🎤 Presentation Skills · Lesson 2 of 7
Structure a talk
A strong opening, three points and a memorable close.
The classic structure
| Hook (30 s) | A question, surprising fact, short story or problem |
|---|---|
| Roadmap | “I’ll cover three things: …” |
| Body | 2–4 main points, each with evidence or an example |
| Close | Repeat the message, a call to action, then “Thank you — questions?” |
Why three?
Audiences remember three points far better than seven. If you have more, group them. Each point should be one sentence you could write on a sticky note.
Signposting
Listeners can’t flip back like readers can. Tell them where they are: “First…”, “That’s the problem; now the solution”, “My last point…”. It feels repetitive to you and helpful to them.
Other structures
| Problem → solution → benefit | Proposals and pitches |
|---|---|
| Past → present → future | Updates and history |
| Claim → evidence → implications | Research presentations |
| STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) | Job interview stories |
Tip
💡 Never open with “Um, so, I’m going to talk about…”. Open with the hook, then introduce yourself and the topic.
✏️ Practice: your turn
- Write three openings for your talk and pick the strongest
- Write your 2–4 main points on sticky notes
- Add a signpost sentence between each point
- Write a closing that repeats the message and gives a call to action
🧠 Quick quiz
Answer all 4 questions correctly to mark this lesson as done.
0 of 4 correct
All lessons in Presentation Skills
- 🎯 1. Audience and one clear messageWho is listening, what should they remember, and why
- 🏗️ 2. Structure a talkA strong opening, three points and a memorable close
- 🖼️ 3. Clean slide designOne idea per slide, assertion headlines and fewer words
- 📊 4. Presenting dataOne chart, one message — and guiding the audience’s eyes
- 🗣️ 5. Delivery and nervesVoice, eye contact, pacing, notes and managing anxiety
- 🙋 6. Q&A and tough questionsPrepare likely questions, answer clearly and say “I don’t know” well
- 👥 7. Group and online presentationsSmooth handoffs, shared slides and presenting on Zoom or Teams