Section 2.10.1

Informal and Formal Oral Reports

An oral report may be delivered around a small table with just a few listerners or in a largeauditorium to hundreds of people.

Informal oral reports are generally characterized by small-group settings with a high degree of audience interaction and a relaxed manner of delivery and dress. An informal oral report might be an impromptupresentation. Informal oral presentations can foster the free exchange of ideas and be importantfor producing action items.

A formal oral report is distinguished by its adherence to an agreed-upon format or outline. Formal oral reports are usually prepared well in advance ofpresentation and are therefore well rehearsed. Your manner of delivery is extremely important in a formal oral reportsituation. Audience interaction is generally limited to the questionand answer period at the conclusion of your report.

Formal oral reports may follow an outline similar to the parts of any formal written report and may be presented to an audience of one's peers orto an interested general or mixed audience in a setting such as a large auditorium or hall. However,the size of a room or an audience does not solely define a formal situation. Formal oral reports mayalso include presentations to small in-house groups of managersor academic committees, for example.

Presenting effective formal oral reports is an important means of establishing and maintaining yourcredentials and authority within a field or within an organization.

For an example of a formal oral report, see section Example of Materialsfor an Oral Presentation: Design Review.

## Informal and Formal Presentations ##


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