Introduction (may be written last)
- Capture your listeners’ attention: Begin with a question, a funny story, a startling comment, or anything that will make them think.
- State your purpose; for example:
‘I’m going to talk about…’
‘This morning I want to explain…’
- Present an outline of your talk; for example:
‘I will concentrate on the following points: First of all…Then…
This will lead to… And finally…’
The Body
- Present your main points one by one in logical order.
- Pause at the end of each point (give people time to take notes, or time to think about what you are saying).
- Make it absolutely clear when you move to another point. For example:
‘The next point is that …’
‘OK, now I am going to talk about …’
‘Right. Now I’d like to explain … ’
‘Of course, we must not forget that …’
‘However, it’s important to realize that…’
- Use clear examples to illustrate your points.
- Use visual aids to make your presentation more interesting.
The Conclusion
- It is very important to leave your audience with a clear summary of everything you have covered.
- It is also important not to let the talk just fizzle out. Make it obvious that you have reached the end of the presentation.
- Summarizs the main points again, using phrases like:
‘To sum up…’
‘So, in conclusion…’
‘OK, to recap the main points…’
- Restate the purpose of your talk, and say that you have achieved your aim:
‘I think you can now see that…’
‘My intention was …, and it should now be clear that …’
Thank the audience, and invite questions:
‘Thank you. Are there any questions?’
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