Tutorial discussion
Depending on your course, your presentation may conclude with a group discussion. If this is the case, it is a good idea to prepare a couple of questions that are relevant to your topic. When you start speaking, tell your audience that you will be asking some questions at the end of your presentation. It sometimes keeps people more alert if they know that they may have to participate in a discussion based on what they have just been listening to.
Asking questions
- Before they can answer a question, the group needs to comprehend it, so it's important that questions be fully articulated. Speak slowly and clearly. Repeat the question if necessary.
- Being able to read the question(s) helps an audience understand them. Put your questions on a PowerPoint slide, write them on a whiteboard or include them on any handouts you give the group.
- Providing the audience with handouts that include a summary of your talk, or a list of the main points can help discussions.
Answering questions
After your presentation, members of your tutorial group may ask you questions. Don’t be afraid of questions; they are a positive sign. They show that the audience is listening and interested.
- Listen carefully to the question. Repeat or paraphrase the question so you are sure you understand it and so everyone in the audience hears it.
- If it is a long question, try breaking it up into sections, and answer them one by one.
- Be brief and to the point and avoid introducing new information.
- If you don’t know the answer to the question, it’s OK to say so - you can’t know absolutely everything about your topic. Get the group involved by opening the question up to the audience and letting someone else answer it! If no one else can, you can always offer to find out the answer for them at a later date.
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