Crafting an Effective Presentation Structure: From Introduction to Conclusion

Crafting an Effective Presentation Structure, from introduction to conclusion, is daunting and brings about a great deal of work. A great presentation leaves the audience feeling either inspired or informed on a specific topic. It generally is not because the speaker was knowledgeable or motivating. 

Instead, they are aware of how to structure presentations logically and simply, allowing the audience to keep up with them and take away the key aspects of the presentation. A good structure helps the speaker deliver a presentation calmly, stay on topic and avoid any awkward silence between the presentations. This is precisely why individuals should look to enhance and develop effective presentation skills.

Factors that Determine the Presentation Structure

Before choosing and designing a presentation structure, the speaker should address a variety of factors, including: 

• Who is the audience, and how knowledgeable are they already?
• Time duration of the presentation.
• The kind of setting in which the presentation is being delivered.
• Aim of the Presentation.
• What are the key points the audience should take away from the presentation? 

Typical Presentation Structure 

In general, the contents of a presentation include an introduction, body, and conclusion. At times, it may include visual aids. This is the usual flow for crafting an effective presentation structure: from introduction to conclusion, which covers all the necessary sections and allows the audience to follow along easily. 

When designing a presentation, 

• Create a solid, organized structure for the entire presentation. 
• Keep the slides simple and clear to follow. 
• Remember to be concise and do not confuse the audience. 
• Make sure to add style and visual elements consistently in the presentation. 

The Introduction – Greeting the audience & introducing the speaker

Be sure to create a positive environment by welcoming the audience with a friendly greeting. This allows the audience to arrive, settle down, and prepare for the presentation to start. The introduction is essential to establish a relationship between the speaker and the audience and gather their attention.  

The introduction should help the audience comprehend and understand the subject and objective of the presentation as well as gain their attention and confidence. It should narrow down from a broad topic to the specifics of the talk. 

• Stating the general topic.
• Narrowing to the area of interest/ subject of the presentation.
• Stating the problems/ challenges in the area being discussed. 
• Stating the objective and purpose of the presentation. 
• Providing a statement of the outcome of the presentation. 
• Showing a preview of the content of the presentation.

This is a great time also to explain the length of the talk, indicate if the speaker wants an audience interaction, and inform the audience if they need to jot down the important points from the presentation. With effective presentation skills, people can keep the audience engaged and interested throughout the entire tenure of the presentation.

The Body 

The body of the presentation should meet the objective and the information indicated in the introduction. This is an integral part of crafting an Effective Presentation Structure: From the Introduction to the Conclusion should make up about 75% of the total duration of the presentation. 

• The topics should be segmented considering the nature of the presentation and then working through them individually for the audience to understand fully. 
• The main points should be concise with relevant supportive evidence, statistics, and examples. 
• Critical points should be indicated with reasons. Each important idea could be presented several times in different ways to help the audience fully absorb the meaning. 
• State clear links between the ideas and internal summaries and always signal when moving on to the next point. 
• Allow the audience to make relevant notes. Always remember to summarize the talk’s body and remind the audience of the topic. 

After the main part of the presentation, the audience should understand the information and arguments clearly. 

The Conclusion 

The conclusion is frequently underdeveloped, and a poorly executed closing can completely undermine a successful presentation. However, the best section is to reflect more power onto the messages and create a lasting impression in the audience’s minds. The conclusion determines whether the speaker has achieved the presentation goal. 

While crafting an Effective Presentation Structure: From Introduction to Conclusion, keep in mind that the conclusion should make up about 1/3 of the entire presentation and should contain the following elements: 

• Summarize the key points: Keeping in mind the goal of the presentation, remember to summarise the main points and their implications. This is a good way to ensure the audience walks away with the precise information the speaker intended to convey. 
• Repeating the core message: Repeating the core theme or message of the presentation can create a powerful conclusion. This will signal the end of the talk and will provide an overview of the argument, findings, and overall purpose of the talk. 
• Offering a thought-provoking takeaway: Use a powerful and effective quote or saying that relates to the presentation’s theme and resonates with the audience. 
• Visuals: Visuals can leave a lasting impression on the audience while the closing remarks are emphasized. 

Final Steps – Thanking the audience and inviting questions 

Conclude the talk by acknowledging and thanking the people present in the audience. Show them appreciation for their interest and the time that they have invested in the presentation. After this, the audience may be invited to ask any questions. It is best to focus on initially delivering the presentation to set the tone and topics for discussion in the Q&A. 

After finishing the entire presentation, the speaker should have built a relationship with their audience such that: 

• The audience follows through on the presentation. 
• It acts in the direction of the presentation’s goal. 
• The audience remembers the presentation. 

Collaborate with the expert Orator Academy team to gain more knowledge about this concept and enhance presentation skills. Check the official website of Orator Academy to develop your public speaking skills.