This "tip" draws on several other "tips" in this blog and are referenced in the text. This "tip" places many of the other "tips" into an overarching framework.
Below are the first four steps in building an effective presentation.
The first step is to develop a simple narrative of your presentation. The September 21, 2015 tip gives three strategies for developing such a narrative. With the narrative in hand, formulate the overarching question for the presentation in very simple terms, recognizing that you will have an opportunity to define it in greater detail later on. However it is important that you, and as much of the audience as possible, understands the overarching question that will be answered. The third step is to develop a "Set-up" slide that motivates the question and then an outline slide that describes the sections of the talk that will allow you to answer the question (See Nov. 17, 2014 tip for a discussion of the set-up slide). You've now got the first two slides of your presentation.
What next? As shown by the red arrows and text in the figure below, you essentially repeat the process for each of the sections you've identified in the outline slide. What is the narrative that gets you from the first section to the second, second to the third, etc.? Once you've defined that narrative, "build-up" each section for the time you have and the level of audience sophistication (see the December 7, 2015 tip for a discussion of "building up"). Start with a two minute version of a section and then add more material if you have additional time.
The above figure is my theoretical model of how to develop a presentation. Like all theoretical models of a qualitative process, it is probably impossible to follow precisely. I find it to be iterative, e.g. I may do steps 1-4 and then realize I need to reconsider my narrative. Throughout the process the narrative remains the guide for what to include and, more importantly, what not to include in your presentation.
Once you have mastered the model you can jazz it up to fit your style and perhaps the peculiarities of individual presentations. One "jazzed up" approach is shown by the green figures below. I like to start a presentation with a highly visual slide that motivates the audience (see November 24, 2014 tip). I may also answer the overarching question right after the "set-up" slide, knowing that I will have an opportunity to give a more detailed answer later. Remember, surprises don't work well in a presentation, so let the audience know about your findings right away (see November 15, 2015 tip about surprises).
