Presentations must be clearly organized for several reasons: Well-organized
presentations are more understandable; they boost the speaker's credibility;
they are more persuasive; and they reduce listener frustration. All presentations ought to follow the same basic structure, containing an introduction,
body, and conclusion. After developing a purpose and thesis, the first step
in organizing a presentation is to compile a list of all the ideas that might
possibly fit into the talk. The purpose statement and audience analysis then
serve as devices for choosing the items that are appropriate for this specific
presentation. These items ought to be arranged into a series of main points
and subpoints, following one of the patterns described in this chapter. After the body of the presentation has been developed, the introduction, conclusion,
and transitions should be added. The introduction should capture the attention
of the audience, give the members a reason to listen, set the proper tone, establish
the speaker's qualifications, and state the thesis and a preview of the main
discussion points. The conclusion should review the thesis and main points and
close with a strong statement. Transitions connect the parts of the speech,
helping the material to flow smoothly and keeping listeners oriented. |