B. Students are encouraged to use all resources possible. This would include the Internet, previous handouts, interviews with businesspeople, professors, or personal work experience. If you need help... ask your marketing professor at least one full day before your presentation.

C. Multiple references are desirable.  They can come from various sources ,including, but not limited to (1) the popular press, (2) the business press, (3) the academic press. Your professor looks for one good, fairly recent professional journal such as The Journal of Marketing, The Journal of Retailing, or The Journal of Marketing Research.

D. Presentations should be limited to 8-10 minutes with an additional 3-4 minutes available for questions.

E. Do not read to the class. (This is the biggest mistake students make.) Notes should be limited to one side of one index card. This allows one to make good eye contact with the entire audience (not just your professor.)

F. When you are up, you are in charge.  There is no need to ask permission to start or do things... just do what needs to be done.  Come in before class to check out the projector and needed equipment.  Set-up earlier, so as not to spend class time writing on board, etc.

G. The best logical flow of your presentation should be:

1. First, always introduce yourself to the class
2. Briefly tell the class your topic and the main 
     points that will be covered
3. Cover in detail the material discussed in 
     item (2) above, using visuals
4. Always summarize or conclude by telling the 
     class what you have said
5. Ask for questions... "plant" some questions 
     in case no one asks any

I. Always provide an error-free handout to students after you have finished the presentation. Handouts are limited to one single-spaced, typewritten, front-side only page. Use a laser printer or executive typewriter, not a dot-matrix printer.

j. Speak up! If you cannot be heard on the back row, your presentation is ineffective. (This the third biggest mistake made by students.) You must take into consideration the high noise level created by the air conditioner.

K. Practice your articulation. Try to speak like Peter Jennings, Jane Pauley, Bernard Shaw, Tom Brokaw, or President Robert Potts. Heavy regional accents or the use of incorrect grammar distracts the listener.

L. When you are in front of the class it is good to look businesslike. This will add credibility to your message and will also provide self-confidence to the speaker.

M. Relax! After doing your research, you will likely know more about the topic than anyone in the room. There is no reason to be nervous...You are the authority on the subject at hand. No one in the class, including your professor, will give you any "grief" if you know your material and try to follow the above guidelines. This experience will give you a significant advantage when you start your career.
 

NOTE TO GRADUATE STUDENTS: This handout was designed for senior level students. Most graduates have had some experience speaking to groups. Hopefully, these ideas will not seem too elementary. 
On the other hand, unless you have a good reason to deviate from these basics, it would be appreciated if you would keep them in the back of your mind when giving a presentation.