LESSON: PRESENTATION BASICS

How to Organize Your Presentation

Your spoken message is the heart ❤️of your presentation. 

Whether it's short or lengthy, it should follow three basic rules passed down through the ages: Firstly, inform your audience what you'll be discussing. Secondly, explain your topic. Lastly, summarize what you've presented.

Therefore, all presentations consist of an Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. Utilizing transition statements and words will help keep it all flowing.

Introduction

Starting strong is key🗝️in keeping your audience engaged through your presentation. To do this, your introduction should have three parts: the grabber, the thesis, and the overview.

1️⃣ The grabber is the start of your talk, which sets the tone and grabs the audience's attention. It also helps build a connection with the audience and wake up anyone who may be feeling drowsy, especially after lunch.

2️⃣ The thesis is the purpose of your presentation. It shares your position and explains how the audience will benefit from the information. This gives the audience a reason to listen.

3️⃣ The overview highlights the key topics of your thesis. It helps the audience anticipate the discussion and is crucial for those who prefer a broader perspective before the specifics.  

Body

The body of your presentation is where you develop your thesis and cover most of the information. Limit your main points based on presentation length to avoid overwhelming your audience. Offer sufficient information to support your thesis without repeating yourself or going into too much detail. Use stories, case studies, and examples when possible to make abstract concepts easier to understand. Use short, simple phrases rather than complex sentences, and try to incorporate personal examples to sound authentic. Speak at the level of your audience in terms of subject knowledge and language fluency, and engage them by asking for a show of hands when appropriate.

Conclusion

1️⃣ The review restates and sums up the message. This is your chance to select the key points and what you want the audience to recall. Pick a maximum of three main concepts, ideas, or principles.

2️⃣ The call to action is what motivates action. It tells your audience what to do after your presentation and sums up the overall point of it.

3️⃣ The concluding grabber marks the end of your talk and is intended to leave a lasting impact on your listeners as they leave. This concise message may be the one thing that attendees share with others right after your presentation. It's your ultimate opportunity to make a strong impression. By tying your final statement back to your original one, you can provide a clear structure for your entire talk.