Developing Your Presentation

Introduction | Background | Conclusion/Summary | Additional Tips

Introduction

• Introduce the content
• Provide the intended benefits, organization, and ground rules of presentation
• Catch interest and attention of audience immediately
• Include an agenda and goals for the presentation
• A good introduction should: Secure attention, establish credibility, and establish expectations.
• Consider asking attendees to take a moment and introduce themselves to the people sitting around them. This will foster interaction both during and after your session, and ensure that attendees meet a main goal of Convention attendance: making contacts. 

Questions a Good Introduction Will Answer 

• What? An overview of the presentation.
• Why? The purpose of the presentation.
• How? The format you will use – what can the audience expect to see and learn.
• Who? Introduce yourself and your collaborators.
• What is the problem and why is it a problem?
• What has been done about it before?
• What is the presenter doing (or has done) about it?
• What additional value does the presenter's approach provide?
• Where do we go from here?
• What is the purpose of your presentation?
• What is the goal or end product of your presentation?
• What is your main message – the one thing you want your audience to remember?
• What's in it for the audience?

Background

• Provide any background information necessary to ensure understanding of key points
• Place your topic in context
• Key points:
• Identify the priority topics that you want to present – refer to advertised abstract and learner outcomes
• Present each key point as an "argument"; only share the largest, latest, or most important data
• Create a list of the 5 key points that should be remembered; under each main topic, write out the main message you want to convey
• Organize points from most to least important
• Determine what supporting data is required to reinforce those points (evidence)

Conclusion/Summary

• Draw conclusions – where are we? What does it all mean? What do we do now?
• Summarize the presentation:
• Review, highlight, and emphasize your 3-5 key points
• Make a call to action (consider your information, do something, use on Monday morning, etc.)
• Re-convey your key message
• Acknowledge collaborators
• Thank your audience

Additional Tips

• Information should be concrete, specific, practical, and relevant
• Candidly include pros and cons
• People remember groups of three ideas or points