. |
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presenting in englisl? 5.4 |
furthe,- techniques |
PRESENTATION
Use the frames below to present information relevant to your own work or company through dramatic contrasts. First, introduce each topic, and then make your point. Repeat this activity until you are happy with the way you sound.
preserzfing in enplicll |
5.5 |
further techniques |
Dramatic Contrasts 2
m TASK
Look at the following famous quotations. Each consists of a dramatic contrast. Can you guess how they finish? The answers are in the key.
1. "Ask not what your country can do for you. |
." |
Ask what . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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2. "To decide not to decide is a decision. |
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To fail to decide ............................. . |
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3. "It's a recession when your neighbour loses his job. |
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It's a depression when . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
4."If you owe your bank a hundred pounds, you have a problem.
But if you owe it a million, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
5."Everything has been thought of before.
The problem is to think . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
." |
6. "I like the dreams of the future |
." |
better than the history. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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7. "I'd rather be a failure at something I enjoy |
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than a success at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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8. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; |
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fools because they have to |
" |
. . . . . |
9. "Success is getting what you want.
Happiness is wanting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
10. "Many a man owes his success to his first wife, |
." |
and his second . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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11. "You can't win them all. |
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But you sure can . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
12. "A businessman is someone who talks golf all morning in the office.
And business all afternoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
John F. Kennedy
Gen. George Patton
Harry S. Truman
J. M. Keynes
Goethe
Thomas Jefferson
George Burns
Plato
Benjamin Franklin
Jim Backus
Anonymous
Anonymous
You probably found a lot of the quotations in this exercise quite easy to complete. Why do you think that was? Say them aloud, paying particular attention to how you say them.
Tripling 1
m TASK 1
Say the following. Stress the words in bold type, especially the last word.
1. The |
new |
system |
is |
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FAST. |
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2. |
The |
new |
system |
is |
efficient and |
FAST. |
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3. |
The |
new |
system |
is |
foolproof, |
efficient and |
FAST. |
4. |
The |
new |
system |
is |
economical, |
foolproof, |
efficient and FAST. |
Notice that examples 1 - 3 take about the same time to say. But example 4 is almost impossible to say at normal speed. Three points are usually the most you can comfortably make. Usually you arrange the points so the one you think is most important comes last. Whenever you make important points, remember the 'rule of threes'.
W TASK 2
Match up the statements below:
1. company
2. project
The ideal 3. market is
4. product
5. manager
TASK 3
Match up these statements:
a.new, well designed and competitively priced.
b.local, expanding and undersupplied.
c.thoroughly researched, properly funded and well0run.
d.experienced, highly motivated and well-qualified.
e.small, flexible and customer-oriented.
Present the points several times, paying particular attention to stress and rhythm.
prese,?tirrg in cnglislq 5.7 fL~rrher-techniques
Tripling 2
TASK 1
Apply the same technique to the following. Say them first. Then write them down. The first one has been done for you as an example.
1.What / solution? Simple. Cut expenses / staffing levels / salaries.
What's the solution? Simple. Cut expenses, cut staffing levels, cut salaries.
2.What / answer? Simple. Work harder, / faster, / smarter.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Where / best opportunities?It's obvious. In Germany /Japan / Brazil.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Can we improve performance? Yes. In terms / output / turnover / profit margin.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.What would cuts mean / this stage?Disaster! No new plant / new product / new ideas!
6.Change / system and what / you get?Problems. / Problems / workers / distributors /
customers.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Now try these:
1. How can we beat the Koreans? I'll tell you. O n reliability / quality / price. That's how.
2.Does comparative advertising / results? Of course it does. Ask IBM / Apple / Pepsi / They'll tell you.
3.Can market leadership / achieved / computers? Sure it can. Look / Tom Watson / John Sculley / Bill Gates / They did it.
4.How / we doing? Better than ever. The customers like us / the shareholders / the banks / ! Need I say more?
Present the points above several times, paying particular attention to stress and rhythm. Now try putting the word and before the third point in each example. This gives the third point more impact.