NCJ Number
81180
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This videotaped lecture suggests methods of making effective presentations in both written and oral form before an audience. It is emphasized that the products of an analysis are useless if they are not persuasively presented to the proper individuals and organizations.
Abstract
The lesson provides a technical checklist of the major topics necessary for a sound analysis because quality of the analytic work and error-free data are prerequisites to a successful presentation of findings. The approach taken for a presentation, however, depends upon knowing the audience and recognizing its concerns, interests, and powers. It is the analyst's responsibility to familiarize himself with the audience's perspective so that his presentation may effectively educate, interest, and stimulate. The speaker should attend to time restraints, recognize and allude to problem impacts outside the scope of criminal justice, and avoid a conflict between his thesis and conventional wisdom. The optimal behavior of the analyst is to be objective, realistic, future oriented, flexible, and sensitive to politics and emotions. He should be familiar with his material and technical equipment; all lettering, labeling, and handouts should be without error. Basic guidelines for effective oral presentation include emphasis on the priority message, on impacts of the findings upon the audience, and on pointedly selected, forceful data examples. Technical jargon should be avoided; findings stated directly; questions and criticisms anticipated; and eye contact maintained during delivery. Both oral and written reports should avoid omissions; retain consistency of form, language, and content; have a logical construction; integrate data with the narrative text; and use data sparingly in support of the major argument. For the instructor's guide to this course see NCJ 81170. For other videotaped sessions see NCJ 81171-81179, 81181-2, and 81186.