Unit 3: Making Your Presentation Relevant
In this unit, we explore how to research and write the content to include in your presentation. First, you need to identify a topic. You will want to answer a few questions to determine whether the topic is right for you. Is it relevant to you? Is it relevant to your audience? Is it relevant to the time and place you will deliver your presentation?
Completing this unit should take you approximately 1 hour.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- explain the process of choosing an appropriate topic; and
- choose a presentation topic and incorporate material that is relevant to yourself, your audience, and the occasion.
3.1: How to Choose Your Topic
We begin this unit by summarizing the elements you need to consider when choosing a topic for your presentation.
This article gives an overview of this process, which we will cover in more detail later.
3.2: Topics that are Relevant to You
What topic is relevant to you as a presenter? You should be qualified to present your topic and hold the attention of your audience with credibility. For example, it may be difficult to talk about scuba diving's joys if you have never had the experience. However, a discussion on fire safety will probably interest your audience if you have spent your life as a firefighter.
Suppose you have been assigned a presentation topic where you must inform a politician about a legislative position or sell your company's latest product to a client. Try to identify your connection with the subject matter to make your presentation engaging and credible.
Read this chapter, which offers advice on how to determine your areas of expertise and interest. It explains how to narrow your topic to make it manageable using a process called scoping.
Mind mapping is one way to brainstorm and determine the scope of your topic. This resource explains how to approach topic choice and offers creative strategies for developing a focus.
3.3: Topics that are Relevant to the Audience
How much does your audience know about your topic? Do they have positive or negative feelings on the subject? How will they react to your message? You may need to research how much background information to provide. Try to anticipate issues you will need to spend extra time explaining, places where your audience may disagree, or areas where you may need to respond to questions.
3.4: Topics that are Relevant to the Occasion
Finally, consider the occasion of your presentation. For example, how much time do you have, and what do you want to cover during your time? Will you present as part of a panel of experts who may offer additional information or a contrasting perspective? Are you part of a friendly conversation with colleagues, or will you present to a larger and more general audience?
The occasion of your presentation should influence the material you choose, how you approach your subject matter, and the language you use. This article looks at the aspects you should consider as you plan your presentation.