Idea 63: Planning and writing your presentation
Usually it is possible to define your aim in terms of the results that should follow from a presentation. These may fall into broad areas, such as change, commitment, action or understanding. It is then necessary, if possible, to break them down to more specific objectives by asking ‘What change?’, ‘Commitment to what?’ or ‘Understanding what in particular?’
Having written down your objective or objectives, focused at the right level of specificity for the expected audience, your next job is to sketch out a framework or skeleton of your presentation. Reduced to its most simple form it should have a beginning, middle and end.
| Phase | Notes |
| Beginning | Introduction by chair.
Your introductory remarks. State your objective(s) and give some reasons why they are relevant to the audience. Signpost the main outlines of the presentation. |
| Middle | Break the complex whole of the presentation down into manageable parts, just as an author divides a book into chapters. Three, four, five or six sections, usually no more.
Make sure that you illustrate the main points by examples or support them by evidence. A half-time summary is often a good idea, especially if it is a longish and complicated presentation. Put a time estimate against each of these parts or sections and double check that most time goes on the top priorities. |
| End | A summary is often a good way to initiate the last phase.
Don’t leave your conclusions to chance. Refer back to your objective and prepare your final remarks with that in mind. |
At all costs avoid the not uncommon sequence of beginning, muddle and no end!