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Presentation Purpose: 2 Types & 4 Pro Tips

Presentation purpose creates the expectation for a presentation.  If that expectation is not met, stress is the result.

There is tension in the room.  The more she talks, the more it builds.  Some audience members are cringing.  Others are angry.  There might be a supportive person, but even he is worried.

She’s in trouble.  The presentation was supposed to accomplish X, and she is trying to achieve Y.  It will not work out well for her.

Have you been in a situation like this?

The face of frustration.

PRESENTATION PURPOSE: INFORMATION OR PERSUASION

In most small-room presentations, the presenter is there to fulfill one or two purposes.

If the presenter stays focused on the appropriate purpose, she will do well.  If she fails to deliver or tries to accomplish additional purposes, then she is taking a risk. 

Most workplace presentations have the purpose of informing or persuading.

And, of course, it is more complicated than simply discovering that purpose and sticking to it.

PRESENTATION PURPOSE: INFORMATIVE

If your purpose is to inform, then the information you provide will affect the audience. There is some persuasion built into the process—but that is not the purpose. Be careful.

It might be tempting to filter the information to steer the audience in a specific direction—to have an additional objective in mind. Stay true to your purpose. 

Trust will be lost if the audience believes that you are filtering the information to manipulate them.  If they cannot trust you, they will not want to give you more opportunities or responsibilities.  They might even remove opportunities and responsibilities from you. 

A person reviewing data.

PRESENTATION PURPOSE: PERSUASIVE

If your purpose is to persuade and all you do is provide information, you are not fulfilling your responsibility.  You might assume that the audience will understand all the data, see the implications,  and come to the same conclusions you have reached, but that is a risky assumption. 

If your job is to persuade and you fail to offer guidance or direction that leads to the desired goal, then the people who pay you will be disappointed.  Trust will take a hit.  And so will your job security.

Fulfill your responsibility and avoid overstepping the expectations. Fulfill your obligation while refusing to assume that data alone will be persuasive.

A person being persuasive.

PRESENTATION PURPOSE: HAVE MORE THAN YOU SAY

Here is a powerful tip.

In each situation, be prepared to provide more than was required.

If your primary purpose was to inform, an authority figure might ask what you think.  It is good to have an answer.  And to realize that your answer is not going to dictate the decision.  It is simply another piece of information to be considered.  Share what you think, but be careful not to overstep by being pushy. 

Take a “based on the information, it seems that … “ approach.

If your primary purpose is to persuade, then the provision of information is part of the process. The audience will want to know why you are making a specific recommendation (or set of recommendations). 

In this case, it is good to have more data than you have time to share.  You did your homework, and you chose the best data for meeting the needs of the audience.  If more data is requested, it is available.  You are prepared. 

A person connecting data to suggestion.

PRESENTATION PURPOSE: HELPFUL PRINCIPLES

Whether your purpose is to provide information simply or to take another step and persuade, these principles apply.

1. Be accurate. Inaccurate or outdated information can kill your credibility. Information that is accurate but is presented in misleading ways can hurt your reputation.  Be careful with charts and graphs.  Review them to ensure that the visuals are not telling a different story than the numbers.  Be accurate and truthful and avoid any language or images that might seem misleading.

2. Be clear.  Accurate information presented in confusing ways will hurt your credibility.  It can create frustration and defensiveness in your audience. Insider language can confuse. Overly-academic vocabulary can do the same.  Know your audience and be determined to speak in ways that are clear to them.

3. Be helpful. It is possible to have accurate and clear information that is irrelevant. The information should be useful to the audience. If you deliver an excellent presentation to the wrong audience, it will frustrate everyone involved.

4. Pursue confident humility. Know what you know and what you don’t. Know what you can do and what you can’t. And know where your boundaries are—what you are allowed to do and what you are not. Confident humility will enable you to function professionally while avoiding arrogance or unhealthy insecurities.

Presentation Purpose You Got This

PRESENTATION PURPOSE: KNOW IT AND HONOR IT

The next time you deliver a workplace presentation, ask yourself, “What is the purpose? Is it to inform, or is it to persuade?”

Compile and craft your content to fulfill that purpose. Have more information than you plan to present.  Ensure that the data is accurate, clear, and helpful. 

When you present, use confident humility to meet the audience’s needs and maintain focus on the purpose. 

When you establish yourself as a trustworthy presenter,  your value to the organization will increase, and your opportunities should increase accordingly. You will be making Big Presentations in Small Rooms.

Are you looking for a community of encouragement and guidance?  Join The Workplace Presentations Hub .

Want to hear more?  Check out The Big Presentations Podcast .

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The Purpose of a Presentation: Inform, Persuade, Inspire or Entertain

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In training, we know our role is not just to “stand and deliver,” right? We must incorporate a balance of presentation, application, and feedback. Sometimes, however, we are asked to simply give a presentation. One of the biggest challenges we face when putting together a presentation is answering this question: what am I trying to accomplish with this presentation?

During my time in film school, we were often tasked with giving presentations about movies. You might think to yourself, “how many ways can someone give a presentation about film?” This is where defining the purpose of the presentation becomes an integral part of the process.

Often, we were able to pick our own film subject in any genre. Pinpointing the purpose would come next: do I want to inform, persuade, inspire, or entertain my audience? Once identified, I could then build my presentation accordingly. Put another way, I had to define what I wanted the audience to think, feel, or do at the end of the presentation. Let’s take a closer look.

An informative presentation gives the audience information about the topic; this could be information that is interesting or useful. An informative presentation about a film might focus on a comprehensive breakdown of how it was made. I could present the structure of production from script to screen. Through this framework, the audience would come to understand the filmmaking process that led to the finished product.

A persuasive presentation is an effort to change or influence the opinions, beliefs, or behaviors of the audience. If I were to give a persuasive presentation about my favorite movie, I could provide my own opinion along with other academics, while backing up these opinions with visual examples. Often this method will be the most impassioned and successful—if the presenter genuinely stands behind their argument.

An inspirational presentation is an appeal to the feelings, emotions, values, and thoughts of your audience. In this case, I might put together a presentation to encourage a group of people to watch more foreign films. I could use personal experience or anecdotes of amazing stories I would have missed if I’d let the hurdle of subtitles stop me.

An entertaining presentation is light-hearted, casual, and fun. The emphasis is on catching and holding the attention of the audience. Humor, stories, or subtle irony could be the focus. For this type of presentation, I could provide examples of some of my favorite film-going experiences!

Once I determined the purpose of my presentation, I was able to create it. To inform, I would use the strongest pieces of information. To persuade, I would use my most convincing arguments. To inspire, I would use my most inspirational stories or anecdotes. To entertain, I would use humor or engaging stories to involve the audience. And, of course, I would still need a killer opening, closing, and delivery—but I’d have an excellent jumping-off point!

What kinds of presentations have you been asked to deliver and what have you used to inform, persuade, inspire, or entertain your audience?

In just five simple steps, you can plan and deliver a successful presentation, avoid the most common speaking errors, anticipate tricky questions, and more. Take a quick peek at our Professional Presentation Skills workshop and bring us onsite for your team.

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The Better Content Center

What is a presentation.

What is a Presentation?

We’re here to help you choose the most appropriate content types to fulfill your content strategy. In this series, we’re breaking down the most popular content types to their most basic fundamentals — simple definitions, clarity on formats, and plenty of examples — so you can start with a solid foundation.

What is a presentation?

A communication device that relays a topic to an audience in the form of a slide show, a demonstration, a lecture or speech where words and pictures intend to complement each other.

Why should you think of presentations as content?

The beauty of content creation is that most anything can become a compelling piece of content. Just depends on the creativity used to convert it and the story that brings it to life.

Standard length ranges for presentations

The long and short of it

Although the length of a presentation in terms of time can depend on the overall approach (Are you talking a lot? Are you referring to the screen in detail or not?), consider the number of informational content slides when tallying the overall presentation length. For instance, don’t include title slides in your tally when conveying length to a content creator.

A general guide to presentation length:

Popular use cases for presentations…

Let’s consider TED Talks for a minute: one of the best examples (bar none) of how words, pictures and a narrative can make people care about something they otherwise might not. 

These “talks” pre-date podcasts and blend a compelling use of language and imagery in presentation format to spread ideas in unique ways. TED Talks have been viewed a billion-plus times worldwide (and counting) and are worth considering when it comes to how you might use video-presentation content to connect with your customer in creative and cool, new ways.

Business types:

Any company that has a pitch deck, executive summary, sales presentation or any kind of internal document that can be repurposed into external-facing content pieces — without pain.

Presentation examples – short form

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Presentation examples – standard form

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Presentation examples – long form

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Understanding content quality in examples

Our team has rated content type examples in three degrees of quality ( Good, Better, Best ) to help you better gauge resources needed for your content plan. In general, the degrees of content quality correspond to our three content levels ( General, Qualified, Expert ) based on the criteria below. Please consider there are multiple variables that could determine the cost, completion time, or content level for any content piece with a perceived degree of quality. 

A chart about content quality

More content types with examples:

We Produce Great Content, Fast.

Talk with one of our content experts about our hand-vetted expert content writers & designers who can help you scale your content marketing efforts quickly.

About the author

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Gregg Rosenzweig

Over the past two decades, Gregg Rosenzweig has spent his career writing, producing and publishing engaging content for American mass consumption in the digital, TV and branded content spaces. From serving as a Creative Director on commercial spots to pitching/winning/executing branded content campaigns for Fortune 100 companies, Gregg's been fortunate to work for (and with) top advertising and digital media agencies... as well as some of the most highly respected publishers across the media landscape.

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Are you presenting with purpose? It might come as a surprise to you. But your presentation audience is looking out for themselves. You need to know what’s the purpose of your presentation. Yes, they’re a delightful bunch, your audience members. They were very talkative during the coffee break and very attentive during the last presentation. However, they are are still selfish.

When it comes to them rating your presentation they are focused on themselves.

It’s not that they don’t care about you, the presenter. They might…

But what’s more important to your audience is that they get something from your presentation.

So, when you only focus on style and imagery, PowerPoint slides or visuals you neglect your audience’s focus. Your focus is wrongly on sending. That is, your focus is on sending something that you want to send.

presentation purpose

Presenting With Purpose

However, your audience wants something. They want to receive something. And that something is something of  value  from your presentation. Just consider the purpose for the  MH17 team presentation . Prosecution of the guilty parties. So, they really went for it.

So your focus has to be on their need to receive something. Not your need to send something. Because you need to be presenting with purpose.

Presenting With Purpose When You Give A Presentation

Build yourself a presentation that meets a tangible purpose. A purpose that has your audience remembering something at its end. A purpose that involves your audience understanding, believing or doing something as a result of your presentation.

Describe this purpose in one sentence. Nothing longer. Make it succinct yet pithy. Make sure that your presentation purpose hits these SMART objectives:

Test that the objectives for your presentation are precise. If they are too general your presentation will suffer.

How will you know that you’ve achieved the purpose of your presentation? If you can measure it, then you’ll know.

Make sure that the purpose of your presentation is achievable with your audience. If it’s not, there’s a danger that your presentation won’t have any impact with them.

Keeping your presentation relevant to your audience is critical. Aim to check the relevance of your presentation with others before you present.

Can you achieve your purpose in the time available? That’s because a ten minute presentation might be too short for a wide-ranging understanding of a new product or technology. But it might be sufficient time to present a new procedure to an experienced audience.

A well-written, single sentence purpose for your presentation that hits these objectives can now become the foundation for your entire presentation. So, that’s presenting with purpose.

You can discover more reasons  why to give a speech  with Time to Market. Or, you can always find more presentation skills tips and techniques with a presentation skills  coaching session with your very own coach.

“If you live only for yourself you are always in immediate danger of being bored to death with the repetition of your own views and interests.”

W. Beran Wolfe

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What is a Presentation? Objectives, Elements, Important skills, Four Ps

What is a Presentation?

A presentation communicates a message, an idea or information to a group. It is similar to a report, but with a key difference–the human element. A presentation conveys the speaker’s personality and enables immediate interaction among all participants.

Table of Content

Objectives of Presentation

The main objectives of a presentation are:

To Persuade

To motivate, to entertain.

A presentation is created to convey some information to a group of people. For example, a presentation may display an organisation’s quarterly performance.

Most training programmes in organisations are done through the presentation mode. Such instructional presentations convey a lot of information and are created with instructional design principles to keep the audience engaged for a long period.

Some presentations are used to convince a group of people to accept a particular idea and/or make a certain choice.

The growing popularity of TED Talks indicates how a presentation can be a powerful motivation tool. These presentations trigger emotions and inspire people to act.

Presentations can also be used to celebrate an event. For example, a farewell presentation of a colleague can be used to narrate the story of his/her overall tenure, experiences and achievement in the organisation.

Main Elements of Presentation

A presentation is said to be effective if it has three main elements, which are as follows:

Important Presentation Skills

In today’s business environment, presentation skills are requisite in almost every professional arena. Employees are often required to give presentations on the targets achieved by them. A presentation can be effective if it is carefully planned and prepared.

However, delivering presentations is not always easy for every individual. Some people take presenting as a probable opportunity to showcase skills, while others find it a challenging task. To provide an effective presentation, a presenter must possess some abilities.

Some of them are explained as follows:

Analytical ability

Effective communication ability, creative ability, good interpersonal skill, sound time management, problem-solving ability, a sense of humour.

It refers to a calibre which empowers an individual to collect, organise, visualise and comprehend data. Such skills enable a person to look at related patterns, draw conclusions and find solutions to problems. In addition, sound analytical skills also enable an individual to forecast future trends using various techniques such as brainstorming, forecasting, data mining and metrics interpretation.

Communication entails much more than mere talking to the audience. To communicate effectively during a presentation, one ought to showcase information lucidly. During a presentation, a person should not just have a good set of slides together; rather he needs to engage and strike a chord with the audience to transmit the intended message.

It refers to the ability to present things in a creative way that have not been explored earlier. Creative skills in presentation enable an individual to invent or develop something path-breaking, such as a new concept, unique way out from a problem, a method, a work of art or new machinery, etc.

It encompasses how an individual portrays or presents himself to the audience and builds a rapport with the audience. During a presentation, sound interpersonal skills empower a speaker to interact, communicate and collaborate with the audience effectively.

Interpersonal skills are prevalent across all personal and professional interactions between people. Interpersonal skills entail empathy, active listening and emotional intelligence.

While delivering a presentation, a person should manage time effectively, set a presentation schedule and end a presentation within a stipulated time. If a presentation is long, there are chances the audience may lose interest and the message may not be delivered.

A speaker cannot expect audience to actively listen to the presentation for hours. At the start of presentation, a speaker should aim to grab audience’s attention and allocate time for questions and answers at the end.

Problem-solving is a requisite skill for a presentation. During a presentation, the audience may ask the speaker any kind of questions. On the other hand, it is important for the speaker to provide an appropriate answer to the audience to make the presentation successful.

A sense of humour is crucial to deliver a quality presentation to make the environment light and engaging. Appropriate usage of light jokes relieves stress and holds the attention of an audience, which makes the presentation a memorable experience for both the speaker and the audience.

Evaluation Wheel

Evaluation wheel is a creative and effective tool that accumulates information on outcomes in a simple and accessible manner. A presenter can opt for the evaluation wheel tool to show the outcomes of the research or reports. This tool is used to provide various types of information and journeys of change within the organisation.

It offers a visual representation of progression and results in the form of a spider diagram. The evaluation wheel measures the exact outcomes for a programme at the start and end. It also helps educators, designers to comprehend information systematically. Figure shows an example of evaluation wheel:

Figure states the scale questionnaire in a circle form wherein respondents will analyse the instances from their discretion and experience and give rating on a scale of 1 to 5.

For instance, service users are appropriately involved. In this case, if the respondent strongly agrees, he/she will give 5 rating and if he/she does not agree, he/she will give 1 rating. The centre of the circle is for 1 and as the respondent agrees, they reach out to edge for 5 rating.

Ps of Presentation

Even the most powerful presentation may fail if the presenter comes unprepared. A presentation is both a mental and a physical effort. There are Ps of presentation that provide a checklist to the presenter for ensuring that the presentation is well-constructed and clear so that the audience gets the message. These four Ps are explained as follows:

A thoroughly prepared presentation captivates the interests of the audience. The topic or content of the presentation must be thoroughly researched. No one would develop interest in a vague or equivocal presentation. A speaker can make use of stories or relatable examples and quote references to give more depth to the presentation and make it intriguing.

Apart from that, it should be ensured that only important points are highlighted in bullets or using other graphical elements. Providing too much of theory or full sentences can create boredom for the audience.

While preparing for a presentation, the presenter should include the following sections:

Practice will make a man perfect is an adage that is appropriate across all spheres of life. It helps a speaker become familiar with his/her own voice, words and phrases and adjust accordingly. By practising thoroughly, a speaker can explore how to fit different pieces of information together and practise transition.

Also, a speaker should make notes wherever required as a part of presentation support. Using an index card is a common form of note-taking that provides a quick glimpse of important points.

While delivering a presentation, the speaker needs to demonstrate confidence in front of the audience. The speaker must be polite, but not apologetic in situations, such as if the session is running overtime or the microphone has stopped working.

Instead he/she should expect and ask for discipline and attention. It is important for a speaker to engage with the audience during the presentation in order to assure them that he/she is genuinely interested in talking to them. 4. Pace, pitch and pause: A presenter should deliver the presentation in an easy-to-follow pace and try changing the pace to enliven the presentation.

For example, pauses can be taken intentionally between main points to reinforce them. Along with pace, pitch is equally important. Just as pace varies in normal conversations, it should be used effectively during presentations too. For example, when asking a question, the presenter can raise the pitch and can lower it down when explaining a point.

Four Cornerstones of Making Memorable Presentations

The most crucial aspect of delivering an effective presentation is that the speaker should appear confident and the speech should look effortless. Presentations are a source of anxiety for many individuals. However, getting well-prepared before delivering a presentation can reduce this feeling considerably and ease apprehension.

There are a number of ways to overcome feelings of anxiety, stress and stage fright before the presentation in order to appear confident in front of the audience. The four cornerstones of making a memorable presentation are provided in the upcoming sections.

Know Yourself

Know your material, know your purpose, know your audience.

A presenter should acknowledge his/her strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, he/she should decide the style of delivering a presentation. For instance, if a presenter has a great sense of humour and can use it comfortably in the speech, he/she can make the presentation more engaging and interesting.

On the other hand, if the speaker who is an introvert and prefers to talk or engage less, he/she can add visuals in the presentation. Therefore, the trick is whosoever is delivering the presentation should feel comfortable.

Knowing the topic thoroughly is the most important step in preparing and delivering a presentation. A presenter with well-versed knowledge of the topic is bound to feel more confident. One should perform extensive research of the topic using credible websites and surveys.

A presenter with minimal information about the topic will not be able to deliver a memorable presentation; rather, it would create a negative image in front of the audience. A good presentation is one that is centred around the main theme, presents relevant information and stimulates thought.

It is crucial to know the purpose of the presentation. A presenter should be aware of whether the purpose is to create awareness or to build new skills or to change attitudes. For instance, professional firms or businesses use presentations for various purposes such as to create awareness, educate, motivate and persuade internal and external audiences.

Therefore, to prepare a presentation, identify its objective/purpose, determine the method of delivery, formulate a structure, include visual aids and rehearse.

One should know the type of audience and what is their purpose of attending the presentation. For instance, whether they are there for gaining knowledge or learning new skills, etc. The age, culture and knowledge base of the audience help a presenter in designing and delivering his/her presentation effectively and in a manner in which audience can easily understand and relate to.

A well-designed presentation uses visual aids effectively to reinforce the main points and enhance the audience’s level of understanding.

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Does Your Presentation Have a Purpose?

Attending the TWIST Conference for Woman breakfast this week, Victoria Budson of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government delivered a dynamic presentation on women and leadership. Of all of the notes I scribbled on the back of my handout (and there were a lot of notes!), one of her quotes jumped out at me as I re-read what I had written after the breakfast: “Before you go on stage, know what you want your audience to feel, think, know, and do.”

Seems like common sense, doesn’t it? I began to think of the speaking engagements I have lined up to present this spring, and I started to question whether I had thought through what I wanted my audience to feel, think, know and do. My focus is generally outward – what does the audience want and need? But did I think about what I want and need from the audience?

This brings me to purpose, the reason why I am speaking. Purpose is not what kind of speech I am delivering, but my purpose for delivering it. A purpose statement for a speech is specific, relevant, and short. A good purpose statement contains just 10 words. Keeping a purpose statement concise eliminates rambling and a directionless presentation. It keeps the presentation’s message focused and strategic.

Twyla Tharp, renowned dance choreographer and author of “The Creative Habit” likens one’s purpose to “spine”. The spine of your work is your intention, the core of why the work was created in the first place. She writes, “Once you accept the power of spine in the creative act, you will become much more efficient in your creativity… It will remind you that this is what you have set out to do, this is the story you’re trying to tell, this is the effect you’re trying to achieve.”

As I review what I have created to deliver this spring, this is a good reminder to ask if each presentation has spine? Does the presentation meet my audience’s wants and needs… and does it fulfill what I want and need it to do? A presentation without purpose has no power.

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The formal presentation of information is divided into two broad categories: Presentation Skills and Personal Presentation .

These two aspects are interwoven and can be described as the preparation, presentation and practice of verbal and non-verbal communication. 

This article describes what a presentation is and defines some of the key terms associated with presentation skills.

Many people feel terrified when asked to make their first public talk.  Some of these initial fears can be reduced by good preparation that also lays the groundwork for making an effective presentation.

A Presentation Is...

A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team.

A presentation can also be used as a broad term that encompasses other ‘speaking engagements’ such as making a speech at a wedding, or getting a point across in a video conference.

To be effective, step-by-step preparation and the method and means of presenting the information should be carefully considered. 

A presentation requires you to get a message across to the listeners and will often contain a ' persuasive ' element. It may, for example, be a talk about the positive work of your organisation, what you could offer an employer, or why you should receive additional funding for a project.

The Key Elements of a Presentation

Making a presentation is a way of communicating your thoughts and ideas to an audience and many of our articles on communication are also relevant here, see: What is Communication? for more.

Consider the following key components of a presentation:

Ask yourself the following questions to develop a full understanding of the context of the presentation.

When and where will you deliver your presentation?

There is a world of difference between a small room with natural light and an informal setting, and a huge lecture room, lit with stage lights. The two require quite different presentations, and different techniques.

Will it be in a setting you are familiar with, or somewhere new?

If somewhere new, it would be worth trying to visit it in advance, or at least arriving early, to familiarise yourself with the room.

Will the presentation be within a formal or less formal setting?

A work setting will, more or less by definition, be more formal, but there are also various degrees of formality within that.

Will the presentation be to a small group or a large crowd?

Are you already familiar with the audience?

With a new audience, you will have to build rapport quickly and effectively, to get them on your side.

What equipment and technology will be available to you, and what will you be expected to use?

In particular, you will need to ask about microphones and whether you will be expected to stand in one place, or move around.

What is the audience expecting to learn from you and your presentation?

Check how you will be ‘billed’ to give you clues as to what information needs to be included in your presentation.

All these aspects will change the presentation. For more on this, see our page on Deciding the Presentation Method .

The role of the presenter is to communicate with the audience and control the presentation.

Remember, though, that this may also include handing over the control to your audience, especially if you want some kind of interaction.

You may wish to have a look at our page on Facilitation Skills for more.

The audience receives the presenter’s message(s).

However, this reception will be filtered through and affected by such things as the listener’s own experience, knowledge and personal sense of values.

See our page: Barriers to Effective Communication to learn why communication can fail.

The message or messages are delivered by the presenter to the audience.

The message is delivered not just by the spoken word ( verbal communication ) but can be augmented by techniques such as voice projection, body language, gestures, eye contact ( non-verbal communication ), and visual aids.

The message will also be affected by the audience’s expectations. For example, if you have been billed as speaking on one particular topic, and you choose to speak on another, the audience is unlikely to take your message on board even if you present very well . They will judge your presentation a failure, because you have not met their expectations.

The audience’s reaction and therefore the success of the presentation will largely depend upon whether you, as presenter, effectively communicated your message, and whether it met their expectations.

As a presenter, you don’t control the audience’s expectations. What you can do is find out what they have been told about you by the conference organisers, and what they are expecting to hear. Only if you know that can you be confident of delivering something that will meet expectations.

See our page: Effective Speaking for more information.

How will the presentation be delivered?

Presentations are usually delivered direct to an audience.  However, there may be occasions where they are delivered from a distance over the Internet using video conferencing systems, such as Skype.

It is also important to remember that if your talk is recorded and posted on the internet, then people may be able to access it for several years. This will mean that your contemporaneous references should be kept to a minimum.

Impediments

Many factors can influence the effectiveness of how your message is communicated to the audience.

For example background noise or other distractions, an overly warm or cool room, or the time of day and state of audience alertness can all influence your audience’s level of concentration.

As presenter, you have to be prepared to cope with any such problems and try to keep your audience focussed on your message.   

Our page: Barriers to Communication explains these factors in more depth.

Continue to read through our Presentation Skills articles for an overview of how to prepare and structure a presentation, and how to manage notes and/or illustrations at any speaking event.

Continue to: Preparing for a Presentation Deciding the Presentation Method

See also: Writing Your Presentation | Working with Visual Aids Coping with Presentation Nerves | Dealing with Questions Learn Better Presentation Skills with TED Talks

What Is the Purpose of an Oral Presentation?

by Ginny Putscher

Published on 13 Jan 2019

The main purpose of an oral presentation is to present subject content in an organized, concise and effective manner to a live audience. When delivering an oral presentation, certain challenges require ingenious techniques to engage into an impromptu interaction with the audience members. Planning, writing and completing are three key elements in any oral presentation process.

The purpose of an oral presentation is to speak to a live audience formally about a specific topic. It takes careful planning to write an oral presentation that engages the audience and accomplishes your objectives.

Importance of an Oral Presentation

As a business owner, you will sometimes need to give an oral presentation to potential investors, buyers and even employees. For example, you might give a presentation to convince potential investors that your product idea is viable and persuade them to give you money to begin the project. If you're involved in business-to-business software sales, the objectives of the oral presentation might be to show how your software would improve their businesses' efficiency and workflow.

Oral communication and presentations are also a regular part of managing and communicating with your employees. You'll likely plan presentations to share company goals, discuss changes and even offer some employee training for new tools you use.

" class="title"> Plan the Presentation

Planning a presentation is similar to planning a business communication. It requires careful analysis and research. The content and style of an oral presentation control the intent. Straightforward statements of information are best. The typical reasons for giving a presentation are to inform, persuade, motivate and entertain. You need to capture your audience's attention and maintain their interest thorough the entire oral presentation by defining the purpose clearly.

" class="title"> Write the Presentation

When beginning to organize your oral presentation, here are five fundamentals to put into action.

" class="title"> Include Attention-Getter Opportunities

Making an oral presentation before a group offers many opportunities. Once you have communicated your information, instant audience feedback presents itself. A chance to adjust the content and delivery of your message based on the audience's feedback and non-verbal reinforcement are cues to express and emphasize what is important.

When making an oral presentation, attention-getter opportunities, which gain and maintain attention, are possible. Using humor that is not offensive to your audience and is relevant to your subject matter is appropriate. Tell an interesting story that relates to your presentation, illustrating an important point.

For example, if you are presenting a new candy mint, offer everyone a taste and appeal to your audience through their senses. Ask your audience questions; this activity will involve your audience and will give you information about them and their needs. Wake your audience up by stating a startling statistic.

" class="title"> Plan How to Overcome Challenges

When giving oral presentations, certain challenges are inevitable. As you compose your presentation, strategize on how you will confront these challenges. For instance, maintain control; the more interaction with your audience, the less control you will have. Help the audience understand what you want them to learn from your presentation. Shift topics smoothly; a comment from the audience may force you to shift topics, so when composing your presentation, try to anticipate and prepare for a possible move of this sort.

" class="title"> Complete the Presentation

When completing your oral presentation, evaluate your message, and edit your remarks for conciseness and effectiveness. Consider using visual aids, which can improve the impact of your oral presentation. The visual aids can illustrate points that are hard to explain and give the audience the ability to understand and remember important information. Visual aids can also help the speaker remember details about the material he is presenting. Lastly, the art of delivery is crucial; prepare through practice.

Frantically Speaking

The 6 types of presentation (and why you need them)

Hrideep barot.

presentation purpose is

We all have been exposed to different types of presentations right from school years.

Group presentations, lectures by teachers and professors, seminars, webinars or online presentations, e-learning, e-conferences, etc., are all different types of presentations that we come across in our daily lives.

In this article, we will take a look at 6 such types of presentations and when and why you need them.

1. Informative Presentations

This is the most common type of presentation, be it in an educational setting or business or corporate setting.

They are often analytical or require a rational analysis of the data presented.

Training sessions or one-day workshops are good examples where this kind of presentation is used.

Here is an example of an informative presentation on public speaking and presentations.

a) Reporting

Learn from observing the reporters!

Although a report is a written explanation of an event, it can also be verbal.

A perfect place to use informative presentations is news reporting , as it requires the presenter to present information systematically.

b) Briefing

presentation purpose is

This involves explaining both positive and negative aspects of a particular topic in a few words.

Hence, the decision-making bodies of an organization can make use of this kind of presentation to save time and effectively come to conclusions.

c) Research

Informative presentations are often used to present research findings to a specific audience , as it involves reporting the findings and briefing it to the audience.

Hence, almost everywhere where research takes place, be it in an educational context or occupational , can make use of this kind of presentation.

Tips for giving informative presentations

Speech topics for an informative presentation

2. Persuasive presentations

If you are planning to give a persuasive presentation, and are looking for how to give a persuasive speech, check out our article on A Comprehensive Guide to Writing a Persuasive Speech to gain in-depth knowledge about the art of giving persuasive presentations.

Persuasive presentations are also widely used form after informative presentations.

There are various circumstances where persuasive presentations can be used.

a) Policy-making

Avoid taking too much time when you want to persuade any decision!

Even election campaigns involve using persuasive presentations as an instrument of their pre-determined goals of swaying the citizens.

For that matter, any executive or management body of an organization can make use of these kinds of presentations.

b) Value judgment

Give personal examples if you want to persuade someone's viewpoints!

This kind involves answering the question “why” and supplementing it with possible benefits.

Even religious heads use this as a means of persuading their believers to follow their belief system.

Deciding on a procedure or telling an audience the correct procedure of doing something is another situation.

An example of a persuasive presentation

Bailey parnell: is social media hurting your mental health.

This TED talk by Bailey Parnell is a good example of a persuasive presentation.

She starts strong by asking rhetorical questions that set the mood for her further points.

Tips for giving a persuasive presentation

Speech topics for persuasive presentations

3. Demonstrative presentations

This involves demonstrating a process or the functioning of a product in a step-by-step fashion.

So, a master class on communication skills or making a product model is an example of a demonstrative presentation.

Usually, the audience is an active part of such presentations and these can work in any context where you want the audience to learn a new skill.

a) Instructions

Take it slow when instructing!

This involves giving guidelines or steps of a process or work .

Another instance can be at the workplace , to train the employees or introduce them to a new product at work.

This type also works with demonstrating recipes and cooking workshops.

An example of demonstrative presentation

The easy guide on making just about any smoothie.

In this recipe demonstration, he tells his audience how many ingredients are involved and briefs them about the outline of his presentation at the start of his speech.

He also shows all steps in real-time so that the audience have a better understanding of the process and keeps them engaged.

Tips to give a demonstrative presentation

Speech topics for demonstrative presentations

4. Inspirational presentations

The main aim of an inspirational presentation is to motivate or move your audience and is also known as a motivational presentation.

Using techniques like storytelling, narrating personal anecdotes , or even humor work wonders as your audience develops an emotional connection to the message.

This TED talk by Luvvie Ajayi Jones is humorous but a lot more inspirational. Check it out!

Tips for giving an inspirational presentation

Speech topics for an inspirational presentation

5. Business presentations

In the corporate world, presentations are the go-to solution to do anything: planning or strategizing, articulating company goals, screening candidates, status reports , and many more.

Let us take a dive into the different types of business presentations.

a) Sales presentation

Make sure to practice before giving a sales presentation!

It has a pre-defined strategy of initiating and closing the sales deal.

This can be done in person or nowadays, on the phone, or via e-communication .

b) Training sessions

Make training sessions interesting by interacting with the audience!

Often employees have on-the-job training sessions that are aimed to increase the knowledge and skills of the employees.

This kind can also involve the audience to participate , like in demonstrative presentations.

c) Meetings

Take everyone's opinion before concluding a point!

Conferences ( both video and in-person), board meetings, informal team meetings, daily reporting, etc., are all various contexts of meeting in a business setting.

d) E- presentations

E- presentations existed before the COVID pandemic as well but were used seldom.

But, with the ongoing pandemic, e-presentations or remote presentations have replaced all other types of presentations and will be with us for a while longer.

However, on the brighter side, it is an eco-friendly alternative to normal face-to-face kind of a set-up, and it also saves transportation and other costs !

e) Seminars

Give ample time of breaks in a seminar to make it less tiring!

Seminars are widely used in the health sector , usually involving a panel of speakers on a topic. The audience is anywhere between 10 to 100.

It ends with a question and answers session , and the audience gets to take handouts with them.

f) One-on-one or 1:1

Pay attention to your body language, especially in an interview!

Interviews are usually one-on-one and involve presenting your achievements and capabilities to your prospective employer.

Apart from interviews, 1:1 meetings are also used in sales and marketing to crack a business deal.

Tips for giving business presentations

Speech topics for business presentations

6. Powerpoint presentations

PowerPoint presentations or PPTs are the most effective ones among all types of presentations simply because they are convenient and easy to understand .

There are various types of PowerPoint presentations that you can use depending on the context.

a) PPTs for general audience

Use inclusive language when addressing to a general audience.

If you feel that you need to use them, provide the audience some background information about the field or topic being covered

b) PPTs for teaching

Include pictures when teaching through a ppt.

c) Repurpose PPTs

d) PechaKucha

Chat for only 6 minutes and 40 seconds!

e) Multimedia presentations

Make full use of the multimedia ppt!

Types of slides in a presentation

PowerPoint presentation slides are broadly classified into 3 categories: Text, Visual, and Mixed slides.

1. Text slides

As the name suggests, this category of slides involve words or texts.

You can format the text as plain sentences or pointers.

The slide seen below is an example where every point is mentioned in a single slide.

Archived Material (Presentations): Not too much text

2. Visual slides

This type of slide has visual elements such as images or videos , and are better known as conceptual slides since they are a better option than text slide to explain a particular concept.

You can use them at the start of the presentation to better visualize and grasp the meaning of the presentation.

The slide right below is a good example of a visual slide.

Illustration 1 exercise: Visual Metaphor | David Howcroft's OCA Art Journey

3. Mixed slides

Mixed slides combine the texts and visuals to give a comprehensive understanding of any concept or a speech.

Graphs and charts are the best examples of mixed slides.

Presentation Design: A Visual Guide to Creating Beautiful Slides [Free  E-Book]

Types of Oral presentations

So far we came across 6 types of presentations, and they all share one common feature. They are all one of the types of oral presentations.

Oral presentations involve the use of verbal and non-verbal elements to deliver a speech to a particular or general audience.

All the types we discussed fall into these 4 broad categories:

1. Extemporaneous presentations

This type of presentation involves making short pointers or key phrases to aid while speaking.

Hence, on the day of your presentation, by just looking at the key points , you expand on them and move to the next point.

2. Impromptu presentations

Impromptu presentations are spoken without any preparation . It can be nerve-wracking for many, and hence not many are in favor of it.

There is a valid reason for their fear, as you have to make your speech as you say it!

However, those who are experts in their fields and are called upon to share a few words can easily give this type of presentation.

3. Manuscript presentations

The other extreme of the spectrum is manuscript presentations.

Here you have a script and you speak from it, word by word.

Usually, a prompter is used, from which the speaker speaks to their audience.

Nowadays, there are teleprompters , that are heavily used in the entertainment and media industry.

It is a digital screen that displays the contents, and the speaker speaks from it.

4. Memorized presentations

This type does not have any notes or cues , but you memorize or rote learn the whole speech.

School and some presentations at the workplace involve using this kind of presentation.

In most cases, we recommend not to memorise your speech in most cases. We’ve made a video on the same and how it could lead to you potentially blanking out on stage. Highly recommend you view this quick vid before choosing memorisation as a presentation path:

But, if you do choose it for whatever reason, since you are free from notes, you are free to focus on other aspects, such as body language and gestures.

Types of presentation styles

There are various presenting styles, but they do not work for all types of presentations.

Let us get familiar with them, and know which style works with which type.

a) The storyteller

There's a reason why we all love to hear stories!

This style of presentation involves the speaker narrating stories and engaging the audience emotionally .

This technique works best with persuasive and inspirational types of presentation.

So, how to tell a story in a presentation?

Want more storytelling tactics? Mystery, characterisation and the final takeaway are some more key elements of a good story for your next presentation. We’ve gone deeper into this topic in this video if you would like to know more:

b) The Visual style

Make use of the visual aids to keep your audience engaged.

Most of us are visual learners, making visual information easy to understand and retain.

Visual aids like graphics, images, diagrams, key pointers or phrases , etc., are very useful when giving any type of presentation.

Some tips of presenting with visual style:

c) Analytic style

Provide examples to support your data findings!

If you have data records or statistical information to be presented, an analytic style will be more helpful.

It works best for Informative and Business types of presentations.

Tips to deliver in analytic style:

d) The Connector

Make an impactful presentation by simply connecting with your audience!

The connector style of presentation involves the speaker establishing a connection with the audience by pointing out similarities between them and the listeners.

This style works well with Sales and marketing presentations.

How to give a presentation using connector style?

Which type of presentation is best?

Although all the presentation types have their own bonuses and are suitable for certain circumstances, some are universal and can be used with a little bit of modification almost everywhere!

These are persuasive presentations!

You can use them in various settings; from political, business to educational.

Just remember to choose the right topic for the right audience, and a style that you think is the most suitable and you are good to go!

Level up your public speaking in 15 minutes!

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To conclude

We saw 6 types of presentation and understood it in detail.

We also gained some tips on how to make our presentation more engaging and also came across things to avoid as well.

We then explored the types of slides that you can use, and also the types of presenting orally.

We also gave you some tips and a few topic ideas that you can incorporate in your next speech!

Hrideep Barot

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

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My Learning Essentials

My Learning Essentials

My Learning Essentials

Oct 25, 2019

Presentations considering your purpose and audience

In this post we will explore how to plan your presentation to ensure it’s appropriate for your purpose and audience. To see all out posts and resources which support presentations please visit Start to finish: Present like a pro .

Presentation purpose

Knowing your audience.

Further support

Understanding the purpose of your presentation allows you to tailor your content to ensure it meets your goals. Specific circumstances will vary and no two presentations are the same, but as a general indication, common purposes for presentations are to: inspire, inform or persuade.

Often presentations fit into more than one of these categories and being aware of the purpose of your presentation as you’re writing it will help you to tailor the content and style of your presentation to support your goals.

^ Back to contents

You probably wouldn’t speak to your lecturer the same way you speak to your friends. Delivering a presentation is the same; you need to tailor the tone, style and content of your presentation to make it appropriate for your audience.

To do this, you need to establish who your audience is, which you can do by trying to answer the questions below. You won’t be able to answer for every audience member, but you should be able to get a general impression of who you’ll be presenting to so you can write your presentation according to their needs and expectations.

What is their cultural background?

This may affect your use of slang, idioms or cultural references. Remember that what you consider to be common knowledge may not be so common to all audiences.

How much do they know about your topic?

This will affect how much background information you need to include, how much you need to explain key concepts and whether or not you can use subject-specific jargon and acronyms.

Why are they there?

Are they there to learn from you, or to challenge your ideas? Do they already have strong ideas about your topic that you will be challenging? This is an important factor that is often overlooked. If your audience is there under duress, you may need to do some extra work in winning them over.

How will they be feeling?

Consider things like the timing of your presentation and how that may affect your audience’s mood. If yours is the last one following a whole day of presentations your audience is likely to be tired, so you might want to consider things you can do to re-energise them, such as increasing the level of activity or participation.

Presentation Scenarios

Consider these three presentation scenarios; how might the style and content of your presentation vary for each one?

1. Presentation to an interview panel about your suitability for a job role

Here your purpose is to persuade and inform. Your audience is likely to be working within the industry you’re applying for, so you can assume that they’ll be familiar with industry-specific terminology. Depending on the company, it’s likely to be quite a formal setting so you’ll want to dress smartly and avoid using slang.

2. Presentation on university life to a group of 16-year-olds in a low-income area

The purpose of this presentation is to inspire and persuade these young people to consider applying for university, so you might use techniques such as emotive language, stories and a call to action. Humour, activities and audience participation may be appropriate to engage your audience but jargon will not be helpful as you won’t be aware of their current level of knowledge on your topic.

3. Presentation on the research done within your school/discipline, to a group of visiting academics

This is an informative presentation to a group of experts, so you can assume that they’ll be familiar with key terminology within your subject. Well-presented data can enhance an informative presentation. The formality may vary, so it would be worth finding out what the expectations will be. Persuasive techniques such as emotive language are unlikely to be appropriate in this situation.

Remember to consider the purpose and audience of your presentation, as this should shape the content you include and they way you present it.

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Presentation Definition & A Complete Guide For Beginners

Last updated on August 11th, 2022

Presentation Definition & A Complete Guide For Beginners

For many people it might sound like a strange question, however, many beginners still find it a bit confusing to understand what a presentation is. This not only includes students learning about the art of presenting their ideas but also people across various cultures who find the concept alien. For example, if you ask an engineer to give a presentation about an engineering concept or design, he/she might find it difficult to switch gears to public speaking. Similarly, many people who work within a vacuum might suddenly be asked to present something, without having any prior experience of speaking before an audience  or using presentation software like PowerPoint . Let’s take a look at a basic presentation definition, followed by dictionary definitions, with a complete guide for beginners.

What is a Presentation?

A presentation in the context of public speaking can be described as an activity where a presenter presents his/her ideas, explains a process, provides information, or raises questions regarding a subject for public debate. There can be many definitions of a presentation, however, it can be basically narrowed down to the aforementioned.

presentation purpose is

Presentation Definitions

While there are many definitions of what a presentation is and what it entails, here are a few dictionary definitions about what a presentation is generally considered to be:

An activity in which someone shows, describes, or explains something to a group of people.

Source: Presentation Definition by  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

A speech or talk in which a new product, idea, or piece of work is shown and explained to an audience.

Source:   Presentation Definition by Oxford Dictionary

A talk giving information about something.

Source:   Presentation Definition by Cambridge Dictionary

presentation-definition

5 Different Types of Presentations

Presentations can be presented for different purposes. Before presenting a presentation, it is necessary that you have a clear idea regarding the purpose of the presentation. Below is an overview of some of the 5 most common types of presentations:

1. Informative

You might need to create an informative presentation to explain important details tied to a topic before an audience. This type of presentation might be brief, with essential information. Such a presentation is usually based on facts and avoids too many complicated details and assumptions.

Examples: Class lectures, research findings, technical information, results from experiments, etc.

2. Persuasive

A persuasive presentation is geared towards convincing the audience to believe a specific point of view. Such a presentation might conclude with a call to action.

Examples: Product demos, sales pitch, investor pitch, presentations on social issues, debates, etc.

3. Instructional

Such a presentation might be to provide an audience with instructions, such as regarding a process, or the use of a product. Such presentations are usually longer, as they require demonstrations and detailed explanation of each aspect of the topic.

Examples: Tutorials for using a software, device or machine, employee orientation presentations, explanation of a course syllabus, etc.

4. Arousing

This type of presentation is meant to make the audience think about a certain topic. This can be to appeal to the intellect and emotions of the audience to point them towards a certain point of view or to start a social debate.

Example: Religious speech, presentation about a taboo, motivational presentation, etc.

5. Decision Making

Some presentations are conducted with the sole aim of providing facts and figures to help the audience reach a decision. This might include a business presentation about say, market share, profits, project revenue and market competition; so that the board members might be able to decide a future course of action for the company.

Examples: Business meetings, presentation about legislation and laws, a SWOT analysis presentation, etc.

types-of-presentations

3 Different Means of Presenting Presentations

How a presentation is presented can be roughly divided into 3 main categories, i.e. oral, visual only oral and visual.

1. Oral Only

This might simply include a presenter speaking directly to the audience, without any visual aid. This type of presentation can be difficult, since it can be hard to grab audience attention without any visual aid. If you are looking to give an oral presentation, you must have very good presentation skills and a compelling story to tell your audience. In fact, your audience is likely to be more interested in your presentation if you can present your ideas, concepts and explanations like a story.

While it might seem unlikely that someone would resort to an audio only presentation, however, this too can be quite an effective method for creating a sense of mystery of making your audience pay more attention to the content of your presentation. Such a presentation might be presented in the form of a story, read out or played via an audio device.

2. Visual Only

This might include a set of images or a video playing out before an audience. Such a presentation might include slides or a video clip with text that the audience requires to read to understand the visuals, a silent animation with a symbolic message, a set of images played like a slideshow, and the like.

3. Visual & Oral

This is the most common method of presenting a presentation. Whether it is a presenter directly or remotely presenting a presentation, or a video presentation playing out before an audience, the use of both visual and an oral explanation is usually the most effective method for presenting a presentation. Such a presentation may also include background music, and audio effects to make the presentation more compelling.

Other than presentation software, and the use of devices like projectors, monitors and TV screens, visual and oral presentations might also include photographs, whiteboards, and handouts.

different-types-of-presentations

Commonly Used Pesentation Software, Platforms & Methods

Here are a few commonly used apps, platforms and methods used by presenters for making presentations.

Slide Decks

Nowadays, most people simply relate the word ‘presentation’ with a slide deck, typically created in PowerPoint. This includes various slides, each with bits of information. These slides are presented one by one, usually starting with a title slide, introduction of the topic, main content, followed by a conclusion. According to some estimates, 30 million PowerPoint presentations are created on a daily basis.

PowerPoint, Keynote , Prezi , and Google Slides are a few of the most famous presentation platforms for designing and presenting slide decks.

presentation purpose is

Video Presentations

Presentations can also have other forms, such as video presentations. These can include slides converted from PowerPoint to video format , video clips created using web apps like PowToon , YouTube videos, as well as elaborate videos produced using sophisticated video editing and production software.

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Interactive Presentations

This type of presentation might include the ability of the audience to interact with the presenter or presentation in some way. For example, the audience might be given the chance to view the slide deck and react to certain parts of the presentation using apps, polls, quizzes, etc. Hence, these type of presentations might include mechanisms where a presenter is able to switch between content using interactive buttons, with some sort of user interaction.

Some platforms for making interactive presentations include; Articulate , Mindomo , Office Mix , etc. Also see out post about interactive audience response systems .

Beyond the digital sense, interactive presentations might include something as simple as a class lecture with student participation, or a presentation where the audience is actively engaged to work with the presenter in some way.

Interactive Presentations

Webinars & Online Presentations

Online presentations and webinars usually include Live presentations presented using various internet based platforms. While many people also share their presentations online for universal viewing, using services like SlideShare, SlideOnline and AuthorStream, usually, the word online presentations is used for Live presentations presented remotely using the Internet. These may or may not include visual aid, however, usually presenters opt for PowerPoint slides presented via a number of remote meeting and  conferencing apps like Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom , Join.me , TeamViewer, and the like.

Related: Also see our post about best screens sharing solutions for presenters .

webinars-and-online-presentations

Other than apps, some presenters might choose to go old school and use paper handouts, with an oral speech or discussion to present a presentation. This method is most likely to be used by teachers, such as when handing out an assignment where students might have to make use of the handouts to draw conclusions.

It is also worth mentioning here that some presenters like giving their audience handouts for their PowerPoint presentations so the audience can follow their slides more conveniently. These handouts might be distributed in the form of printed or digital handouts. You can learn more about the latter from our posts about digital handouts .

Example of handouts image

Whiteboards and Interactive Whiteboards

This too is a method most likely to be used by educators to teach students using either a real whiteboard or a digital one. The presenter might use a marker to draw diagrams, or write down points and explanations on the whiteboard to explain the topic.

There are also interactive whiteboards and apps which can aid audience participation and interactivity. Some examples include; Deekit , RealTime Board , and digital whiteboard devices.

The image below shows an interactive whiteboard by Smart Tech. This range of boards developed by Smart tech are called Smart Boards .

smart-board

Live Demonstration

This method is most likely to be used for a sales presentation to show the utility of a product. Such presentations are common during promotional events organized by different companies, and governments (to promote businesses); such as Expo events. Live demos have also been one of the most commonly used methods for selling products by door to door salesmen.

live-demonstration

The presentation definitions, types, methods, apps and devices mentioned in this post includes some common examples of how and why presentations are presented. If you’re a newbie looking to give a presentation at Office or school and find the above mentioned too overwhelming; we would simply recommend that you use PowerPoint for making slides to present before your audience.

You can pick a template from these thousands of free PowerPoint templates to choose the one most relevant for your topic, create a slide deck, and rehearse the presentation beforehand.

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How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

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How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

Updated august 03, 2018 - dom barnard.

For many people the thought of delivering a presentation is a daunting task and brings about a great deal of nerves . However, if you take some time to understand how effective presentations are structured and then apply this structure to your own presentation, you’ll appear much more confident and relaxed.

Here is our complete guide for structuring your presentation, with examples at the end of the article to demonstrate these points.

Why is structuring a presentation so important?

If you’ve ever sat through a great presentation, you'll have left feeling either inspired or informed on a given topic. This isn’t because the speaker was the most knowledgeable or motivating person in the world. Instead, it’s because they know how to structure presentations - they have crafted their message in a logical and simple way that has allowed the audience can keep up with them and take away key messages.

Research has supported this, with studies showing that audiences retain structured information 40% more accurately than unstructured information.

In fact, not only is structuring a presentation important for the benefit of the audience’s understanding, it’s also important for you as the speaker. A good structure helps you remain calm, stay on topic, and avoid any awkward silences.

What will affect your presentation structure?

Generally speaking, there is a natural flow that any decent presentation will follow which we will go into shortly. However, you should be aware that all presentation structures will be different in their own unique way and this will be due to a number of factors, including:

Before choosing the presentation's structure answer these questions first:

When reading the points below, think critically about what things may cause your presentation structure to be slightly different. You can add in certain elements and add more focus to certain moments if that works better for your speech.

Good presentation structure is important for a presentation

What is the typical presentation structure?

This is the usual flow of a presentation, which covers all the vital sections and is a good starting point for yours. It allows your audience to easily follow along and sets out a solid structure you can add your content to.

1. Greet the audience and introduce yourself

Before you start delivering your talk, introduce yourself to the audience and clarify who you are and your relevant expertise. This does not need to be long or incredibly detailed, but will help build an immediate relationship between you and the audience. It gives you the chance to briefly clarify your expertise and why you are worth listening to. This will help establish your ethos so the audience will trust you more and think you're credible.

Read our tips on How to Start a Presentation Effectively

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2. Introduction

In the introduction you need to explain the subject and purpose of your presentation whilst gaining the audience's interest and confidence. It's sometimes helpful to think of your introduction as funnel-shaped to help filter down your topic:

In this section also explain:

The way you structure your introduction can depend on the amount of time you have been given to present: a sales pitch may consist of a quick presentation so you may begin with your conclusion and then provide the evidence. Conversely, a speaker presenting their idea for change in the world would be better suited to start with the evidence and then conclude what this means for the audience.

Keep in mind that the main aim of the introduction is to grab the audience's attention and connect with them.

3. The main body of your talk

The main body of your talk needs to meet the promises you made in the introduction. Depending on the nature of your presentation, clearly segment the different topics you will be discussing, and then work your way through them one at a time - it's important for everything to be organised logically for the audience to fully understand. There are many different ways to organise your main points, such as, by priority, theme, chronologically etc.

When planning your presentation write a list of main points you want to make and ask yourself "What I am telling the audience? What should they understand from this?" refining your answers this way will help you produce clear messages.

4. Conclusion

In presentations the conclusion is frequently underdeveloped and lacks purpose which is a shame as it's the best place to reinforce your messages. Typically, your presentation has a specific goal - that could be to convert a number of the audience members into customers, lead to a certain number of enquiries to make people knowledgeable on specific key points, or to motivate them towards a shared goal.

Regardless of what that goal is, be sure to summarise your main points and their implications. This clarifies the overall purpose of your talk and reinforces your reason for being there.

Follow these steps:

5. Thank the audience and invite questions

Conclude your talk by thanking the audience for their time and invite them to ask any questions they may have. As mentioned earlier, personal circumstances will affect the structure of your presentation.

Many presenters prefer to make the Q&A session the key part of their talk and try to speed through the main body of the presentation. This is totally fine, but it is still best to focus on delivering some sort of initial presentation to set the tone and topics for discussion in the Q&A.

Questions being asked after a presentation

Other common presentation structures

The above was a description of a basic presentation, here are some more specific presentation layouts:

Demonstration

Use the demonstration structure when you have something useful to show. This is usually used when you want to show how a product works. Steve Jobs frequently used this technique in his presentations.

Problem-solution

This structure is particularly useful in persuading the audience.

Storytelling

As well as incorporating stories in your presentation , you can organise your whole presentation as a story. There are lots of different type of story structures you can use - a popular choice is the monomyth - the hero's journey. In a monomyth, a hero goes on a difficult journey or takes on a challenge - they move from the familiar into the unknown. After facing obstacles and ultimately succeeding the hero returns home, transformed and with newfound wisdom.

Another popular choice for using a story to structure your presentation is in media ras (in the middle of thing). In this type of story you launch right into the action by providing a snippet/teaser of what's happening and then you start explaining the events that led to that event. This is engaging because you're starting your story at the most exciting part which will make the audience curious - they'll want to know how you got there.

Remaining method

The remaining method structure is good for situations where you're presenting your perspective on a controversial topic which has split people's opinions.

Transitions

When delivering presentations it's important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand how everything links together and why it's all relevant. This can be done using speech transitions which are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified.

Transitions can be one word, a phrase or a full sentence - there are many different forms, here are some examples:

Moving from the introduction to the first point

Signify to the audience that you will now begin discussing the first main point:

Shifting between similar points

Move from one point to a similar one:

Internal summaries

Internal summarising consists of summarising before moving on to the next point. You must inform the audience:

Physical movement

You can move your body and your standing location when you transition to another point. The audience find it easier to follow your presentation and movement will increase their interest.

A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:

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Key slides for your presentation

Slides are a useful tool for most presentations: they can greatly assist in the delivery of your message and help the audience follow along with what you are saying. Key slides include:

There are some presenters who choose not to use slides at all, though this is more of a rarity. Slides can be a powerful tool if used properly, but the problem is that many fail to do just that. Here are some golden rules to follow when using slides in a presentation:

Guy Kawasaki, an entrepreneur and author, suggests that slideshows should follow a 10-20-30 rule :

Here are some additional resources for slide design:

Group Presentations

Group presentations are structured in the same way as presentations with one speaker but usually require more rehearsal and practices. Clean transitioning between speakers is very important in producing a presentation that flows well. One way of doing this consists of:

From this example you can see how the different sections of the presentations link which makes it easier for the audience to follow and remain engaged.

Example of great presentation structure and delivery

Having examples of great presentations will help inspire your own structures, here are a few such examples, each unique and inspiring in their own way.

How Google Works - by Eric Schmidt

This presentation by ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt demonstrates some of the most important lessons he and his team have learnt with regards to working with some of the most talented individuals they hired. The simplistic yet cohesive style of all of the slides is something to be appreciated. They are relatively straightforward, yet add power and clarity to the narrative of the presentation.

Start with why - by Simon Sinek

Since being released in 2009, this presentation has been viewed almost four million times all around the world. The message itself is very powerful, however, it’s not an idea that hasn't been heard before. What makes this presentation so powerful is the simple message he is getting across, and the straightforward and understandable manner in which he delivers it. Also note that he doesn't use any slides, just a whiteboard where he creates a simple diagram of his opinion.

The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout - by Rick Rigsby

Here’s an example of a presentation given by a relatively unknown individual looking to inspire the next generation of graduates. Rick’s presentation is unique in many ways compared to the two above. Notably, he uses no visual prompts and includes a great deal of humour.

However, what is similar is the structure he uses. He first introduces his message that the wisest man he knew was a third-grade dropout. He then proceeds to deliver his main body of argument, and in the end, concludes with his message. This powerful speech keeps the viewer engaged throughout, through a mixture of heart-warming sentiment, powerful life advice and engaging humour.

As you can see from the examples above, and as it has been expressed throughout, a great presentation structure means analysing the core message of your presentation. Decide on a key message you want to impart the audience with, and then craft an engaging way of delivering it.

By preparing a solid structure, and practising your talk beforehand, you can walk into the presentation with confidence and deliver a meaningful message to an interested audience.

It's important for a presentation to be well-structured so it can have the most impact on your audience. An unstructured presentation can be difficult to follow and even frustrating to listen to. The heart of your speech are your main points supported by evidence and your transitions should assist the movement between points and clarify how everything is linked.

Research suggests that the audience remember the first and last things you say so your introduction and conclusion are vital for reinforcing your points. Essentially, ensure you spend the time structuring your presentation and addressing all of the sections.

  

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Present With Purpose

presentation purpose is

Before you present: Clarifying the purpose helps you avoid a data-dump. You will design your presentation with a focused viewpoint and avoid excess content. Because you are designing more efficiently, you save tons of time and energy.

As you present: By stating your presentation’s purpose in the first few minutes, you shape your audience’s expectations. You also make an overt commitment to achieving that purpose. This adds to your credibility as a speaker.

Here are a couple of examples:

Why Don’t More Presenters Do This?

I have three big guesses as to why more presenters don’t develop and use a clear, concise purpose statement.

1. The lure of PowerPoint. Even though using PowerPoint to organize a presentation almost guarantees a data dump-style presentation, many presenters have grown up thinking this is the only way.

I have nothing against using PowerPoint as a tool once you have clarified the presentation purpose. In fact, I suggest putting your purpose statement on the very first PowerPoint slide!

2. The belief that the audience already knows what you are going to say. Your audience may know the fuzzy parameters of your speech. It’s your job to shape their expectations toward what you want to say.

3. Ignorance. Many presenters simply have never considered the importance of using a presentation purpose statement to guide their process.

Where to Start

The best way to develop your purpose statement is to start with this bare-bones template:

“The purpose of my presentation is to:

(2) audience (you can say “you” here)

(3) topic.”

Examples #1 and #2 above follow this template. Example #3 throws in a little “what’s in it for you” statement. All are effective.

My Challenge to You

Try it out! Create a purpose statement for your very next presentation. If you already have a presentation that lacks a purpose statement, develop one NOW and use it the next time you present.

You will find yourself and your audience more focused on the message. Let me know how it goes!

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The Purpose of Speech Explained

If you ever find it unnecessary, out of fashion, dull, or even have no idea what speeches are for, this article is undoubtedly for you. With each word of this article, you will understand the real purpose of the speeches, how they arose, and what usefulness they bring to our day-to-day lives.

What is a Speech?

Professionals from the most diverse areas have increasingly sought this capacity. For some, this may be an innate ability, but it is an aptitude that can and must be developed continuously for most.

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Activist and pastor Martin Luther King Jr. is an example of a leader that used a speech to spread a message of equal rights in the United States.

The Importance of Speech

“Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory.” Winston Churchill

When these occasions occur, it is best to be prepared; letting the stomach chill, excessive sweating, and shivering get in the way of a presentation is a choice. 

The Use of Speech in History

Throughout history, speeches have influenced people to combat injustice or show solidarity with others, comfort mourners, honor those who deserve it, and many other situations.

AcethePresentation. AmadeBai, Emidio 15 Ideas To Make A Speech Unique, Memorable & Inspiring

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Home Blog Business Writing an Impactful Purpose Statement: A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing an Impactful Purpose Statement: A Step-by-Step Guide

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The purpose of a business is the foundation on which its success is built. A clear and meaningful purpose statement can differentiate between achieving your goals and falling short. It sets the direction for decision-making, guides strategy, and focuses on all aspects of your business operations. 

Crafting an inspiring and effective purpose statement requires careful consideration and thoughtfulness. To help you create one that will have maximum impact, we have put together this step-by-step guide on how to write a purpose statement for your business. We’ll cover how to define what matters most to you, develop key messages based on those values, and craft a powerful message that resonates with customers, stakeholders, employees, and beyond. So let’s get started!

Table of Contents

What is a Purpose Statement

Why is a purpose statement important, defining your values, identifying your unique value proposition, writing out the main points of your purpose statement, creating an emotional connection with your target audience, how to structure a purpose statement, purpose statement examples.

A purpose statement is a concise and meaningful declaration of why a company exists, with a clear alignment with the company’s goals, mission , and vision statements . Following Simon Sinek’s book , a purpose statement answers the “Why” behind a company, which helps to inspire all members of an organization towards a common goal. This should be the primary objective of leadership.

You can also come across a purpose statement under the name of a “position statement,” as a purpose statement reinforces how a product, service, or company answers a consumer’s need while at the same time establishing itself in the market.

A purpose statement is crucial for any marketing plan . It serves as an anchor point for employees and helps to unify the company’s efforts by creating clarity around what matters most. It should drive decision-making at every level and guide strategy development.

A purpose statement is critical for an organization to have to define its vision and align the collective efforts of employees toward achieving that vision. It provides clear guidance for decision-making at all levels and helps focus resources for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. A purpose statement should be designed to inspire, motivate, and engage all stakeholders in the organization, including customers, suppliers, investors, and employees.

The role of Purpose Statements in Strategy

Having a purpose statement gives an organization a solid framework to build upon when developing strategies and tactics to reach its goals. It serves as a roadmap for setting up projects, organizing activities, measuring progress, and providing feedback to refine operations or adjust its course if necessary. This allows organizations to quickly identify opportunities or potential issues that may arise along the way so they can take corrective action.

Inspiring Current and Prospect Employees

A compelling purpose statement can draw in promising professionals driven by a unified mission rather than just financial compensation. It has been proven that employees who seek fulfillment beyond money tend to stay with an organization longer, resulting in higher retention rates and helping to build a company’s culture . Additionally, having a meaningful purpose statement can give organizations an edge during competition with other firms, making them stand out from their peers. 

Transparency for Customers

Most importantly, a well-crafted purpose statement will clarify why an organization exists and what it stands for beyond making money which speaks volumes about its values and commitment to making positive contributions to society. This type of transparency can go a long way in building trust from customers and shareholders, as it shows that they are invested in something greater than financial success. Better said, getting in touch with an organization’s purpose statement is the first step to building social capital .

What Should a Purpose Statement Include

Values represent the heart and soul of an organization and should be clearly articulated to ensure that employees, customers, and stakeholders understand what the company stands for. 

An example of presenting a company's values

When defining values, it’s essential to think beyond surface-level qualities such as customer service or collaboration – instead, focus on deeper principles that guide decisions and serve as the foundation for all operations. To begin, companies need to consider their core beliefs and philosophies, including ideas related to social responsibility, sustainability, innovation, integrity, respect for diversity, etc. Once these have been identified, they can then be distilled into specific statements that capture their essence.

Organizations must also address if the values are applicable across their different departments. This shall draw clarity at each level on decision-making, initiatives, and strategy decisions. 

A company’s Unique Value Proposition in a purpose statement presentation is essential for distinguishing it from other competitors in the marketplace. A solid and compelling proposition should be clear, concise, relevant, and tailored to the target audience’s needs. This statement should reflect a company’s core values and prove why they are distinctive and better than its competitors.

Start by understanding the target audience, its requirements, and the needs and desires to fulfill. Once this step is completed, companies should define how their organization attends those fill gaps in the market, distinguishing themselves from competitors by highlighting what makes them stand out. 

Example of an Unique Value Proposition diagram

Another important point is to set clear the competitive advantage. A list of perks could include exclusive benefits, better quality products or services, a customizable service, lower prices for the same quality, etc. Cutting-edge technologies should take special mention in a purpose statement presentation, as it helps to elevate the quality proposition a company offers among other players in the industry. Management can back up this information in the form of customer testimonials, data statements, or any other valuable proof that presents key points in an easy-to-access format.

Crafting a Purpose Statement Presentation

At the moment of designing your company’s purpose statement presentation, write down an outline of the key elements to mention or include:

1. Target audience and their needs.

2. How the product or service solves customer pain points or fills gaps in the market. 

3. Any competitive advantages that set them apart from others.

4. Quality of products or services offered.

5. Customer service offering.

6. Claims backed up with evidence, such as customer testimonials and reviews.

7. Visuals such as videos or infographics to draw attention to key points.

While it is true that tools such as storytelling help us connect at an emotional level with the target audience, the first level of emotional connection must be in company. A good practice for this objective is to run surveys across your employees, potential customers, and stakeholders, knowing different views of what builds a successful consumer experience. 

Having contrasting insights and not just counting on customer-based input is an excellent exercise to evaluate how self-critical an organization is, how its employees and stakeholders help build a story that contributes to society, and why the company serves the needs of its consumers. Craft a narrative that conveys that message in an understandable format, with keyphrases that generate an emotional retention element.

Now it is time to create the presentation itself. How do we create a compelling purpose statement presentation to drive engagement and common ground among stakeholders? Follow the list below to define the slides to include.

1. Introduction: Provide an overview of the purpose statement and why it is important.

2. Target Audience & Their Needs : Describe the target audience and list their needs.

3. Unique Value Proposition: Explain how the company’s offering meets customer needs more effectively than competitors do, and highlight any competitive advantages that set them apart from others in the industry. 

4. Customer Value: Highlight qualities that help craft an exceptional customer experience. This information can be extracted from the survey’s analysis. 

5. Testimonials: Include customer reviews to show social proof of why a company’s offering is superior to others on the market.

6. Visual Aids: Add visuals such as videos or infographics to draw attention to key points while making statements more engaging for viewers. This is an excellent opportunity to test the reception of video ads explaining the purpose statement in front of an audience. 

7. Summary & Conclusion: Summarize key takeaways and provide evidence for claims made throughout the presentation.

Example of an agenda slide in a purpose statement presentation

Before concluding this article, we want to list some examples of companies whose purpose statements successfully express the intention and reason for existence. 

AT&T: “Inspire human progress through the power of communication and entertainment.”

Cognizant: “We engineer modern businesses to improve everyday life.”

GE (General Electric): “We rise to the challenge of building a world that works.”

As we have seen, crafting a purpose statement is vital for any organization that desires to stand out in the market. Doing so allows potential customers to have an accurate understanding of why they should choose your product or service over others on the market while also empowering organizations on their journey to success.

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Group 1

10 Presentation Skills That Every Great Presenter Must Have

It’s no secret that effective presentations can help you get ahead in business. After all, what better way to show off your knowledge and expertise than by delivering a well-crafted presentation? The right presentation skills give you the ability to share your ideas with an audience convincingly and engagingly.

Unfortunately, not everyone is born a natural presenter. If you’re not used to standing up in front of an audience, the prospect of doing so can be daunting. Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to improve your presentation skills.

In this article, we’ll share some tips on how to do just that, allowing you to deliver an effective presentation.

Let’s get right into it.

What are Presentation Skills

What are Presentation Skills?

Presentation skills are the abilities you need to deliver a clear and effective presentation. After all, a good presenter is someone who can communicate their ideas in a way that engages and motivates their audience.

There are many different aspects to presentation skills, from knowing how to structure your talk to using visuals effectively, to dealing with nerves.

Developing strong presentation skills will help you to communicate your ideas more effectively and make a positive impression on your audience.

Presentation skills are important because they can help you to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. A good presentation can make a big impact on your audience and can help to persuade them of your point of view.

Presentation skills are also important in other areas of life, such as job interviews, sales pitches, and networking events. Being able to present your ideas clearly and concisely can give you a big advantage over others who are not as confident in their presentation skills.

Why Is it Important To Recognize Presentation Skills & Their Benefits?

One of the most important reasons to recognize presentation skills is because they are a valuable skill for any profession. Good presentation skills can help you in your career by making it easier to sell your ideas, get promoted, and be successful in business.

In addition, good presentation skills can also help you in your personal life by making it easier to give speeches, make presentations, and teach classes.

In addition, recognizing presentation skills can also help you improve your presentations. If you are not aware of the importance of presentation skills, you may not be using them to their full potential.

By taking the time to learn about presentation skills and how to use them effectively, you can make your presentations more effective and persuasive.

Here’s a list of benefits that come with good presentation skills:

10 Examples of Presentation Skills

10 Examples of Presentation Skills

Let’s now explore some practical examples of presentation skills that will help you ace your next big presentation.

A Clear And Confident Voice

One of the most important aspects of a great presentation is having a clear and confident voice. If you’re mumbling or speaking too quietly, your audience is going to have a hard time understanding you.

On the other hand, if you’re shouting or speaking too fast, they’re going to get overwhelmed and tune out. So, it’s important to find that happy medium where your voice is audible and easy to understand.

The Ability To Engage With Your Audience

Another key presentation skill is the ability to engage with your audience. This means making eye contact, using gestures, and speaking in a way that is relatable and easy to understand.

If you’re just standing there reading off a slide, chances are your audience is going to get bored pretty quickly. But if you can find ways to keep them engaged, they’ll be more likely to listen to what you have to say.

Good Eye Contact

One of the best ways to engage with your audience is through eye contact. When you make eye contact with someone, it shows that you’re interested in what they have to say and that you’re engaged in the conversation. It also helps to build trust and rapport.

So, if you can find ways to make eye contact with your audience members, it will go a long way in keeping them engaged.

Natural Gestures

Another great way to engage with your audience is through natural gestures. Using your hands and arms to gesture can help emphasize points and keep your audience engaged. Just be sure not to go overboard – too much gesturing can be distracting.

Positive Body Language

Your body language is also important when it comes to presentations. If you’re slouching or looking down at your feet, it’s going to show that you’re not confident in what you’re saying.

On the other hand, if you’re standing up straight and making strong eye contact, it’s going to give off a positive impression. So, be aware of your body language and try to project confidence through it.

The Use Of Visual Aids

Visual aids can be a great way to engage your audience and make your points more clear. Using slides, charts, and graphs can help illustrate your ideas and make them easier to understand. Similar to using gestures, just be sure not to overdo it – too many visuals can be overwhelming and confusing.

The Ability To Handle Questions

At some point during your presentation, you’re likely going to get questions from your audience; how you handle those questions can make or break your presentation. If you’re able to answer them confidently and without getting flustered, it’ll show that you know your stuff.

But if you start to get tongue-tied or defensive, it’s going to reflect poorly on you. So, be prepared for questions and try to stay calm when answering them.

An Organized Structure

Another important presentation skill is having a well-organized structure. This means having an introduction, main body, and conclusion to your presentation.

It also means using transitions between sections to help your audience follow along. If your presentation is all over the place, it’s going to be hard for your audience to stay engaged and they’ll quickly tune out.

The Use Of Storytelling

Storytelling is a great way to engage your audience and make your points more memorable. And while it might not seem like a traditional presentation skill, it can be extremely effective. So, if you can find ways to weave stories into your presentation, it’ll go a long way in captivating your audience.

Last but not least, confidence is one of the most important presentation skills you can have. If you’re not confident in what you’re saying, it’s going to show – and your audience is going to pick up on it.

So, even if you’re not feeling 100% sure of yourself, try to project confidence. It’ll make a big difference in how your audience perceives you and your message.

How To Identify & Master Presentation Skills

How To Identify & Master Presentation Skills

The good news is that presentation skills are not rocket science. Anyone can develop and master them with the right guidance.

Here’s a 5-step process to help you identify and master presentation skills.

Determine The Purpose Of Your Presentation

Are you trying to inform, persuade, or entertain your audience? Knowing the purpose of your presentation will help you focus on the right content and delivery.

Know Your Audience

Who will be watching or listening to your presentation? What are their needs, wants, and concerns? The better you understand your audience, the more effectively you can address their needs.

Structure Your Content

Organize your thoughts into an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should grab your audience’s attention and set the stage for the rest of your presentation. The body should contain the meat of your argument, and the conclusion should drive home your main points.

Choose Your Delivery Method

Will you be using slides, props, or other visual aids? Will you be speaking extemporaneously or reading from a script? Choose a delivery method that best suits your content and audience.

Practice, Practice, Practice

The only way to become a master presenter is to practice, practice, practice! Experiment with different techniques and find what works best for you. Then keep practicing until it becomes second nature.

Also, consider that the right strengths test can help you understand your presentation skills better – both the strong ones and the ones to get better at. To this extent, the High5test.com strengths test is a great resource.

How To Improve Presentation Skills in The Workplace

The workplace is one of the most important places to hone your presentation skills. After all, in the business world, first impressions are key, and being able to deliver a polished and professional presentation can make all the difference in whether or not you’re successful.

Here are a few tips to help you improve your presentation skills in the workplace:

Preparation Is Key

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth repeating. When you’re preparing for a presentation, take the time to do your research and gather all of the necessary information. This will help ensure that your presentation is well-organized and flows smoothly.

Be Aware Of Your Body Language

Your body language speaks volumes, so it’s important to be aware of what you’re communicating with your nonverbal cues. Make sure you’re standing up straight, making eye contact, and using gestures appropriately. These small tweaks can make a big difference in how your audience perceives you.

One of the best ways to improve your presentation skills is simply to practice as much as you can. The more you present, the more comfortable you’ll become and the better you’ll be at thinking on your feet and handling questions from the audience.

Seek Feedback

After each presentation, take some time to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. If possible, seek feedback from your colleagues or boss. This will help you learn from your mistakes and continue to improve.

By following these tips, you can start to improve your presentation skills and make a positive impression in the workplace.

How To Highlight Presentation Skills In Resume & Job Interview

Another important skill that is often overlooked is the ability to highlight presentation skills in both a resume and a job interview. This can be the difference between getting the job and not.

When you are applying for a job, your resume is often the first thing that potential employers will look at. It is important to make sure that your resume includes any relevant presentation skills that you may have.

You can do this by including any experience you have in public speaking, leading presentations, or teaching courses. If you do not have any experience in these areas, consider listing any other relevant skills that could transfer over into presenting, such as customer service or sales experience.

In addition to your resume, it is also important to be able to highlight your presentation skills during a job interview. This is often done through behavioral interviewing, where you will be asked to describe specific examples of times when you have presented in the past. It is important to be prepared for this type of question and to have a few examples ready to go.

When you are highlighting your presentation skills, it is important to focus on any successes that you have had. This could be anything from getting positive feedback from an audience to successfully teaching a new course.

No matter what the specific example is, it is important to focus on how you were able to positively impact the situation. This will show potential employers that you can effectively present information and that you are someone they would want on their team.

Bonus Tip: How to Improve Presentation Skills in School As a Student

School students often have to present in front of their classmates and teachers. This can be a daunting experience, especially if you don’t feel confident in your abilities. However, there are some things you can do to improve your presentation skills while you’re still in school.

Join A Club Or Organization That Requires Presentations

This will force you to get up in front of people regularly and hone your skills. If no club or organization at your school requires presentations, start one!

Give speeches in front of the mirror.

Practicing in front of a mirror can help you identify any nervous habits you have (like fidgeting or pacing) and correct them before you have to give a real speech.

Use Note Cards Instead Of A Script

Reading from a script can make you sound robotic and unauthentic. Note cards will help you stay on track without sounding like you’re reciting memorized lines.

Record Yourself Giving A Presentation

Then, watch the recording back to see how you can improve. This exercise can be painful, but it’s one of the best ways to identify your weaknesses and work on them.

Find A Mentor

Ask a teacher or another adult you trust to give you feedback on your presentations. They can offer helpful tips and criticism that will help you improve.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a great presenter in no time!

Presentation Skills FAQs

What are the 7 presentation skills.

The 7 presentation skills are:

What are the 4 types of presentation skills?

The 4 types of presentation skills are:

What is the rule of presentation?

The rule of presentation is to always keep the audience in mind. This means knowing who your audience is, what they want to hear, and how to best deliver your message so that they will listen and be able to understand it.

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presentation purpose is

Informative Speeches — Types, Topics, and Examples

Daniel Bal

What is an informative speech?

An informative speech uses descriptions, demonstrations, and strong detail to explain a person, place, or subject. An informative speech makes a complex topic easier to understand and focuses on delivering information, rather than providing a persuasive argument.

presentation purpose is

Types of informative speeches

The most common types of informative speeches are definition, explanation, description, and demonstration.

Types of informative speeches

A definition speech explains a concept, theory, or philosophy about which the audience knows little. The purpose of the speech is to inform the audience so they understand the main aspects of the subject matter.

An explanatory speech presents information on the state of a given topic. The purpose is to provide a specific viewpoint on the chosen subject. Speakers typically incorporate a visual of data and/or statistics.

The speaker of a descriptive speech provides audiences with a detailed and vivid description of an activity, person, place, or object using elaborate imagery to make the subject matter memorable.

A demonstrative speech explains how to perform a particular task or carry out a process. These speeches often demonstrate the following:

How to do something

How to make something

How to fix something

How something works

Demonstrative speeches

How to write an informative speech

Regardless of the type, every informative speech should include an introduction, a hook, background information, a thesis, the main points, and a conclusion.

Introduction

An attention grabber or hook draws in the audience and sets the tone for the speech. The technique the speaker uses should reflect the subject matter in some way (i.e., if the topic is serious in nature, do not open with a joke). Therefore, when choosing an attention grabber, consider the following:

What’s the topic of the speech?

What’s the occasion?

Who’s the audience?

What’s the purpose of the speech?

Attention grabbers/hooks

Common Attention Grabbers (Hooks)

Ask a question that allows the audience to respond in a non-verbal way (e.g., a poll question where they can simply raise their hands) or ask a rhetorical question that makes the audience think of the topic in a certain way yet requires no response.

Incorporate a well-known quote that introduces the topic. Using the words of a celebrated individual gives credibility and authority to the information in the speech.

Offer a startling statement or information about the topic, which is typically done using data or statistics. The statement should surprise the audience in some way.

Provide a brief anecdote that relates to the topic in some way.

Present a “what if” scenario that connects to the subject matter of the speech.

Identify the importance of the speech’s topic.

Starting a speech with a humorous statement often makes the audience more comfortable with the speaker.

Include any background information pertinent to the topic that the audience needs to know to understand the speech in its entirety.

The thesis statement shares the central purpose of the speech.

Demonstrate

Include background information and a thesis statement

Preview the main ideas that will help accomplish the central purpose. Typically, informational speeches will have an average of three main ideas.

Body paragraphs

Apply the following to each main idea (body) :

Identify the main idea ( NOTE: The main points of a demonstration speech would be the individual steps.)

Provide evidence to support the main idea

Explain how the evidence supports the main idea/central purpose

Transition to the next main idea

Body of an informative speech

Review or restate the thesis and the main points presented throughout the speech.

Much like the attention grabber, the closing statement should interest the audience. Some of the more common techniques include a challenge, a rhetorical question, or restating relevant information:

Provide the audience with a challenge or call to action to apply the presented information to real life.

Detail the benefit of the information.

Close with an anecdote or brief story that illustrates the main points.

Leave the audience with a rhetorical question to ponder after the speech has concluded.

Detail the relevance of the presented information.

Informative speech conclusion

Before speech writing, brainstorm a list of informative speech topic ideas. The right topic depends on the type of speech, but good topics can range from video games to disabilities and electric cars to healthcare and mental health.

Informative speech topics

Some common informative essay topics for each type of informational speech include the following:

Informative speech examples

The following list identifies famous informational speeches:

“Duties of American Citizenship” by Theodore Roosevelt

“Duty, Honor, Country” by General Douglas MacArthur

“Strength and Dignity” by Theodore Roosevelt

Explanation

“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” by Patrick Henry

“The Decision to Go to the Moon” by John F. Kennedy

“We Shall Fight on the Beaches” by Winston Churchill

Description

“I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Pearl Harbor Address” by Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“Luckiest Man” by Lou Gehrig

Demonstration

The Way to Cook with Julia Child

This Old House with Bob Vila

Bill Nye the Science Guy with Bill Nye

This problem has been solved!

You'll get a detailed solution from a subject matter expert that helps you learn core concepts.

Question: CH 12 7. One purpose of subpoints is to Multiple Choice stimulate your audience with presentation aids. emphasize your main point through repetition. smooth the transition between main points. cite your sources. offer evidence to support a main point. 8. The following set of main points is arranged in which kind of pattern? 1. Medical facilities

7. One purpose of subpoints is to

Multiple Choice

stimulate your audience with presentation aids.

emphasize your main point through repetition.

smooth the transition between main points.

cite your sources.

offer evidence to support a main point.

The following set of main points is arranged in which kind of pattern?

1. Medical facilities may have inaccurate or incomplete documentation. 2. Patients take the wrong medication or a harmful combination of medications. 3. Patients experience preventable injury or fatality.

topic pattern

time pattern

space pattern

cause-and-effect pattern

problem-solution pattern

Listeners are motivated to learn, take detailed notes, and recall more of the information when a speaker

exaggerates his or her claims.

focuses on a single main point.

jumps from point to point.

uses transitions strategically.

presents organized, coherent material.

The rule of division means that whenever there is one subpoint,

there must be at least one more.

it must sufficiently explain the main idea.

there must be at least two more.

sub-subpoints must follow.

more main points must follow.

11.Which of the options listed would be the most effective main point for a speech with the following thesis? "By 2050, the United States will be using solar power for most energy needs."

One form of energy can be converted into other forms of energy.

Transportation is one of the primary fuel consuming sectors.

Hydroelectric power is also on the rise.

The technology for solar energy is available and ever improving.

Explain how transitioning to solar power will benefit the environment.

Which of the following sets of main points is organized in a time pattern?

1. Television advertising to the target has been ineffective. 2. Re-evaluate our marketing efforts. 3. Come up with new advertising ideas.

1. Baby boomers are more influenced by television than digital media. 2. Baby boomers historically respond more to celebrity endorsements than millennials. 3. Targeting baby boomers requires effective search engine marketing.

1. Mining erodes the landscape. 2. Runoff from mining contaminates water. 3. Contaminants damage wildlife and habitats.

1. Hold a brainstorming meeting. 2. Analyze which ideas will be most effective. 3. Create a plan of action.

1. Improve network access in rural areas. 2. Maintain network coverage in urban areas. 3. Create network agreements for international travel.

Expert Answer

Answers :7. The correct option is "offer evidence to support a main point".8. The correct option is"cause-an …

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Deborah Ralston

Super’s purpose is dignified retirement, but tax debate clouds issues

The expected $2 billion savings from the crackdown on large balances is probably an overestimate. We need a better framework to assess the performance of the system.

There is no argument about the need for a clear objective for superannuation, as Jim Chalmers has promised to legislate. But whether the changes the treasurer has announced to the super tax concessions, which lift tax on balances over $3 million to 30 per cent from 2025, will raise the amount of revenue that has been promised is open to question.

The purpose of super has been discussed for more than a decade and has been supported by both sides of politics. Several expert groups, including the Council of Superannuation Custodians in 2013, the Financial System Inquiry in 2014 and most recently the 2020 Retirement Income Review , have endorsed the need for a legislated objective and a clear framework to evaluate proposed policy changes.

presentation purpose is

Treasurer Jim Chalmers started this debate by highlighting that tax concessions available to super are worth $50 billion.   Alex Ellinghausen

Over time there have been many budgetary or politically motivated changes to super policy which have passed with little analysis. Not only would such a framework ensure greater accountability, but it should also reduce the policy instability that undermines trust in the system.

In the consultation paper, the treasurer proposes: “The purpose of superannuation is to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way.”

This statement reflects the key dimensions of a retirement system: adequacy, equity and fiscal sustainability. Most importantly, super is there to provide retirement income. It should be preserved and used for this purpose and not as a “nest egg” or a store of personal wealth.

While there are many leakages in the system to be addressed, such as elective surgery , super belongs to individuals, so it is appropriate that the existing hardship provisions will remain for those with an exceptional need to access savings before retirement.

To enjoy a dignified retirement and make the best of retirement savings, super funds will need to provide retirement income projections, guidance and advice for members, a subject being addressed in the Quality of Advice Review.

Unfortunately, many retirees are reluctant to spend their super for precautionary reasons and go to their graves with large unintended bequests. Not only are retirees not making the best use of their retirement savings, but taxpayers are supporting these intergenerational wealth transfers.

Inequitable system

With growing super balances supplemented by the age pension, retirees will enjoy a dignified retirement with a standard of living commensurate with their pre-retirement income. Reliance on the age pension will decline, and retirement income will continue to be supplemented by the many other government benefits available to retirees such as health and aged care services, tax benefits and various concessions.

The current system is inequitable in that higher-income individuals benefit far more from super tax concessions. The proposal to raise earnings tax on balances over $3 million directly addresses this issue.

While these balances constitute less than 1 per cent of all super accounts, it can be argued that such amounts well exceed what is needed for retirement income. Over the next two decades, existing contribution caps will prohibit such large balances, but in the meantime, reducing the cost of earnings tax concessions could improve fiscal sustainability and reduce the burden on younger taxpayers.

There is, however, an issue that relates to both the implementation of the objective and the current proposed cap on balances: the need for a much more rigorous framework to assess policy change.

We need a better framework and estimates to assess the performance of the system.

At present, the Treasury costs tax concessions using the “revenue forgone” method, that is, tax revenue forgone by government when only 15 per cent tax is paid on super contributions instead of the full marginal rate that would otherwise have been paid if all earnings had gone direct to employees. These estimates do not account for withdrawals from the system or behaviours such as diverting earnings into other tax-preferred activity such as negative gearing, and they do not consider savings made on the age pension.

An alternative method proposed by both the 2009 Henry review and the 2013 Charter Group is an “expenditure tax benchmark”, which estimates the revenue forgone less the tax paid on earnings in the fund. “Experimental estimates” using this method in the Tax Expenditure Statement 2013 indicate a net cost of super tax concessions in 2013-14 of $10.3 billion, with $16.1 billion revenue forgone on contributions, offset by $5.8 billion in taxes paid by funds on earnings.

Hence, the current cost of concessions and the expected $2 billion in savings from the first year of the new policy may well be an over-estimate. We need a better framework and estimates to assess the performance of the system.

The treasurer’s proposed purpose of super can provide a focus for developing a better framework for deliberations on super policy. Let’s hope the current debate concerning large balances, admirable though it might be, does not cloud the issue.

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Top US general says the fight in Syria is “important” for security after surprise visit

Milley believes an "enduring defeat" of ISIS is possible, but didn't say how far away that is.

By Nicholas Slayton | Published Mar 4, 2023 7:09 PM EST

mark milley

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, made an unexpected visit to U.S. forces in Syria. The top general visited American troops in the country’s northeast to hear from them about how the fight against ISIS is going. The visit also comes after recent attacks on bases housing American soldiers. 

Milley was asked by reporters if the mission in Syria was worth the risk, per Reuters . He directly connected U.S. presence in the country with the nation’s national security. 

“If you think that that’s important, then the answer is ‘Yes,’” he said. ”I happen to think that’s important.”

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Despite ISIS being driven from its last stronghold of Baghouz, Syria in 2019, the United States and partners have been continuing to fight and hunt down members of the terrorist group. That has predominantly been in Syria, where the United States has been carrying out several helicopter raids, but the hunt for ISIS has extended to Somalia as well. In January, the U.S. killed multiple members of ISIS in Somalia, including Bilal al-Sudani, described as a “leader” of the group in the country..

Even with combat operations continuing, Milley said that an “enduring defeat” of the terrorist group “can be done,” although he did not give any indication of how far away the U.S. mission is from that benchmark. 

Milley’s comments come a day after U.S. Central Command released a report detailing the number of anti-ISIS operations carried out with partners both in Syria and Iraq in February. Those operations were conducted with Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces. The report documented 33 partnered operations in Iraq, plus 15 partnered ones and two unilateral missions in Syria during the month. Despite ISIS’ many defeats, CENTCOM said, continued pressure is needed in order to prevent the group from rebuilding itself and be able to carry out new attacks against the United States and allies. “The fight against ISIS continues,” CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla said in the report, also not giving any indication of what a full victory for the U.S.-led coalition over ISIS would be.

The United States military has approximately 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq, and 900 in Syria (plus several more in nearby neighboring countries).

Milley’s visit to Syria also comes after one American base in the country’s southeast was recently attacked. The al-Tanf base, near the border with Jordan and Iraq, houses both American and SDF fighters and a trio of one-way attack drones were fired at it on Jan. 20. Two were shot down but one hit the compound, wounding two Syrians. 

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COMMENTS

  1. What's The Purpose Of A Presentation? The Art Of Presentation

    Your purpose for your presentation drives everything: Your points Content Theme Your examples And, your evidence with which you illustrate your points And, as your presentation is the best way to forge a communication with your audience, then now is the time to get cracking with a purpose for your presentation.

  2. Presentation Purpose: 2 Types & 4 Pro Tips

    PRESENTATION PURPOSE: INFORMATION OR PERSUASION In most small-room presentations, the presenter is there to fulfill one or two purposes. If the presenter stays focused on the appropriate purpose, she will do well. If she fails to deliver or tries to accomplish additional purposes, then she is taking a risk.

  3. The Purpose of a Presentation: Inform, Persuade, Inspire or Entertain

    A persuasive presentation is an effort to change or influence the opinions, beliefs, or behaviors of the audience. If I were to give a persuasive presentation about my favorite movie, I could provide my own opinion along with other academics, while backing up these opinions with visual examples.

  4. What Is a Presentation? Definition, Uses & Examples

    What is a presentation? A communication device that relays a topic to an audience in the form of a slide show, a demonstration, a lecture or speech where words and pictures intend to complement each other. Why should you think of presentations as content? The beauty of content creation is that most anything can become a compelling piece of content.

  5. Presenting With Purpose

    A purpose that involves your audience understanding, believing or doing something as a result of your presentation. Describe this purpose in one sentence. Nothing longer. Make it succinct yet pithy. Make sure that your presentation purpose hits these SMART objectives: 1 Specific Test that the objectives for your presentation are precise.

  6. What Is A Presentation? Objectives, Elements, Important ...

    The main objectives of a presentation are: To Inform To Train To Persuade To Motivate To Entertain To Inform A presentation is created to convey some information to a group of people. For example, a presentation may display an organisation's quarterly performance. To Train

  7. Does Your Presentation Have a Purpose?

    A purpose statement for a speech is specific, relevant, and short. A good purpose statement contains just 10 words. Keeping a purpose statement concise eliminates rambling and a directionless presentation. It keeps the presentation's message focused and strategic. Twyla Tharp, renowned dance choreographer and author of "The Creative Habit ...

  8. What is a Presentation?

    A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team. A presentation can also be used as a broad term that encompasses other 'speaking engagements' such as making a speech at a wedding, or getting a point across in a video conference.

  9. What Is the Purpose of an Oral Presentation?

    The main purpose of an oral presentation is to present subject content in an organized, concise and effective manner to a live audience. When delivering an oral presentation, certain challenges require ingenious techniques to engage into an impromptu interaction with the audience members.

  10. The 6 types of presentation (And why you need them)

    Informative presentations are often used to present research findings to a specific audience, as it involves reporting the findings and briefing it to the audience.. Hence, almost everywhere where research takes place, be it in an educational context or occupational, can make use of this kind of presentation.. Tips for giving informative presentations

  11. defining purpose of presentation

    2. to know the purpose means to be clear about the reason for doing something. knowing the purpose of an activity help a presenter plannig and preparing the presantation. the main purpose of any presantation is getting the message across the listner localpresantation is a complete knowledge aboute the audience and the locale from the desk of ...

  12. Presentations considering your purpose and audience

    The purpose of this presentation is to inspire and persuade these young people to consider applying for university, so you might use techniques such as emotive language, stories and a call to action.

  13. What is PowerPoint?

    With PowerPoint on your PC, Mac, or mobile device, you can: Create presentations from scratch or a template. Add text, images, art, and videos. Select a professional design with PowerPoint Designer. Add transitions, animations, and cinematic motion. Save to OneDrive, to get to your presentations from your computer, tablet, or phone.

  14. What is the Purpose of Microsoft PowerPoint?

    The purpose of PowerPoint is to act as a visual aid as a presenter goes along presenting their option, ideas, sales pitch, etc. Make sure to not make your slides too wordy and concentrate on adding only basic bullet points. Using videos can also help in explaining long concepts in a shorter time frame, with more precision.

  15. Presentation Definition & A Complete Guide For Beginners

    A presentation in the context of public speaking can be described as an activity where a presenter presents his/her ideas, explains a process, provides information, or raises questions regarding a subject for public debate. There can be many definitions of a presentation, however, it can be basically narrowed down to the aforementioned.

  16. How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

    Typically, your presentation has a specific goal - that could be to convert a number of the audience members into customers, lead to a certain number of enquiries to make people knowledgeable on specific key points, or to motivate them towards a shared goal.

  17. Present With Purpose

    The best way to develop your purpose statement is to start with this bare-bones template: "The purpose of my presentation is to: (1) verb. (2) audience (you can say "you" here) to. (3) topic.". Examples #1 and #2 above follow this template. Example #3 throws in a little "what's in it for you" statement. All are effective.

  18. The Purpose of Speech Explained

    Conclusion. The purpose of giving a speech is unique and, at the same time Versatile, it has the role of conveying a message in various ways, whether it is entrenched, persuading, informing, or combining multiple forms. What differentiates one speech from the other is how we decide to convey a message, and some are more appropriate than others ...

  19. Writing an Impactful Purpose Statement: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Writing Out the Main Points of Your Purpose Statement. At the moment of designing your company's purpose statement presentation, write down an outline of the key elements to mention or include: 1. Target audience and their needs. 2. How the product or service solves customer pain points or fills gaps in the market.

  20. 10 Presentation Skills That Every Great Presenter Must Have

    Presentation skills are important because they can help you to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. A good presentation can make a big impact on your audience and can help to persuade them of your point of view. Presentation skills are also important in other areas of life, such as job interviews, sales pitches, and networking events.

  21. Informative Speeches

    Types of informative speeches. The most common types of informative speeches are definition, explanation, description, and demonstration. A definition speech explains a concept, theory, or philosophy about which the audience knows little. The purpose of the speech is to inform the audience so they understand the main aspects of the subject matter.

  22. Solved CH 12 7. One purpose of subpoints is to Multiple

    Business. Operations Management. Operations Management questions and answers. CH 12 7. One purpose of subpoints is to Multiple Choice stimulate your audience with presentation aids. emphasize your main point through repetition. smooth the transition between main points. cite your sources. offer evidence to support a main point. 8.

  23. Super's purpose is dignified retirement, but tax debate clouds issues

    Opinion. Super's purpose is dignified retirement, but tax debate clouds issues. The expected $2 billion savings from the crackdown on large balances is probably an overestimate.

  24. Milley says Syria mission is "important" for national security in

    The visit also comes after recent attacks on bases housing American soldiers. Milley was asked by reporters if the mission in Syria was worth the risk, per Reuters. He directly connected U.S ...

  25. truth_punch on Instagram: What was the purpose of the founding of

    Hans Zimmer • S.T.A.Y.