MICASE:Sequencing

3. Sequencing

In this section you will learn how to organize, or sequence your presentation. It is always a good idea to tell the audience in which order you are going to present the content of your talk.

When sequencing you

give your audience an outline of your presentation so they know what to expect
may inform the audience whether you welcome questions at any stage of the presentation or rather have them at the end
use a variety of sequencing phrases, instead of saying 'next' or 'then' all the time.

Video clip 3: Sequencing

Now watch the third part of the presentation. Then read the instructions to the exercises below, watch the clip again and answer the questions.

NOTE: Remember that you can also read the transcript of the presentation.

Exercise A: Transitional devices

1. Watch the presentation clip and write down the transitional devices the speaker uses, together with the functions they serve in this particular context. 2. Go to the corpus and look up some of the transitional devices used by the speaker. Give one example of usage for each.

If you need to see the table of transitional devices again, click here.

Exercise B: Linking expressions

Watch the clip and listen for the language items that fit the categories below. Write the expressions into the appropriate box.

Persuading and convincing
Giving an opinion
Clarifying a point

Table of useful phrases

Exercise C: Outlining by using numbered points

A presentation can be outlined successfully by using numbered points, for example ‘first’, ‘second’ and so on. Watch the clip and pay attention to how the speaker outlines/sequences his presentation and then complete the exercises in the box below.

1. How many numbered points does the speaker use? 2. What expression does the speaker use after the last numbered point? Why do you think he stops using numbered points after a certain point? 3. Go to MICASE and check if you can find other examples of how to use numbered points. 4. How does the use of second - secondly (third – thirdly) differ from each other in a sentence. Are they nouns, adjectives, or adverbs?

Everything in order? Let's then move on to the fourth section. Supporting the topic.

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