3.2 Summarizing and concluding

What is the difference between a summary and a conclusion?

Summaries restate what has already been said. Remember the maxim: “In a presentation, say what you are going to say, say it, then tell them you’ve said it.”

A conclusion is different: it often contains a message which grows out of the information described in the main body of the talk.

It may contain recommendations, next steps.

3.3. Questions and discussions

The speaker ends his talk with the words: “Any questions?” The silence is disaster. How can you avoid it?

Four ways to avoid the problem:

1. If the audience is interested, someone will have something to say. So, make a good presentation.

2. End the presentation with an instruction to the audience. Here are two examples: “Now we need to know more about the way you work. Tell me about your situation and what may interest you … ” or “Now tell me what are your impressions and what else do you need to know now?”

3. Single out an individual who is most likely to have a question to ask you or a comment to make.

4. Have a question prepared.

Handling questions is thought by many speakers to be the most difficult part of a presentation. Why do you think this is? How do you think difficulties can be minimized?

There are some recommendations:

- Be polite.

- Listen very carefully.

- Ask for repetition or clarification.

- Keep calm.

- Tell the truth (most of the time!).

- Don’t say anything you’ll regret later.

- Check understanding if necessary by paraphrasing.

- Agree partially before giving own opinion: “Yes, but …”

3.4. Language Checklist. The end of the presentation

Ending the main body

Okay, that ends my talk./ That’s all I want to say for now.

Beginning the summary/conclusion

I’d like to end by emphasizing the main point(s)./ I’d like to end with …a summary of the main points / some observations based on what I’ve said./ some conclusions / recommendations / a brief conclusion.

Concluding

There are two conclusions / recommendations. / What we need is …/ I think we have to …/ I think we have seen that we should …

Handling questions

That’s a difficult question to answer in a few words./ It could be …/ In my experience …/ I would say …/ I don’t think I’m the right person to answer that. Perhaps (Mr. …) can help …/ I don’t have much experience in that field …

I ‘m afraid that’s outside the scope of my talk. If I were you I’d discuss that with …

I’ll have to come to that later, perhaps during the break since we’re running out of time.

Sorry, I’m not sure I’ve understood. Could you repeat?/ Are you asking if … ?/ Do you mean … ?/ I didn’t catch your question./ If I have understood you correctly, you mean …? Is that right?

Does that answer your question?/ Is that okay?

3.5. The example of ending of the presentation

That concludes the main part of my talk. Now I’d like to summarize the main points. The Automatic Control Telelab provides a sophisticated but easy to use mechanism to control a remote process through the Internet.

And finally, special attention has been devoted to simplify the procedures for adding new on-line experiments..

Now, turning to my conclusion, I want to make two key recommendations. Number one, …. . Number two, …. And that completes my talk….

I’d like to invite you to tell me about the needs you have… and at the same time, if there is anything you are not clear about, please ask… if anything needs clarification.

Task 1. Give the end of a presentation on a topic of your choice. Include either a summary or a conclusion and move to questions and/or discussion.

Task 2. Use the information above to give a presentation within seven –ten minutes.