This week's reading was about oral presentations. The first point is about audience analysis. You should get to know your audience and what they expect so that they will be comfortable listening to you. I've never thought about it, but it now seems very obvious. If someone gives a formal presentation when you are expecting an informal laid back one, then this may lead you to think that they are stuffy or trying to be better than you. Or you may think that since the presentation was not thought out to fit the company's atmosphere that it doesn't matter what they have to say because the information that they have will not fit the company either. The second point was talk structure. There are a number of ways a person can order the main points in a speech to give it a nice flow. Usually, only a few of these techniques are used because some of them will only fit certain situations. The third point was supporting materials. Most people are able to remember the things that they actually see rather than what they hear over longer periods of time. While it sometimes seems redundant to give a handout of the same things that you are speaking about, doing so will most definately help the audience to remember your speech. The fourth and final point was delivery. This is the part that I find the hardest. I am not comfortable speaking in front of people, let alone telling them my thoughts and positions on certain topics. This is a problem. If the speaker seems uncomfortable delivering the information, then the audience may be reluctant to listen and follow it.