PRESENT

Lesson Objectives

Plan business presentations strategically, aligning message, structure, and audience needs.

Demonstrate confident delivery using body language, vocal control, and eye contact to establish presence.

Practice and refine presentations through purposeful rehearsal and feedback, focusing on natural fluency rather than memorization.

Design professional slide decks that support, not distract from, the message by following best practices in simplicity, consistency, and visual clarity.

Troubleshoot presentation challenges calmly and effectively, adapting to time constraints, tech failures, and difficult questions with poise.

AWOC ALIGNMENT

4. Oral Communication ✅ Strong alignment

Teaches students how to prepare, deliver, and adapt oral presentations using effective body language, visuals, and audience-centered messaging.

Reinforces public speaking skills and message organization for professional and public audiences.

1. Disciplinary Writing (Indirectly) ✅ Moderate alignment

Although this chapter focuses on oral delivery, students must still script, outline, or visually organize content using genre-specific business conventions.

MARRIOTT VMV ALIGNMENT

Mission Alignment

“Develop leaders of faith, intellect, and character who have the skills and desire to continue learning and to serve others throughout their lives.” ✅ Strong alignment

Develops students’ communication skills as a form of leadership, preparing them to share ideas confidently and serve others through clarity, presence, and adaptability.

Encourages humility and preparation over performance and ego.

Vision Alignment

“Transform the world through Christlike leadership.” ✅ Strong alignment

Models Christlike leadership attributes—courage, calm, empathy, clarity—in public settings.

Reinforces that presence is not theatrical—it’s about showing up with purpose and respect.

Encourages students to communicate in ways that uplift, inspire, and clarify—even under pressure.

Values Alignment

Faith in Christ ✅ Encourages confidence rooted in preparation and truth, not performance or ego.

Integrity in Action ✅ Teaches students to communicate honestly, adapt to setbacks, and stay poised under pressure.

Excellence ✅ Emphasizes professional-grade presentation skills as a standard for leadership in business settings.

STUDENT-CENTERED STATEMENT

This lesson centers on students by acknowledging their fears and giving them tools to succeed. It treats students as capable communicators in training, not just passive learners. Through preparation, practice, and presence, it helps students build the confidence to share ideas with authenticity—not performance. It honors the real-world challenges they face and equips them to show up with clarity, credibility, and calm.

Disciplinary Writing

Students focus on a well-defined purpose—to know their audience and write to that specific audience.

Students will adopt a voice and tone specifically adapted to employment communication.

Oral Communication

Students will develop skills necessary to succeed in oral environments: networking events, informational interviews, job interviews, and delivering elevator pitches.

Knowledge of Conventions

Students will understand business-specific requirements for documents like resumes and cover letters and they will understand why certain styles work and others don't.

Faith in Christ

This unit invites students to see their personal brand not as self-promotion, but as a stewardship of their God-given strengths. By reflecting on their unique talents through tools like CliftonStrengths and presenting them authentically, students honor their divine potential and the call to serve others through meaningful work.

“Let your light so shine…” (Matthew 5:16). This unit helps students prepare to shine in a professional setting in a way that reflects their commitment to discipleship and purposeful contribution.

Respect for All

Students are encouraged to build a personal brand that is not only self-aware but also other-aware—framing their strengths in terms of how they contribute to teams, organizations, and communities. Respect is also emphasized through peer feedback and professional communication practices that value diverse audiences and perspectives.

Branding done well reflects humility and service, not ego. This unit reinforces that professional growth should uplift others, not compete destructively with them.

Integrity in Action

Authenticity is central to both personal branding and employment communication. Students are taught to align their public presence (LinkedIn, resumes, interviews) with who they truly are, avoiding exaggeration or misrepresentation. This fosters credibility and trustworthiness in professional relationships.

Students learn that the strongest brands are built on truth and consistency—key components of personal and professional integrity.

Excellence

The unit challenges students to communicate their value with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. Whether it’s refining a LinkedIn profile or delivering an elevator pitch, the expectation is that their work meets high standards—preparing them to represent both themselves and the Marriott School with excellence in any setting.

This commitment to continuous improvement and polish prepares students to stand out in competitive internship and job markets.