Presentations
“Any complex activity, if it is to be carried on with any degree of virtuosity, calls for appropriate gifts of intellect and temperament. If they are outstanding and reveal themselves in exceptional achievements, their possessor is called a ‘genius.’”--Carl von Clausewitz, On War.
Example Presentation
Pixar Magic
Danielle Feinberg
Example Presentation
The World Peace Game
John Hunter
Presentation Coaching
What is the best structure for a presentation?
There are many theories on the best structure for a great presentation. There’s no single trick to it, but here is at least one structure that we’ve found to work particularly well:
1. Start by making your audience care, using a relatable example or an intriguing idea.
2. Explain your idea clearly and with conviction.
3. Describe your evidence and how and why your idea could be implemented.
4. End by addressing how your idea could impact your audience if they were to accept it.
Whatever structure you decide on, remember:
The primary goal of your talk is to communicate an idea effectively and persuade the audience your idea has value, not merely to entertain or focus attention on yourself.
There are many theories on the best structure for a great presentation. There’s no single trick to it, but here is at least one structure that we’ve found to work particularly well:
1. Start by making your audience care, using a relatable example or an intriguing idea.
2. Explain your idea clearly and with conviction.
3. Describe your evidence and how and why your idea could be implemented.
4. End by addressing how your idea could impact your audience if they were to accept it.
Whatever structure you decide on, remember:
The primary goal of your talk is to communicate an idea effectively and persuade the audience your idea has value, not merely to entertain or focus attention on yourself.
Introduction (1 minute)
A strong introduction is crucial.
Draw in your audience members with something they care about.
If it’s a topic most of the audience may already know something about, start with a clear summary of what they may already know that will fill in the knowledge of people new to the topic.
If it’s a field most of the audience never thinks about, start off by invoking something they do think about a lot and relate that concept to your idea.
If the idea is something fun, but not something the audience would ever think about, open with a surprising and cool fact or unexpected connection.
If it’s a serious topic, find a way to get off the ground before getting down to statistics.
Draw in your audience members with something they care about.
If it’s a topic most of the audience may already know something about, start with a clear summary of what they may already know that will fill in the knowledge of people new to the topic.
If it’s a field most of the audience never thinks about, start off by invoking something they do think about a lot and relate that concept to your idea.
If the idea is something fun, but not something the audience would ever think about, open with a surprising and cool fact or unexpected connection.
If it’s a serious topic, find a way to get off the ground before getting down to statistics.
Body (6-7 minutes)
In presenting your topic and evidence:
Think about items that your audience already knows about and the things you’ll need to convince them of.
Order all of the items in your list based on what a person needs to know before they can understand the next point, and from least to most exciting.
Now, cut out everything you possibly can without losing comprehension.
Spend more time on new information: If your audience needs to be reminded of old or common information, be brief.
If you use jargon or slang, this may help with your credibility and show your expertise, but remember to take time to explain new terminology.
If your goal is persuading people to think a certain way about your topic or issue, address any counterarguments, reasons you might be wrong, or doubts your audience might have about your idea before you conclude and invite questions.
Think about items that your audience already knows about and the things you’ll need to convince them of.
Order all of the items in your list based on what a person needs to know before they can understand the next point, and from least to most exciting.
Now, cut out everything you possibly can without losing comprehension.
Spend more time on new information: If your audience needs to be reminded of old or common information, be brief.
If you use jargon or slang, this may help with your credibility and show your expertise, but remember to take time to explain new terminology.
If your goal is persuading people to think a certain way about your topic or issue, address any counterarguments, reasons you might be wrong, or doubts your audience might have about your idea before you conclude and invite questions.
Conclusion (1-2 minutes)
Don’t use your conclusion to simply summarize what you’ve already said; tell your audience how your idea might impact their lives. Find a landing point in your conclusion that will leave your audience feeling positive toward you and your idea's chances for success.
Briefly display your sources or bibliography, but do not read them aloud or go through them entry-by-entry. The source list acknowledges others' work and provides places for audiences to go for more information if you ignited their curiosity.
Avoid ending with an entertaining distraction such as memes, random clip art, or "inside jokes" your close friends will understand but the larger audience will not. This will weaken your presentation.
Presentation Checklists
ALERT is an opportunity to exercise your talents to the very edge of your present abilities in order to grow and change.
Presenting information to an audience to educate, inform, or persuade can make use of a wide variety of digital tools, but the general expectations remain the same. The elements we invite you to consider and reflect on each day--collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence--form the framework of the feedback and assessment for presentations.
Students are invited to assess themselves. Think about where your presentation skills are located on the chart today, and chart a course to navigate to where you want to be. In order to make your decisions easier, there are no letter grades or number ratings on the presentation checklists, only descriptions of actions or internal feelings.
Presenting information to an audience to educate, inform, or persuade can make use of a wide variety of digital tools, but the general expectations remain the same. The elements we invite you to consider and reflect on each day--collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence--form the framework of the feedback and assessment for presentations.
Students are invited to assess themselves. Think about where your presentation skills are located on the chart today, and chart a course to navigate to where you want to be. In order to make your decisions easier, there are no letter grades or number ratings on the presentation checklists, only descriptions of actions or internal feelings.
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Present with confidence by preparing content and rehearsing the task.
All of us at some time, and some of us at all times, must find the courage to speak. While some begin with greater or lesser natural talent and temperament for this than others, we can all find courage and overcome fear through a combination of internal and external preparation and work.
Fear can be reasonable--often, it is feedback from our environment that indicates our future is in doubt or our safety is at risk. Some reactions to fear cause us to fall short or miss the mark, while others can strengthen our resolve and help us develop strategies to respond to doubt. Our confidence needs to be founded on reasons to be confident, not self-delusion or empty repetition of past successes.
You see, anyone can overcome fear. Some defy it, some fight it, some vault over it, some dance around it, some stand still and allow it to flow around them. It is up to each person to decide whether to make the commitment, based on the depth of their understanding of their topic and their knowledge of their own character.
Fear can be reasonable--often, it is feedback from our environment that indicates our future is in doubt or our safety is at risk. Some reactions to fear cause us to fall short or miss the mark, while others can strengthen our resolve and help us develop strategies to respond to doubt. Our confidence needs to be founded on reasons to be confident, not self-delusion or empty repetition of past successes.
You see, anyone can overcome fear. Some defy it, some fight it, some vault over it, some dance around it, some stand still and allow it to flow around them. It is up to each person to decide whether to make the commitment, based on the depth of their understanding of their topic and their knowledge of their own character.
Present with fluency using visual, vocal, and sensory skills within your powers.
Body language and the vocal instrument are humankind's earliest communication modes, as a species and as individuals. Imagine how powerful a message can be when nonverbal and verbal communication are working together! In the cave, around the campfire, from the porch, on the village commons, in the city square, from the balcony, in stage plays, under the capital dome, on the cinematic screen or screens of any size, just the right balance of tone, pace, and articulation coupled with a gesture or a look can light intellects and fire imaginations.
Anyone can learn to communicate with powerful, healthy, unique voice and expression. It is up to each person to decide whether to make the commitment, based on their desire for wider options and greater means to move and engage others.
Present with your full presence, sharing authentically without reservation or evasion.
There are some who will will have access to this advice and these tools and will still continue to approach their next presentation the way they always have, getting the same result they always have, or even finding diminishing returns on the same effort as what was hailed as prodigious in their earlier efforts becomes pedestrian and average among their peers, or even paltry and stale as they lag behind the development others will seek out. This is a shame, and completely unnecessary.
Once you have risen to these challenges once, successfully, using these tools, skills, and perspectives, you will be well-placed to face them again on other days and in other fields of exploration in your life. Presenting information to an audience in a variety of forms can become easier, more effective, and more fulfilling by paying attention to describable techniques available to all and by cultivating awareness of our inner emotional response to the act of presenting.
Go one step beyond! Imagine how powerful and lasting a message can be when not only verbal and nonverbal performance are in accord, but backed by heartfelt sincerity.
Anyone can learn how to develop a strong stage presence. It is up to each person to decide whether to make the commitment, based on the importance of their message and their desire to connect and be heard.
Anyone can learn how to develop a strong stage presence. It is up to each person to decide whether to make the commitment, based on the importance of their message and their desire to connect and be heard.