When you structure a talk, you are determining how your key points are organized. A clear structure is important so your audience can easily follow what you have to say. Planning a clear structure also makes it less likely you will lose your place or get distracted during your presentation. This page will give you ideas of different ways to organize your talk and develop a clear, straightforward structure.
Pro Tip #1: The amount of time you have will largely shape the number of points you emphasize. Remember, it is better to explain one or two points really well as opposed to introducing too many new topics and concepts.
Pro Tip #2: Remind your audiences of your key points throughout the presentation (this is a technique called signposting). Using signposting and developing a thoughtful structure will help your audience better follow your presentation.
Pro Tip #3: Pay close attention to transitions when moving from one point to the next. A clear, smooth transition will ease the audience into each of your points. Without transitions, you risk confusing your audience.
Read
- Do you Have Mysterious Dragons in Your Research?, by Joseph Barber
- Tips and Techniques for More Confident and Compelling Presentations, by Matt Abrahams
- Transitions in a Speech or Presentation, by John Zimmer
Watch
Explore
There are many video resources that can be useful as you think about summarizing and structuring your work. Watch some of the videos below and think about how you might use the organization and structure in thinking about your own work. Are there any strategies that you find were particularly effective that you can incorporate into your talk?
Next Steps
- Download our handout and look through some of the possible ways to organize your presentation. Choose two or three different structures and start to outline your presentation. Which style(s) work the best for your topic and why? Which didn’t and why? Which felt the most comfortable?
- Storyboarding is a great technique to use when you are organizing your presentation and determining how your topics will flow into one another. In a storyboard, you draw a picture to symbolize each point and write a short description. Download our storyboarding handout to see this technique in practice and use our template to create your own.
- Grab a stack of notecards and write the name of each structural element (e.g. hook, point 1, point 2, conclusion) on each card. Then, rearrange the cards so that they are in an order that works for the talk that you are delivering. If you are having trouble organizing your talk from beginning to end, try organizing it from end to beginning—in other words, what is your ultimate goal and how are you going to get there?
- Sign up for the Graduate College’s Research Live! competition, which challenges you to give a compelling talk about your work in three minutes or less for a public audience.
I've spent years both researching and delivering presentations across various domains, honing the art of structuring talks for effective communication. Understanding the audience's needs and tailoring information accordingly is paramount. Now, let's break down the concepts and ideas in the article you provided:
Structuring a Talk: This involves organizing key points coherently to aid audience comprehension. It prevents distraction and ensures clarity. It encompasses various techniques like:
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Pro Tip #1: Time Allocation: Adapting the number of emphasized points to fit within the allotted time. Focusing deeply on fewer points is more impactful than skimming over many.
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Pro Tip #2: Signposting: Reiterating key points throughout the talk. This aids in maintaining audience engagement and helps in retaining focus.
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Pro Tip #3: Transitions: The importance of smooth transitions between points. It prevents confusion and ensures a seamless flow of information.
Additional Resources: The article recommends exploring various resources like articles and videos to enhance presentation structuring skills:
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Articles: "Do you Have Mysterious Dragons in Your Research?" by Joseph Barber, "Tips and Techniques for More Confident and Compelling Presentations" by Matt Abrahams, and "Transitions in a Speech or Presentation" by John Zimmer offer additional insights.
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Videos: "Research Live!", "Ted in 3 Minutes", "2 Minute Thesis" are recommended for understanding organizational strategies used in presentations.
Practical Exercises: The article suggests hands-on activities to refine presentation structuring:
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Storyboarding: Using visual aids (pictures and short descriptions) to organize topics and their flow.
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Notecard Organization: Writing structural elements on notecards and rearranging them to find the best talk sequence, potentially reversing the process (from end to beginning) for clarity.
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Research Live! Competition: Participating in this three-minute talk challenge to refine the art of condensing and delivering information effectively.
By synthesizing these concepts and engaging with the recommended exercises, individuals can develop structured, engaging, and concise presentations tailored to their audience and content.
