Structure of the main body

1. Read the following text and identify the following:

a) the relationship between the main body of the presentation and the introduction;

b) a recommendation how to divide the main body of a talk.

The main body of the presentation contains the details of the subject or themes described in the introduction. All the above techniques are especially useful in making the main body easily understood. They help the audience to follow the information and to remember it. They also help the speaker to keep to the planned structure and to know exactly what stage has been reached at all times during the presentation. Clear structure doesn’t just help the audience! In many presentations the main body can be usefully divided into different parts. The main parts, each with a main heading, are referred to in the Introduction. Clearly there are many ways to divide the main body of a presentation and often different parts will themselves be divided into smaller sections of information.

The main body should be driven by your objectives or desired outcomes.

-What do you want the audience to do?

-What do you want the audience to feel?

You should have clear headings and signposts aimed at your objectives.

Stick to simple messages and don’t focus on your delivery! Focus on what is needed.

Only use the material that you need to make your case.

Unit 8. The end of the presentation

Summarizing and concluding

Questions and discussion

The end of the presentation may contain:

*recommendations

*summary

*conclusion

*questions

*discussion

*thanks

(in business thanks are fairly standard at the end of a presentation, as are questions.)

1.Summary restates what has already been said.

Remember the maxim: “In a presentation, say

what you are going to say, say it, then tell them

you’ve said it.” Some are like this, but not all.

There is a brief summary of the key ideas from each section. “So, you’ve

seen where we’ve got to with our business plan, you’ve seen how it affects

your department, you’ve seen how it will make our reporting more effective, and

we’ve agreed who does what next and when.”

2. Conclusion is different: it often contains a message which grows out of the

information described in the main body of the talk. It may contain lessons

learnt, recommendations, next steps.

People think that summary and conclusion are the same. They are nothing like

the same, but they are likely to be linked. This is your chance to offer your

personal view.

2. More – this could take many forms:

• Any questions?

• Think about two or three points and email me next week.

• There will be a further meeting.

• A working party will be formed.

Before we leave the end, make sure that you finish on a high – it’s what people

remember. So the end could be simple. Your ending is as crucial as your

introduction and needs to be as punchy.

punchy (adj)- a punchy ending =very effective

because it uses clear simple

language and not many words

Task 1. Read the following text and find an answer to the questions below:

1. What is a potential problem at the end of a presentation?

2. What are three ways to avoid the problem?