Planning and delivering a presentation - Visual and verbal s...

Learning Outcomes

After reading this article, you will be able to confidently plan, structure, and deliver a clear presentation, using effective visual and verbal signposting so your audience can follow your ideas easily. You will understand the importance of coherence, transitions, and purposeful use of presentation aids. You will practise strategies that address AO5 (content and organisation) and AO6 (SPaG), ensuring your communication is logical, precise, and engaging for AQA GCSE English Language assessments.

AQA GCSE English Language 8700 Syllabus

For AQA GCSE English Language 8700, this topic links to spoken language and writing skills. In this article, you will cover the following objectives:

For AQA GCSE English Language 8700, you should be able to:

• Organise presentation content logically using paragraphs and clear structure (AO5).
• Use linking devices and signposting to guide your audience through your talk (AO5).
• Present information and ideas using purposeful language and tone for audience and purpose (AO5).
• Speak with clear pronunciation, accurate grammar, and varied vocabulary (AO6).

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. List two ways you can verbally signal that you are moving on to a new section in a spoken presentation.
2. What is a visual signpost, and how can it help your audience?
3. Why is it important to plan the sequence of main points in advance?
4. Identify one phrase you could use to summarise your main argument at the end of your talk.

Introduction

Planning and delivering an effective presentation is not just about what you say, but how clearly your ideas are structured and signposted for the audience. AO5 rewards students who use signposting language and good organisation, while AO6 requires your language and delivery to be accurate and audience-aware. This guide explains how and when to use visual and verbal cues, making your talk easy to follow from start to finish.

Key Term: signposting
Words, phrases, or techniques used to highlight the structure of your presentation and guide your audience through your main points.

Key Term: linking device
Language features (like connectives, sequence phrases, or pronouns) that link together ideas and sections for a fluent, logical flow.

Key Term: visual aid
Any diagram, slide, prop, handout or display that supports your presentation and helps explain or emphasise key points.

Planning Your Presentation for Clarity

Every successful presentation begins with careful planning. Before you present, organise your content into a logical sequence: introduction, main points, conclusion. Note down transitions and highlight parts where you will use signposts. Decide which visual aids (if any) will support or clarify your ideas.

Verbal Signposting for Structure

Verbal signposting means using clear phrases to tell your audience where they are in your talk. This helps your listeners follow your structure and remember key points.

Common verbal signposts:

• "Firstly…", "Secondly…", "Finally…"
• "To summarise…"
• "Let’s move on to…"
• "Now, I’d like to discuss…"
• "This brings me to my next point…"
• "In conclusion…"

Verbal signposts improve AO5 by making your structure visible and supporting AO6 by using purposeful, accurate language.

Worked Example 1.1

You are delivering a short presentation on why school uniforms are important. Which signposts could you use?

Answer:
At the start: "Today, I’ll be discussing three reasons why school uniforms matter." To introduce a new section: "First, let’s consider how uniforms save time in the morning." Moving between points: "Another important factor is safety on school trips." To finish: "To conclude, uniforms provide clear benefits for students and schools alike."

Visual Signposting: Making Your Ideas Obvious

Visual signposts include slides, headings on posters, handouts, or objects. They show your audience what topic is coming next and allow them to track progress.

Well-designed slides or props should:

• Use short headings for each main section.
• Highlight key words and sequence (e.g., "Step 1," "Step 2").
• Avoid clutter—keep visuals simple and focused.

A visual aid is not just for decoration: its purpose is to clarify or support spoken explanations, not to distract.

Worked Example 1.2

You are speaking about healthy eating. You have prepared a poster showing a food pyramid. How does this signpost your message?

Answer:
The food pyramid image visually signposts the key categories (grains, vegetables, proteins, etc.). Each time you move to a new group in your talk, you point to that part of the poster and use language like, “Next, let’s look at the protein section here,” making it easy for listeners to link your words and the visual information.

Sequencing and Linking Ideas

To score well for organisation, your points must flow sensibly. Use sequence connectives and link statements back to the focus of the task.

Connectives for linking and sequencing:

• "Furthermore…"
• "In contrast…"
• "As a result…"
• "For example…"

Refer to visual aids as you speak: "As you can see on the chart…", "This map shows…"

Exam Warning

Avoid simply reading out your visual aids or rushing between points without using clear signposting phrases. If the audience cannot follow your order, your presentation loses clarity. Markers for AO5 expect to see explicit, logical structure.

Audience Awareness and Summarising

To meet AO5/AO6, your presentation’s structure must match your audience. Use formal language for adults, more relaxed language for peers, always checking for clarity and tone.

In your conclusion, verbal signposting should confirm to your audience that you are finishing:

• "To sum up, I believe…"
• "In summary…"
• "Thank you for listening; I’d be happy to take any questions."

Worked Example 1.3

Your task is to summarise a presentation about online safety.

Answer:
"So, to summarise: we need stronger passwords, we should not share personal information online, and we must always check who we’re talking to before giving details. Remember, your safety comes first."

Revision Tip

Practise your presentation aloud, saying your signposts clearly and checking that every visual cue matches a major section. Ask a friend if the sequence is easy to follow—if not, add more explicit signposting.

Summary

Organising content using planned visual and verbal signposting ensures your presentation is easy to follow and scores highly for AO5 and AO6. Always link speech and visuals, sequence your points clearly, and highlight structure for your audience at every stage.

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• Plan and sequence your presentation, preparing main points and transitions in advance.
• Use clear verbal signposting and connectives to guide the audience through your structure (AO5).
• Include purposeful visual aids with headings or images to indicate progress or highlight important information.
• Adjust the style and level of formality of your verbal and visual signposting for your intended audience.
• Summarise and close with a clear signpost, making the presentation’s structure obvious from start to finish.

Key Terms and Concepts

• signposting
• linking device
• visual aid