Outline Strategies

Introduction

1. What? Overview of presentation -- use visual aids if necessary;


2. Why? Purpose of presentation -- why the subject is important;


3. How? Format you will use; what can the audience expect to see and learn;


4. Who? If more than one person, provide introductions and indicate roles, but don't expect the audience to memorize these.

Body

The following list suggests alternative formats for presenting your information. Multiple formats can be used within a single presentation

1. Rhetorical -- questions and answers;


2. Logical progression -- indicate steps, e.g. A then B then C;


3. Time series -- order information from beginning to end, earlier to later, and so on;


4. Compare and contrast -- use same structure to compare different events, individuals or situations;


5. Problems and solutions -- don't present problems without working toward some recommended action;


6. Simple to complex -- use successive building blocks to communicate complex processes or concepts;


7. Deductive reasoning -- moving from general principles or values to specific applications or examples;


8. Inductive reasoning -- from specific applications and/or examples to reach general principles or conclusions.

Conclusion

1. Review, highlight, and emphasize your key points, benefits, recommendations;


2. Draw conclusions -- Where are we? What does all of this mean? What's the next step?.

Adapted from Edward G. Werthheim's Presentation Outline Webpage.