The document discusses the structure of presentations. It begins by stating that all presentations should have a basic structure of introduction, body, and conclusion. It then provides details on how to structure each of these sections, including using formal openers for introductions, a variety of techniques for grabbing audience attention to open, different structures like lists and examples that can be used for the body, and ways to end strongly by leaving the audience with a clear final message. The overall document gives a comprehensive overview of structuring an effective presentation from start to finish.

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The Structure of Presentations
Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
PRESENTATION
SKILLS
The Structure of Presentations

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The Structure of Presentations
Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
The Course Topics series from Manage Train Learn is a large collection of topics that will help you as a learner
to quickly and easily master a range of skills in your everyday working life and life outside work. If you are a
trainer, they are perfect for adding to your classroom courses and online learning plans.
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The Structure of Presentations
Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
ARE YOU READY?
OK, LET’S START!

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
INTRODUCTION
There is only one structure to a presentation as there is to a
play, a film, a symphony, a book, and that is a start, a
middle, and an end. This sequence can also be described
as...introduction, detail, conclusion; or exposition,
development, re-capitulation; or Acts I, II, III; or order
demonstrated, order challenged, order re-established; or
situation, complication, recommendation. However we
describe it, the basic structure remains the same.

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
FORMAL OPENERS
Whether you are kicking off yourself, or being introduced by
the chair, the formal opening to a presentation is always the
same.
It can consist of five brief and separate formalities:
1. a courteous welcome, expressed sincerely
2. a short self-introduction, saying who you are, who you
represent, and why you have come
3. an outline of what you plan to achieve in your talk
4. a route map of where you plan to go, so that the
audience know where they are and where they are
going
5. any important rules, such as whether the audience need
to take notes, if there will be breaks, whether questions
will be taken.

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
UNDER STARTER'S ORDERS
In the moments before you start to speak, the audience are
a disorganised and disparate collection of individuals, pairs
and small groups.
They are like the runners before a horse race facing in
different directions.
The moment you move to speak, they come under your
control, falling expectantly silent, turning towards you, lining
up together.
They are under starter's orders.
It is at this moment, when you have the full undivided
attention of your audience, that you are able to set the
tone, make a strong impression and lead them in the
direction you want them to go.

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MTL Course Topics
FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST
When you have been introduced or have completed your
own formalities, the audience's eyes and minds turn
expectantly to you. They want you to interest them.
Your opening words and the way you express yourself must
make an immediate impression. The audience needs to each
say to themselves: "this looks worth staying for." You must
look and sound in charge.
One simple way to achieve this is to use an impact opening
technique: one that intrigues, grabs the attention, and
surprises without embarrassing or unnerving your audience.
In fiction, one of the most attention-grabbing openers is the
opening sentence of George Orwell's "1984": "It was a
bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking
thirteen."

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
OPENING TECHNIQUES
The following impact techniques can be used to grab an
audience's attention at the start of a talk:
1. News: "I'd like to give you some news that's just come
in..."
2. Name-dropping: "It was millionaire Sir Richard Branson
who said that there was only one way to make
money..."
3. A Question: "Let me ask you a simple question: What
would you all rather be doing now?"
4. A Story: "When I was in Cambodia during the reign of
Pol Pot..."
5. A Fact: "Research shows that 7 out of 10 people will
suffer some form of mental illness one day..."
6. Drama: "The next 10 minutes could change your life..."

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MTL Course Topics
MORE IMPACT OPENERS
These are a further set of impact openers to use at the start
of a talk:
1. A Gesture: "Some people seem to think that money is
like water (pour water from a jug into a bucket)"
2. A Benefit For Them: "If you want to save £1000 a year,
stay tuned..."
3. History: "When we began making software in 1985,
people said it wouldn't work..."
4. Proof Of Your Credentials: "We now sell to China,
Australia and Nepal..."
5. Gimmicks: "(After 10 seconds of silence)...You have just
experienced what 1 out of 3 callers to this organisation
experience."
6. Curiosity: "You may wonder what my talk has to do with
tyrannosaurus rex...."

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USING POWER OPENERS
This is an example of a power opener in a presentation:
"Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to ask you to look under your seats. If you find a
red card, could you stand up? (Everyone looks and eight
people out of the forty present in the room stand up). Thank
you. Please be seated.
According to government figures, that is your statistical
chance of being burgled in your present home in this region:
1 in 5.
My talk today won't reduce the risk of you being under
threat but it will reduce the risk of what you could lose.
Our success with hundreds of people is proof that, with
proper precautionary measures, you need not fear the
consequences of crime."

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MIDDLES
The "Middles" are the main bodies of presentations. They
should have a structure which the audience can see and
follow but which doesn't constrain or prove artificial. The
structure needs to be right for the subject.
In informative talks, structures are fact-based. The following
seven can be used for presentations of information: lists;
checklists; bullet points; logical steps; sequences;
mnemonics; numbers.
In persuasive talks, boil the message down to a few main
themes and then add supporting examples and anecdotes at
relevant points. The word "anecdote" comes from the Greek
word "an" meaning "private" and "ekdotos" meaning "a
written publication", hence a short incident on someone's
private life.

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LISTS AND CHECKLISTS
The following is part of a presentation on computer office
applications which uses a middle based around a list of five
applications.
"There are five main applications for computer office
software.
First, Databases. There are two kinds of databases: flatbed
and relational. It’s important to know what is best for you…
Second, Word Processing. Here there is a wide range of
options. Starting at the simple end...
Next, Desktop Publishing, one of the most fun uses of
software. DTP can be used in numerous ways...
Now We Come To Spreadsheets, a more specialised area for
those who want to get ahead. Here are five examples...
Finally, Personal Organisers, your own private secretaries..."

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MNEMONICS
The following example of a presentation on Stress
management uses the word STRESS as a mnemonic to make
six points about stress.
"Let's look at six ways to beat stress. We can remember
them easily in the word stress itself, so that when we feel
"stress"; we can think of these antidotes.
S means Slow down. Just do things that little bit more
slowly.
T says "Take a break". Ease up, go and look at the flowers,
admire the view.
R is relax. Learn some relaxation techniques.
E represents Exercise. This can be anything you enjoy doing,
from aerobic exercise to a brisk walk.
S stands for Switching off and letting go.
S, the last S, is to Swim with the tide and let the waves take
you where you want to go."

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
NUMBERS
The middle section of the following presentation uses
numbers to make an interesting journey around a
department.
"Let me take you round our department with the aid of a
deck of cards.
The 10 is for the 10 most important words for us. They are...
The 9 are the functions we perform...
The 8 ways we help are...
The 7 things we are proudest of achieving in the last year
are...
The 6 people in the team are...
The 5 most important standards are...
The 4 rules we stick to are...
The 3 top qualities for working here are...
The 2 pillars on which we rest are...
The 1 word which sums us up is..."

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
THE 5 P'S OF PERSUASION
The middle part of a persuasive presentation is an exercise
in leading the audience through the current situation via the
options for improvement to the solution.
One classic structure for the body of a persuasive
presentation is the 5 P's, consisting of present situation;
problem; possibilities; pros and cons; and proposal.
"Space is now so limited in our offices that it has become
critical (P1). The result is cramped conditions for you to
work in, inefficient working practices and deteriorating
customer service (P2). There are three possible options: to
cut back on the workload, to extend, or to move (P3). It is
not possible to cut back due to customer requirements. The
building is at its physical limits so we can’t extend (P4). This
leaves moving as the only viable option. It is proposed that a
feasibility study be carried out urgently into the possibilities
of moving to Windsor Street (P5)."

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MTL Course Topics
SUPPORTING YOUR CASE
In a persuasive presentation the main body of the talk will
consist of information which supports your case.
In preparing your presentation, you can obtain support from
any number of sources - the more, the better. When you
come to make your presentation, you need to use those
arguments which will convince your particular audience:
whether statistical and financial, practical, factual, or
emotional.
"Seven out of ten organisations in this sector of the market
now use our software. They know the financial benefits and
the savings in time and manpower. It's an easy job to install
the programme, taking at most half a day. With this
software running, you'll have half the worries you used to
have and can concentrate instead on those things which
you're good at."

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FACELIFTS
FACELIFTS is a mnemonic for nine different kinds of support
you can use to argue in favour of a case:
F - Facts. The facts that support your case.
A - Arguments. The arguments in favour of your case.
C - Counter-arguments. The reasons why the alternatives
won't work.
E - Examples. What happened elsewhere.
L - Lists. List the problems and possible options.
I - Illustrations. Case studies of how your solution will work.
F - Figures. Evidence, statistics, prices, costs and benefits.
T - Testimony. Testimonies from those who have already
adopted similar solutions.
S - Support. Examples of who is backing your ideas.

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VARYING THE STYLE
A presentation is more persuasive and more interesting if
the body of the talk presents information in a variety of
ways.
Simple talk-and-listen is only one way to convey information
and perhaps not always the best.
There are seven different ways in which we can put things
over to an audience.
1. The written word: handouts; overheads; leaflets
2. Sound: discussion; voices; quotes; music
3. Pictures: visual aids; video; diagrams;
4. Touch: feeling textures; handling products
5. Intrapersonal: reflection and time to think
6. Numerical: statistics; prices; sums
7. Interpersonal: questions and answers

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
HOW TO MIX STYLES
The following outline shows how different presentations
styles can be woven together:
"In the main part of my talk, I'd like to explain briefly how
our product works, (words).
This will be followed by a short video of one of our
customers using the product (sound and pictures).
I will then make some copies of the product available for
you to try out (touch).
This will be followed by a short break for coffee when you
can think about any queries (intrapersonal).
After that, I’ll go into the costs and benefit for you
(numerical prices).
Finally, I and two of my colleagues will answer any
outstanding questions (interpersonal).

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
ENDINGS
The ending can sometimes be the most important part of a
presentation: if first impressions win you the audience, it is
final impressions that last.
A classic ending should see you going out on a high note.
The final message should encapsulate without merely
repeating what you've said.
1. Simplicity: Keep your last words simple and easy to
remember. Could you put it on a T-shirt?
2. Directness: Make sure the message comes over loud
and clear. People should know what they have to do
next.
3. Something Unexpected: Finishing on a high note means
a final flourish in a surprising but delightful way.

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
ENDING ON A HIGH
There are many different ways to end a presentation but the
key point is, you must end on a high.
Some of the ways to do this include:
1. appealing for action
2. paying your audience a compliment
3. making them laugh (it means you don't have to walk back
to your seat in silence)
4. using a quotation
5. repeating your key point.
Repetition is very important, particularly with business
audiences where you want people to remember your
message. Research shows that, even in just half an hour
after a presentation, the average listener has forgotten 40%
of what you said. By the end of the week, as much as 90% is
forgotten. That's why you must repeat your message and
leave it as the last thought when you finish.

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
THAT’S
IT!
WELL DONE!

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Presentation Skills
MTL Course Topics
THANK YOU
This has been a Slide Topic from Manage Train Learn