Tips for oral reporting

 

1.   Dress appropriately: just donŐt look like a slob.

2.  Sit up: donŐt slouch.

3.  Make eye contact: donŐt look down or out the window.

4.  Enunciate your words clearly and speak loudly enough for everyone to hear: do not slur your words or mumble?

5.  Answer in complete sentences and elaborate a little on your answer: do not use one-word answers.

6.  Be gracious in responding to questions: sometimes summarize your version of the questions; sometimes say that the question is a good one.

7.  DonŐt act bored: Let your body language say that you are engaged, listening, and ready to respond.

8.  Review what you know before you come so that you have information to use during the panel. You may bring a few notes if you wish.

 


Remember GriceŐs Conversational Maxims

 

Maxim of Quantity:

 

1.  Make your contribution to the conversation as informative as necessary.

2.  Do not make your contribution to the conversation more informative than necessary.

 

 

Maxim of Quality:

 

1.  Do not say what you believe to be false.

2.  Do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence.

 

 

Maxim of Relevance:

 

1.  Be relevant (i.e., say things related to the current topic of the conversation).

 

 

Maxim of Manner:

 

1.  Avoid obscurity of expression.

2.  Avoid ambiguity.

3.  Be brief (avoid unnecessary wordiness).

4.  Be orderly.