The content of the presentation

The first phase in the preparation of a spoken presentation is to decide on its content. In most cases, this will be determined by the written report on which it is based.

In any event, the key points of the presentation will include a description of the problem studied, the approach adopted and the solution(s) found. Deciding on the remainder of the content will generally involve making a selection: you will not be able to cover everything that you have written in your report. You will, however, be able to refer to the report itself, in which the various topics are examined in greater detail.

Tips:

• Begin your preparations by listing the key points of the presentation in a few short sentences. Then go on to fill in the details. Try to find examples which illustrate the key points.
• Identify your audience. What prior knowledge of this topic do they have? If necessary, look for examples which will clarify terms and concepts with which your audience is not familiar.