Getting started

Identify the following: 

• Who is your audience?
• What is the purpose of your assignment?
• What is the main message your presentation?

Prep work

• Complete your research.
• Brainstorm key ideas.
• Create an outline.

The outline

• Introduction
  • Aim for 2-3 minutes.
  • Use an opener/attention getter/hook.
  • Identify significance of topic.
  • Illustrate relevance to audience.
  • Set an agenda.
• Body 
  • Make your first point.
    • Offer supporting material.
  • Provide a transition from Point One to Point Two.
  • Make your second point. 
    • Offer supporting material.
  • Repeat for remaining points.
• Conclusion 
  • Summarize/review main points.

Creating your slides

• Keep text to a minimum (only a few points per slide).
• Cite your sources.
• Use visuals and videos.
• Use high contrast colours.
• Use visual representations of data or information.
• Ensure font is large enough.

Making your points

• Cite sources - use stats or quotes.
• Use examples.
• Tell a story.
• Engage the audience in a poll or interactive activity.
• Note all the points you would like to make with each slide in the speakers notes.

Practice, practice, practice

• Using your speaker's notes, practice your presentation.
• Time your presentation to ensure you’re on track.
• Anticipate questions from the audience.
• Record yourself.
• Make simplified notes that you can refer to at a glance.

Delivering your presentation

• Dress in a way that gives you confidence.
• Breathe through your nose.
• Make eye contact around the room (pick 1-3 people in different areas).
• Remove anything that might make you fidget.
• Pause before and after important ideas.
• Use language your audience will understand.
• Watch for audience feedback and adjust things like pace, volume, and detail level accordingly.