Qualitative Presentation

Speaking assignments in arts and humanities courses (including English, philosophy, foreign languages, art history, theater, music, religion, and history) often require that you interpret the meaning of a particular idea, event, person, story, or artifact. Rather than focusing on quantitative research, presentations in the arts and humanities often rely on the speaker's analysis and interpretation of the topic at hand. These interpretations are nonetheless grounded in the conventions of the field and build on research within it. Oral presentation assignments in arts and humanities courses can range from informative speeches of explanation to presentations that compare and contrast.

Arrangement:
Because there are numerous ways that your speech can be organized, finding the right way to convey your research can be difficult. Speaking Center tutors can help you identify a method of organization that best fits your subject matter and research. Here are two types of qualitative presentations to get you started:

Informative Speeches of Explanation:
Often in the arts and humanities, students prepare informative speeches in which they explain the relevance of a historical or contemporary person or event; school of philosophical thought; or piece of literature, music, or art.
Compare and Contrast Presentations:
Speakers often compare and contrast events, stories, people, or artifacts in order to highlight ssimilarities or differences. These presentations may be informative or persuasive in nature, but should include the following:
1. Thesis statement outlining the connection between the events, stories, people, or artifacts
2. Discussion of main points, including several examples that highlight similarities and differences
3. Concluding evaluative statement about the comparison (e.g., if the presentation is persuasive, why one piece of literature was more effective than another; if it is informative, a restatement of similarities and differences)

Effective Presentations:
Effective presentations in the arts and humanities help the audience to think of the topic in a new way by providing an original interpretation of the topic under consideration. A presentation on the historical significance of the success of Hitler's National Socialist Party, for example, will be more effective if you offer a new way of viewing the topic rather than reiterating what other people have said or what is already generally accepted knowledge. Because many speaking events in the arts and humanities call for interpretation, the more original the interpretation (while remaining logical and supported with evidence), the more compelling will the audience perceive the presentation to be.

Checklist: Tops for Preparing Successful Scientific Presentations:

Create an informative title.
Focus on a single issue, and adjust it to the interests of your audience.
Identify your thesis, dividing your research into main points and subpoints.
Follow a logical line of thought, referring back to your thesis and how each point supports that thesis.
Avoid jargon and explain ambiguous concepts or terminology.
End with a clearly formulated conclusion related to your chosen scientific principle.

Number 026 in the Speaking Center Handout Series