ideas for short presentation needed!

[paper_tiger]

Hi,
I have to do a 5 minute presentation on a topic of my choice for a course that I am doing. It has to be unrelated to the course and work etc, preferably be interesting to people to watch, funny etc. To show my skill in just giving presentations.
I am so rubbish, I can't think of a good topic- any suggestions?!! I don't have any interesting hobbies etc before you ask.
Thank you!

[Buenchico]

(Posted in 2 parts):

Everyone's different - The sort of thing which you seem to be dreading is exactly the type of opportunity which I'd really enjoy! So what would I go for? I'd suggest something based upon the tourist potential of the local area. (I'm hoping that you don't live somewhere like York which has got genuine tourist potential. If so, just choose somewhere else which is really drab!). A title like "Dagenham - 8th Wonder of the World" or "Grimsby - The Ultimate Mecca for Tourists" announces to your audience that they're in for an interesting, tongue-in-cheek presentation.

Now, I don't know what resources you'll have available (PowerPoint? Overhead Projector? Flip Charts?) but some sort of visual aid is necessary. Ideally, when you come to compare the culinary delights of your chosen neighbourhood with the restaurants of Paris, you need a photograph of the local 'greasy spoon'. If not, at least make sure that you can turn over a page on a flip chart to show the words "Joe's Cafe, 23 High Street" (or whatever) to illustrate what you're talking about.

Think of everything which makes a place a tourist delight (e.g. beautiful beaches) and say that the place which you're promoting can go one better. (e.g. "After all, San Tropez may have plenty of water but can it really compare with the joys of counting submerged supermarket trolleys on our local canal bank. I don't think so!".

[Buenchico]

(2nd Part):

Keep the theme going. Choose the ugliest well-known building in the area and compare it to somewhere really beautiful. (Once again have a picture available, if possible). e.g. "People travel from all over the world to see the Taj Mahal and many say that it's best seen at night. But why is this? It's simply because of the flodlighting! Well, we can do that here in Dagenham/Swindon/Grimsby/wherever. Just look at this wonderful picture of the municipal multi-storey car park at night. Isn't that magnificent? Whatever they can do in India we can do better here!".

I could go on for ages but, hopefully, you've got the idea. Take your preparation seriously and then be totally silly in your presentation!

Chris

[simsfreq]

I was going to do work experience at a company called Paper Tiger...

[shehin]

How about:

Jamie Oliver's school dinner campaign (plenty of info available) and you could link it with your own childhood memories of school meals.

[Jules001]

Mr Jules had to do a 5 min presentation before and he chose to do one for a charity, he chose the British Heart Foundation and had soundbites of a heart gently beating, waves lapping on a shore, sounds of children playing, etc clips of people playing beach volleyball, heartbeat getting a bit faster, then came to a climax with the heartbeat stopping as the person had died to show that it could happen to anyone and at any time. If my memory serves me correctly he won a prize for it being the best presentation on the course. So something serious yet dramatic might work, if you are not the sort of person to do the jokey, humorous one.

[paper_tiger]

Hi,
Thanks for these really good ideas! Luckily I do live in a fairly unexciting place- Sheffield, which has plently of alternative tourist attractions, old steel plants etc. ! And I will be doing it on powerpoint, so thats a good opportunity for me to take some interesting pictures!
I'm not sure how funny I can really make it, this sort of thing really doesn't come naturally to me as you can tell.
There are a couple of charities I am interested in also so thats another good suggestion.
Really glad I posted this question now! Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

[Buenchico]

I'm getting worried now! I lived in Sheffield for 20 years and I've just found out that I'm encouraging someone to take the mickey out of one of my favourite places! Oh, go on then:
If you follow my suggestion, you really ought to look around the internet for pictures of Niagara Falls, the Zambezi Falls, etc. (There'll be plenty at www.webshots.com). Show these pictures to your audience with suitable comments: "Let's look at the places that people travel thousands of miles to see: The Niagara Falls, for example, magnificent aren't they? And here's the Zambezi Falls. Just as beautiful or possibly even better? But just remember that, when it comes down to it, all that people are looking at is water going downwards. Here, in Sheffield we can do better than that. You don't have to go trekking for miles. You don't have to brave icey weather or swarms of mosquitoes because, here, in the very heart of the city, we've not just got water which goes down, it goes up as well!" [Cut to a picture of the
Peace Garden fountains!]

Plan well but be totally silly!

Chris

[joko]

You could go really over the top and invent a persona - such as a gigolo, millionaire playboy, supermodel or something less extravagant life air traffic control or traffic warden -and play the part - talk about your life and exaggerate and joke etc.

Doesn't have to be factual so no research needed.

explain about your daily routine and of your rise to the top, the pitfalls etc - make it all up of course

you'll have them in stitches if you plan it well