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12.7: Technical Presentations

  • Page ID
    142475

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    13.7 Technical Presentations

    The second major communication mode in this course is the technical presentation — used for the TEGO case study, Engineering Design Selection brief, and PowerPoint Presentation Project.

    Presentations and memos serve different purposes. A memo is read at the reader's own pace and can be checked. A presentation is delivered under time constraints — the argument must land in real time.

    The Five Core Rules for Engineering Presentations

    1. Slides carry visuals; the speaker carries the argument. Do not put paragraphs on slides. Slides hold graphs, diagrams, tables, images. Your voice explains what the evidence means.
    2. Structure the argument before designing the slides. What is your claim? What evidence supports it? What objection would a skeptic raise? What is the recommended action? Write that paragraph first — then design slides around the evidence.
    3. Match vocabulary to the audience. The TEGO presentation goes to business managers. The PowerPoint Project goes to first-semester engineering students. Both are non-specialists in whatever you are presenting.
    4. Cite all sources. Every data point, salary figure, technical specification, or company fact needs a source. The reference slide is required.
    5. Practice the narration. Slides with excellent visuals and an unprepared speaker are less effective than adequate slides with a well-prepared speaker.

    This page titled 12.7: Technical Presentations was last modified on Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:38:23 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by .

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