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How to Write an Effective Presentation Outline

Written by: Unenabasi Ekeruke

Creating a presentation can be nerve-wracking, especially when you're staring at a blank slate.

You’ve probably got tons of ideas bouncing around, but turning them into a slick, impressive presentation is proving a hard nut to crack.

News flash: You’re not alone.

About 80% of presentations fail to deliver their objectives due to poorly organized information, a lack of preparation and scruffy slide decks.

So, how do you avoid this disaster? It all boils down to having a solid presentation outline. Think of it as a roadmap that helps you organize and share your ideas in a clear and logical way.

With the right presentation outline, you can stay on track, keep your audience hooked and ultimately convey your message with clarity and impact.

So whether you're pitching to investors, partners or clients or preparing a presentation for a conference, this article has everything you need to know about writing an effective presentation outline.

Let’s get to it!

Table of Contents

What is the outline of a presentation, why is a presentation outline important, how to write a presentation outline, how to execute your presentation outline with visme.

• A presentation outline will help you organize your thoughts to communicate with your audience clearly and easily. It clarifies the presenter’s primary ideas and organizes the flow of your presentation.
• A presentation outline consists of critical components that are logically arranged for coherence. Utilize best practices, including formatting, audience analysis and visual cues, to deliver the message with impact.
• Use interactive elements from Visme, such as hotspots, polls, animations and links, to add interactivity to your presentation outline.
• Create a presentation outline by signing up for Visme's extensive online presentation tool without dealing with complicated tool setup or program installation issues.

A presentation outline refers to the barebones version of a talk or a speech that summarizes the main points and takes the general direction of the pitch. It allows presenters to structure the flow of information in a manner that is easy to understand.

Without an outline, your presentation can be a nightmare. You could end up shuffling slides around indefinitely and appearing confused. To avoid this situation, the outline clearly lists out everything you want your presentation to achieve.

Before creating your outline, consider the goal of your presentation, who will listen to it, and what interests them. This will help you organize your content to keep them engaged.

Here’s an excellent example of a presentation with an outline.

An outline for presentation is a valuable tool that can assist you in several ways:

• You can ensure that your thoughts flow smoothly and that important points are highlighted and not overlooked.
• Creating an outline for a presentation can help you generate ideas for your presentation and give you a clear notion of what to focus on.
• A presentation outline acts as a foundation for your speaking notes, allowing you to rehearse and prepare effectively.
• It helps you stay more confident because of your polished presentation.

Now that we know why we need to make a presentation outline, let’s dive deeper into how you can write a presentation outline.

1. Decide the Purpose of the Presentation

Decide on the goal of your presentation before you start writing any notes. It serves as a base for the remainder of your outline. Your presentation may have one of the following six objectives: to inform, convince, motivate, inspire action or entertain.

A business, for instance, might use presentations for various reasons. A sales presentation outline would try to convince potential customers to buy a product, while a training presentation might educate staff members on new techniques.

Once you determine this, answer the following questions to specify the purpose.

• What is the main message you want to convey to your audience?
• What problem are you trying to solve and how can your presentation help?
• What is the desired outcome of your presentation and how will you measure its success?
• What key takeaways do you want your audience to remember after your presentation?
• What challenges or objections may your audience have and how can you address them in your presentation?

Upon answering them, write your purpose and summarize it into one or two sentences, then put that on your first slide.

2. Prepare a Structure

Making an excellent presentation starts with a great outline. But the structure is what amplifies the impact of your delivery.

An eye-catching introduction, a body and a conclusion emphasizing your primary ideas are the three essential components of a successful speech .

Here’s what you should include while creating the structure of your presentation .

• An introduction

3. Flesh out Your Outline

Now that you know what to include in the structure, let’s break it down step by step about how to write the outline.

Gather Ideas

When brainstorming, consider the most important things you want to discuss. These could be key points, stories to share, or facts and numbers you want to tell your audience. Write them all down, even if they initially seem a bit random.

Organize your ideas and determine the main message

Armed with a bucket list of ideas, you must later organize and group them. Look for patterns, connections and relationships between your ideas.

Find the most important idea—the main thing you want to tell your audience. Make sure it's clear, short and something they'll find interesting. Recheck your ideas and remove anything that doesn't match your main message or the people you're talking to.

Create a Skeleton Outline

Now that you’ve gathered ideas, it's time to build the framework for your presentation.

Introduction

Begin by introducing your topic and explaining why it's essential. Think of it as the curtain-raiser that gets your audience's attention. Also, clearly state the main point you'll discuss—your "thesis" or purpose for the presentation.

Create a skeleton outline of your presentation by breaking down this main message into smaller parts. Use bullet points or headings to organize these bits of information.

Think of the main points as the big chapters and the subpoints as the smaller sections within those chapters.

To make your presentation flow smoothly, add transitions between your points. These can be simple phrases like "Let's move on to the next point" or "Now, let's build on what we've just discussed." And when you're nearing the end, use a transition like "In conclusion."

Once you have your skeleton outline, add supporting evidence to each point. It could include statistics, case studies, quotes, images, or videos. Make sure whatever you add fits well and backs up your main message.

As you reach the end of the presentation, tie everything together with a solid conclusion. Start by recapping the main points you covered throughout your presentation. It helps reinforce what you've shared and ensure your message sticks.

Next, emphasize the key takeaways—those crucial nuggets of wisdom you want your audience to remember long after the presentation.

Now, consider including a call to action. It is where you invite your audience to do something based on what they've learned. It could be as simple as asking them to share their thoughts, sign up for more information or even take a specific action related to your topic.

If you're feeling creative, create a unique call to action that inspires your audience to engage further.

For instance, if you’re presenting a project presentation to a group of people, you might seek to win their support for your idea or get them involved in its execution. Your audience should know what they get from taking action.

If you need help generating ideas for your presentation, Visme AI writer can help. You can enhance your outline content with fresh angles, Call to Action (CTAs), examples and data points.

Remind the audience of your central point and express gratitude for their attention in the conclusion if the presentation doesn't require a call to action.

As your presentation winds down, open the floor to questions or discussion. It encourages interaction and lets your audience clarify any doubts they may have.

Lastly, list the sources you used in your presentation and acknowledge any individuals or organizations that contributed to your research or material development. It adds credibility and respect to your work.

Read our guide to learn more about how to close a presentation with style . Also, watch this video to learn how to create CTAs that make your audience do your bidding.

4. Add Visual Content

Consider adding visual content, as it has a higher recall rate than text based or video content. It can add meaning to your message, increase interest and invite the viewer to click and consume your content.

Here’s an example of a presentation outline with a colorful image that makes the slide pop.

Visuals can be anything from infographics, videos, photos, GIFs or memes, screenshots or illustrations. However, if you’re including statistics and research findings in your presentation outline slide, consider creating a visual representation of that data.

Visme’s data visualization tools make this easy. They take your data and turn it into beautiful and comprehensive visuals.

Whether you want to create bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs, area charts, histograms, or donut charts, Visme has a wide range of options.

Remember that you don’t need to include all of these visuals while creating the outline. Just mention where and on which slide you’d place the visual elements. It’ll help you organize your ideas as you dive into the body of the presentation.

5. Pay Attention to Color and Design

You must pay attention to the colors, design, layout and style to capture the audience's attention and interest. It must look consistent to give a neat look and feel.

When creating an outline, finalize what color combination and typography you'll use throughout your creative presentation .

Below are the tips you should consider when deciding on it Use color moderately

Everyone enjoys color; that is obvious. Nevertheless, using too many colors might result in chaotic, unattractive presentations.

Your audience's understanding and reaction to your presentation may depend on your color scheme. For instance, choosing dark and subdued colors when discussing a serious subject may be effective. Bright and bold colors may be preferable if your theme is engaging or imaginative.

You don't want the colors in your design to appear intimidating or overpowering to your audience since every color has both good and bad connotations. Hence, understanding marketing color psychology becomes essential.

Watch this video to learn more about color psychology and how to use it in your upcoming presentation design.

Make use of clear and consistent typography

Optimizing your typography can impact how people interpret your message. Therefore, ensure your presentation slide looks well-organized and polished and conveys the intended information.

Here's how you can accomplish that:

• Use fonts that reflect your brand's essence.
• Throughout your presentation, maintain consistency in your text styles. We advise you to use up to three typefaces.
• Avoid using intricate fonts and small, difficult-to-read text. Use readable fonts like Arial, Times News Roman and Calibri for tiny and large screens.
• For titles and at least the body content, use a font size of 34–36.

When putting out your presentation outline, using a tool like Visme can significantly improve your ability to create visually appealing and polished presentations quickly.

The templates from Visme are professionally designed to help you save hours and effort.

Hear what one of our customers has to say about our designs:

Web Designer & Digital Marketing Specialist

Let’s get started on how you can make a presentation outline.

1. Log in to Visme & Choose a Template

Log in or Sign up free to Visme and then click the "Create New" button.

Select "Presentations" from the "Project" menu to browse through Visme's collection of presentation templates. Use a blank or pre-designed template to start from scratch with your presentation design.

Visme offers 500+ presentation templates split into 20+ topic categories, including pitch decks, interactive, business and more. So even if you have no prior knowledge of presentation design, you will likely find an excellent template to use as a starting point.

2. Find the Right Visuals and Design Assets

After you select the template, decide what visuals you will use in the presentation outline. The visuals you select will significantly impact the presentation's overall appearance and feel

Visme gives you access to thousands of high-quality, royalty-free photos and design assets To find your preferred image, browse and select using a particular keyword.

And still, if you don’t find the perfect image for your design needs, you can use Visme's AI image generator to generate professional-quality photos, graphics, art, drawings and paintings.

You simply need to input an accurate prompt that describes what you want. The wizard will automatically generate and present multiple options for you. Additionally, you may use the Visme AI image photo editor to transform your photos into a masterpiece.

3. Choose Legible fonts

Selecting the right brand fonts for your presentation outline holds the same importance as choosing your brand colors .

If the chosen typefaces are of high quality, i.e., easy to read, it can positively impact the audience's understanding of the presentation's context.

But a font that’s too small or hard to read can lead to waning interest and the oversight of essential information. To overcome this situation, we recommend you check out the list of 20 best fonts for presentations for your upcoming one!

Remember to limit the fonts you use to three: one for the title, one for the subheaders and one for the body of your text.

When creating a presentation outline, use your brand fonts to ensure the presentation better reflects your brand voice. This helps maintain consistency and uniformity.

You can easily create and save your branding elements with the brand kit. Or use paste your website URL into Visme's brand wizard to automatically extract your brand assets (fonts, color and logo).

Moreover, to ensure that your key brand information is accurate across all slides while doing the outline, simply create new dynamic fields or edit existing ones. You can assign values and your data will update in real time, speeding up your editing process.

4. Make your Presentation Interactive

One of the most challenging tasks for a presenter is keeping their audience intrigued and engaged. Adding interactivity to your presentation can help attract and hold your audience's attention throughout the presentation.

The best part is that it doesn’t have to be a tough task. If you’re looking to create an immersive experience for your audience and increase engagement, Visme offers interactivity and animation features such as hotspots, hover effects and clickable menus.

You don't need to do everything while making your presentation outline; just remember where to place interactive elements to create an engaging experience for your audience.

5. Revise the Outline Flow

Once you have finished creating the outline, review your slides again to ensure each section flows into the next without disruption. This step is crucial for creating a smooth presentation overview and maintaining audience engagement.

Additionally, if you want to inform viewers about a new idea between portions, use visual cues. For instance, use an eye-catching design element or an inverted color scheme for every transitional slide.

Employee feedback across the company is often needed while creating a presentation outline. The marketing team may want to highlight your growing customer base, while the finance team may add some income and spending numbers.

After the review, feel free to eliminate any redundant or unnecessary information.

You can collaborate with your team and improve your project with Visme’s collaboration tools . Collaborators can access the document and pin, circle, annotate, highlight, add comments and more. This way, you can see your team members' feedback and resolve the comments in real-time.

6. Share It With the Team

We understand the frustration of investing hours of hard work into crafting a presentation only to have it rejected by our superiors or boss.

Sharing and showcasing your work can be beneficial for getting feedback on your presentation outline. You can easily share and publish your presentation online using Visme. It opens the door for simple access and review by enabling you to distribute it quickly using a generated URL or simply embed it on your website.

Watch this video to learn how to collaborate using Visme.

Presentation Outline FAQs

Q. what are the 5 steps to outlining a presentation.

Creating well-structured presentation outlines is essential for successful presentations. Here are the 5 steps:

• Define Your Presentation Goal: What do you want your audience to learn or do after your presentation?
• Brainstorm Ideas: Generate a list of main points and supporting ideas related to your goal.
• Organize Your Thoughts: Arrange your ideas in a logical flow, considering what information builds upon the previous.
• Create a Clear Structure: Craft a compelling introduction, a well-organized body with your main points, and a concise conclusion that reinforces your message.
• Refine and Polish: Review and revise your outline to ensure clarity, conciseness and a smooth transition between sections.

Q. What Are the Three Basic Parts of a Presentation Outline?

A presentation outline typically consists of three main parts:

• Introduction: Hook your audience, introduce your topic, establish your credibility and clearly state your main message or thesis.
• Body: This is the heart of your presentation, where you present your main points and supporting evidence. Use clear transitions between points and maintain a logical flow to keep your audience engaged.
• Conclusion: Briefly summarize your key points, repeat your main message for reinforcement and end with a strong call to action or a memorable takeaway for your audience.

Q. What is a Presentation Script Outline?

A presentation script outline is a detailed, word-for-word plan for your presentation. It includes everything you'll say, from opening to closing remarks. This outline helps ensure you deliver your message smoothly and stay on track, especially if you feel nervous or working on complex information.

Q. What Is the Difference Between a Presentation Outline and a Speaking Outline?

A presentation outline is your presentation's comprehensive blueprint, covering all the main points and supporting details. A speaking outline, or speaker note, is a shorter version used as a reference while presenting. It typically includes key phrases, cues and transitions to guide you through your talk.

Level Up Your Presentations with Visme

As we have explored the ins and outs of making a presentation outline, it's clear that this process goes beyond just putting bullet points in order.

By organizing each part of your outline, arranging sub-points and adding visuals, you're crafting an immersive experience for your audience. This experience grabs attention, helps them understand and keeps them engaged.

With Visme, you can create an impressive presentation outline with an intuitive editor and advanced features. Additionally, if you want your audience to watch your presentation at their convenience, you can use Visme's presentation recording software .

Visme offers a wide selection of templates to take your presentation outline to the next level. There are millions of pixel-perfect graphics, icons and design elements to make your presentation come to life.

Sign-up today and make your presentation shine.

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About the Author

Unenabasi is a content expert with many years of experience in digital marketing, business development, and strategy. He loves to help brands tell stories that drive engagement, growth, and competitive advantage. He’s adept at creating compelling content on lifestyle, marketing, business, e-commerce, and technology. When he’s not taking the content world by storm, Unenabasi enjoys playing or watching soccer.

December 4, 2023

How to create a presentation outline (with examples)

Four methods to create a presentation outline and example outlines for inspiration

Co-founder, CEO

Like it or not, if you work in an office environment or go to school, you'll probably have to make a presentation at some point. But creating a great presentation can be challenging, especially when you're short on time or suffering from writers' block.

Luckily, there are lots of ways to get a head start on your presentation outline, and in this article we'll walk through four options for creating a presentation outline and show you several examples of great presentation outlines.

Why should I write a presentation outline?

An outline helps you organize your ideas in a clear and logical way . Instead of getting bogged down on details like formatting or word choice, an outline presents the overarching story of your presentation with just a few main points. This helps to make sure you have a cohesive narrative before you dive in to the nitty gritty work of wordsmithing individual bullet points or selecting the perfect slide theme.

If this sounds like a lot of work, it often is! But spending time writing a great outline will save you time and effort down the road because it will be easier to organize your work and create each slide when you understand how it fits in to the broader presentation.

Here are four ways you can get a start on creating your next presentation outline.

Method 1: Create your outline from scratch

Creating an outline from scratch may sound intimidating if you have never written a presentation outline before, but this is the most straightforward way to get started.

Start by jotting down the three main points you want to make in your presentation. Once you have your main ideas in order, write down a few supporting details and examples for each point.

Then, add an introduction (find an interesting image, quote, or question to help grab the audience's audience) and a conclusion (decide on the best way to summarize the takeaways from your presentation) to the outline, and you are ready to go.

This method is great for those who prefer to have complete control over their presentation and want to create a custom outline that works best for their needs.

Method 2: Create a presentation outline using an AI presentation maker

If you're short on time or looking for a quick way to get a first draft of a presentation outline that you can then refine, using an AI presentation maker is a great option.

Plus AI lets you type a short prompt like "Create a presentation that provides an overview of the Norwegian oil industry," and it will automatically generate an outline of a presentation for you. After Plus creates the outline, you can change the titles of slides, rearrange slides, and remove any pieces of the outline that are not necessary.

From there, once your outline is created, you can click the "Generate presentation" button, choose a template, and let the AI create the first draft of your entire presentation.

This method is a good option for those who want to create a polished presentation without getting stuck with a blank piece of paper. Instead, it frees you up to take a first draft presentation and customize it for your needs.

Method 3: Create a presentation outline using ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that can help with a wide variety of tasks - everything from acting as a therapist, to sharing recipes, to helping you come up with presentation ideas and creating content for a presentation .

To have ChatGPT help you generate a presentation, you can take two different approaches:

• Use a custom GPT that has been trained to help people create presentations or
• Ask the general ChatGPT interface to "Create a presentation outline for me on the topic of [XYZ]."

Both approaches will yield similar results, but a custom GPT like Plus AI presentation maker will be more fine-tuned to helping people create presentations. It will also provide additional functionality like providing a visual preview of the slides and feedback on how to improve your presentation.

Method 4: Create a presentation outline using a template

Last but not least, using a template is a good way to speed up the process of creating a new presentation outline. Similar to using an AI presentation maker, a template can give you a first draft of an outline that is easier to edit and refine than starting from scratch.

Presentation templates often come pre-designed with example text and images, so all you have to do is fill in your own content. For example, this TED Talk presentation template provides some instructions on how to create an outline for a TED Talk-style slide deck.

The secret to using this method is to find the closest template to the type of presentation you want to create. You should use detailed search terms to and look across multiple sites and resources to find one that matches the content and style that you would like.

Once you have your template, start by reviewing the overall outline or structure and tweak it to meet your needs. Then, you can fill in the specific content (e.g., text and images) with your materials to make it your own to quickly make a beautiful presentation.

Presentation outline examples

Basic presentation outline example.

Let's take a look at a presentation outline and accompanying notes for a persuasive presentation on encouraging people to meditate every day:

I. Introduction

• Hook - find a striking image and tell a story
• Thesis statement - everyone should meditate for 10 min per day

II. Main point 1 - Meditation is one of the easiest ways to improve your health

• Physical health
• Mental health

III. Main point 2 - Meditation is backed up by thousands of years of practice and research

• One anecdote from antiquity
• One anecdote from recent research

IV. Main point 3 - You can get started with meditation today

• Basic technique
• Tips for newcomers

V. Conclusion

• Summarize key points
• Call to action

As you can see, this is a relatively lightweight plan for the presentation, but it provides an easy-to-understand framework that we can fill in with slides.

There are rough notes on specific content for the different points in the presentation, but we don't need to write out everything in fine detail, just the broad strokes.

Pitch deck outline example

Now let's review an outline for a pitch deck that someone might use to present their startup idea to prospective investors. This is for a startup that uses autonomous food trucks to deliver meals to people's homes and workplaces.

I. Problem statement - "Food delivery sucks, and here's why"

• Hook - pictures of typical food delivery headaches (e.g., late/no show, bad selection, etc)

II. Value prop - "FoodDrive revolutionizes the food delivery model"

• Compare value chain of FoodDrive to traditional restaurant and delivery service
• Show how $50 order gets allocated to different people

III. The product - "Customers love our trucks"

• Picture of food truck and menu
• Customer quotes and reviews

IV. Why now? - "Our self-driving technology is ready for prime-time"

V. Business model - "Each truck can generate $2-3M of revenue per year with a 60% gross margin"

• Show high-level financial forecasts on unit basis

VI. Competitive landscape - "FoodDrive's closest competitors don't come close"

• Comparison table with delivery services, in-house delivery, eating out-of-home, etc.

VII. Go to market strategy - "We've tested FoodDrive in 2 markets so far. Here's how we win in new markets"

• Overview of social media strategy
• Case study on new market launch

VIII. Team - "Our team has experience in autonomous vehicles, food delivery, and quick service restaurants"

IX. Traction - "We generate $5M of revenue per year with our 2 trucks, and we can ramp up new trucks immediately"

• Show revenue growth chart with focus on time to ramp new trucks to productivity

X. Fundraising goal - "We are raising $50M to expand FoodDrive to 10 more markets"

• Highlight key milestones we aim to reach with additional funding

Even though a pitch deck is a specialized type of presentation that often requires specific content, it's helpful to start with an outline to build out the 'story' behind the content. That way, you have a cohesive story rather than a set of disparate slides.

How can I create a presentation from an outline?

Once you have your presentation outline written, it's time to start writing your slides. Since you already know the main points you are trying to make in your presentation, the main decisions here are

• What type of visual style you want to follow
• How many slides you want in your presentation
• How you will present or share the slides

To get a head start on creating a first draft of your presentation, you could enter your outline into an AI presentation maker.

This will provide a first draft of the slides so that you can focus on making sure they tell a cohesive story or tweaking individual slides to leave a memorable impression.

Other tips and tricks for great presentations

Here are some resources to help you create great presentations:

• Make slides look good - Here are six tips for making visually appealing slides.
• Number of slides - Here is a calculator that can help you calculate how many slides you need for a presentation depending on how long you need to present.
• Unique presentation ideas - Here are 250 ideas for presentation topics that will help you create a great presentation.

Creating a presentation outline can be one of the most time-consuming parts of the creative process for making a new slide deck. Luckily, there are many tools and templates that can help you kickstart this process.

With these four methods, you can choose the one that works best for your needs and get started on your presentation outline today.

And once you have your outline, make sure to try out a tool like Plus AI presentation maker to quickly get your slides as well!

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How to make a presentation outline: a step-by-step guide

Georgina Guthrie

May 24, 2024

Whether you’re building a house, baking a cake, or creating a killer presentation — having a plan in place before you begin work will make the task much easier. Planning saves time and enhances the quality of your work. This is especially true for business presentations, which is why you should always start with a presentation outline.

A presentation outline is a streamlined version of your talk, capturing the general direction and key points. Its purpose is to shape your thinking, organize your thoughts, and ensure your material is presented logically.

In this article, we’ll explore what a presentation outline is, how storytelling can engage your audience, and how to create a flawless outline. Let’s dive in.

Defining your presentation’s goal

What are you trying to achieve with your presentation? A good starting point is to think about the overall purpose.

Types of presentation goals

There are six main types of presentation goals:

• Inspire action
• Inspire or motivate

In a business setting, ‘to inform’ is most common, but it’s usually coupled with at least one other. For example, if you’re there to talk about quarterly results, then you’ll want to inform and motivate. However, if you’re a business coach, your goals will likely be to inspire, motivate, and entertain.

Once you’ve defined your goal, you’ll want to understand the impact you hope to have on your audience. To answer this, ask these questions:

• What do I want people to take away from my presentation?
• How will what I talk about help others in the room?
• What do I want people to do after my meeting?

From here, you should be able to create a summary of your presentation’s goals and purpose in one or two sentences. Put that on your first slide for easy reference.

Understanding your presentation’s audience

Knowing your audience is crucial for crafting a presentation that resonates. Consider their knowledge level, interests, and what they hope to gain from your presentation. Tailoring your content to meet their expectations will make your presentation more engaging and effective.

Questions to understand your audience

• What is the demographic makeup of your audience (age, gender, profession)?
• What are their roles in the organization or industry?
• How familiar are they with the topic you will be presenting?
• Do they have any preconceived notions or misconceptions about the topic?
• What are their primary interests related to the topic?
• Why are they attending your presentation? What do they hope to gain?
• What are their current pain points or challenges related to the topic?
• How can your presentation address these challenges?
• Do they prefer visual aids, interactive sessions, or straightforward lectures?
• Are they more inclined towards data-driven insights or anecdotal evidence?

Choosing your story structure

Stories are powerful tools for bringing people and ideas together. Great stories persuade and inform; the best stories inspire and stay with us. But we don’t often see this happening enough in the boardroom.

Stats and numbers are important for supporting claims, but if you want to inspire your audience, you need to weave those stats into a story. T he truth is, most stories are formulaic, so once you’ve chosen your formula, filling in the blanks is pretty easy.

Let’s look at a few popular story structure formulas below.

1. Fact and story

Mixing storytelling with facts works in a kind of mutually supportive cycle. Facts add substance to the story; the story adds interest to the facts.

In this structure, you weave the two together and move back and forth between the two.

• Start with a ‘what if’ question. For example, if you were pitching a vacuum cleaner, your initial sales pitch might be ‘what if you didn’t have to lose suction?’
• Add facts that illustrate the current state of things. To continue with our example, it might be current stats on traditional vacuums losing suction. Keep alternating facts with fiction throughout the body of your presentation.
• End on a high note that makes the listeners feel like they learned something and want to move to action because of it. For example, to invest in your new product, or to sponsor your new app .

2. The hero’s journey

From Odysseus to Chihiro , adventure stories typically feature a hero who goes on a journey fraught with peril and learns a vital lesson at the end of it. It’s a formula employed by thousands of writers — and you can draw from it to add some drama to your presentation.

This structure works really well for inspirational personal stories, or tales about a company from its humble beginnings to the success it is today.

• Begin somewhere neutral. The situation is neither ideal nor unbearable.
• Introduce a challenge — one that needs to be solved.
• Present a worsening situation. The problem is being addressed, but things are still getting worse.
• Define rock bottom. The situation seems impossible; there is apparently no way forward and all seems lost. Until…
• Introduce a new discovery that offers hope.
• Show your work. Armed with your new abilities, you tackle the issue head-on.
• Resolve the problem, but instead of returning to the way things were before, the hero (you) discovers an even better way of living.
• Finish with a lesson, which you can share to inspire your audience.

3. The pitch

The ‘pitch’ style of presentation is commonly used by salespeople. The goal is to show how a product or idea can help an individual overcome a hurdle toward a positive outcome. The story should be relatable, so the audience can picture themselves in the situation and, therefore, benefitting from the solution.

• Start with a summary of the way things are in simple terms.
• Introduce the problem or hurdle that needs solving. Make it relatable to help your audience put themselves in the situation.
• Introduce a solution: give your audience a glimpse into a possible solution.
• Create a fork in the road: Give your audience a couple of options for solving the problem. Offer an average option first, then follow up with a better one.
• Close: Choose the better option and explain why that’s the best one (and only real suitable choice).
• Finish up by telling the audience exactly how to solve the problem , step by step.
• Talk about extra benefits that extend beyond simply solving the problem. Finish on an uplifting high.

4. The explanation

This presentation format is for when you want to teach your audience something — whether that’s a process, a new skill, or a way to overcome a problem. It has similarities with the fact and story structure, insomuch as facts should weave into the story.

• Explain how things are at the moment , what the goal looks like, and how you plan to get there. You can even start with a story to add emotional interest from the get-go.
• Take your first step on the journey toward the final destination.
• Add more steps that build on this.
• Take a moment to recap the points you’ve covered so far while tying them to the main point. This will help your audience visualize the ground you’ve covered and see where you’re heading.
• Add the finishing pieces to the puzzle and lead your audience to the end.
• End your journey so your audience feels as though they’ve learned something new.

5. The opportunity

A close relative of the pitch, this three-part structure swaps a hurdle for an opportunity. Here, you want to show your audience that a problem they thought they had actually had an easy fix.

• Start with the situation as it is now.
• Next, add a ‘but’ — this could be a small hiccup that stops things from being as good as they could be. For example, our chocolate pudding company is doing really well. But we could be doing better if we changed supplier.
• Talk about the opportunity, with as many facts and stats as possible to make it feel achievable and real.
• Add a conclusion.
• Explain why the product or service meets the challenges raised. Add more stats and facts to support your point.

Storyboarding your presentation outline

Now you’ve worked out your structure, it’s time to start building your presentation. Storyboarding is the best way to do this. In the same way that directors use storyboards to map out their films scene-by-scene, you’re going to use it to map out your presentation slide-by-slide.

(Don’t worry, you can do stick people and squiggles if drawing isn’t your strong point.) Image Source

The trick here is to avoid adding too much detail too quckly. Ideally, have one or two sentences on each slide summarizing what each one will address. Stick to one main point per slide and no more than 3 subpoints.

You can do this with pen and paper, but since you’ll likely end up going digital eventually, you might as well start there. It looks far neater, and it means that if you need to change something, it’s as simple as deleting or editing a cell or slide rather than starting over.

If you don’t want to start from scratch, a business presentation template is a great place to start. You can storyboard directly on the template, and then flesh out each of the slides in more detail once you’re ready.

Once you’ve got your storyboard mostly ready, all that’s left is to fill in the details! And of course: make it look great.

Formatting your presentation

Proper formatting is crucial to ensuring your presentation is visually appealing and easy to follow. Effective formatting helps to highlight key points, maintain audience engagement, and enhance overall comprehension. Here are some guidelines and best practices for formatting your presentation:

Choose a consistent theme

• Use a professional and clean template that aligns with your topic and brand.
• Ensure the template is consistent throughout the presentation to maintain a cohesive look.
• Choose a color scheme that is visually appealing and easy on the eyes.
• Stick to 2-3 primary colors to avoid visual clutter.

Organize your slides

• Include a title slide with the presentation topic, your name, and date.
• Add a relevant image or graphic to set the tone.
• Provide an agenda or outline slide to give the audience an overview of what to expect.
• Use section divider slides to clearly separate different parts of your presentation.
• Include a brief title for each section.

Keep text clear and concise

• Use easy-to-read fonts such as Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri.
• Avoid overly decorative fonts that can be hard to read.
• Ensure the font size is large enough to be readable from a distance.
• Titles should be at least 24-30 points, and body text should be 18-24 points.
• Use bullet points to break down information into digestible chunks.
• Keep each bullet point concise, ideally one line each.

Visual elements

• Include high-quality images, charts, and infographics to illustrate key points.
• Ensure visuals are relevant and add value to the content.
• Maintain consistency in the style and size of images and graphics.
• Align visuals properly to avoid a cluttered appearance.
• Use white space effectively to prevent slides from looking overcrowded.
• White space helps to highlight key elements and improves readability.

Multimedia and animation

• Embed short videos to demonstrate concepts or provide visual examples.
• Ensure videos are of high quality and relevant to the content.
• Use animations sparingly to emphasize important points without distracting the audience.
• Stick to simple transitions and avoid overly complex animations.

Data presentation

• Use charts and graphs to present data clearly and concisely.
• Label axes and include legends for clarity.
• Avoid overwhelming the audience with too much data.
• Highlight key data points and trends.

Final touches

• Review the presentation for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Ensure all information is accurate and up-to-date.
• Rehearse your presentation multiple times to ensure smooth delivery.
• Check the flow of slides and the timing of animations and transitions.

By following these formatting guidelines, you can create a presentation that is not only visually appealing but also effective in communicating your message. Proper formatting helps to keep the audience engaged and ensures that your key points are clearly conveyed.

Presentation tools

For those looking for an intuitive and efficient way to create professional presentations, consider using Cacoo , our online diagramming tool. Cacoo allows you to collaborate in real time, offering a variety of templates and design tools that make planning, designing, and presenting a breeze. Whether you’re working solo or with a team, Cacoo helps you streamline the presentation creation process, ensuring that your final product is polished and impactful.

Ready to take your presentations to the next level? Try Cacoo for free today and experience the difference it can make in your workflow.

This post was originally published on April 07, 2021, and updated most recently on May 24, 2024.

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• Communication

How to Write Powerful PowerPoint Presentations Fast With Outlines

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to write a PowerPoint outline for a presentation . You'll see a presentation outline example that shows how beneficial the process can be. It might seem like an extra step while building a presentation. But creating a presentation outline saves you time in the long run.

Presentation outlines are a great way to save time. So are advanced PowerPoint templates. You'll see examples of professional PowerPoint templates from Envato Elements (unlimited downloads)  in this tutorial while you learn how to write a presentation outline.

Why Should You Write a PowerPoint Presentation Outline?

You might think that learning how to write a presentation outline is an  extra  step. Writing a presentation outline takes time. But you might be surprised by how much time it ultimately saves in later steps.

It's important to see writing a presentation outline as a helpful step instead of extra work. Investing time in creating a PowerPoint outline helps you avoid rewriting and reworking your presentation.

When I was a rookie presenter, I made a lot of mistakes while writing a presentation. I'd open PowerPoint, spend too much time picking a theme, and then start writing my content. I jumped back and forth between slides adding points.

In short: this created an unfocused presentation. You could tell that there was a scatterbrained approach to writing content. When I started using outlines, the presentation felt more cohesive, and every point fell naturally into place.

But don't think that a PowerPoint presentation outline will be tossed in the trash when your presentation is finished. With a bit of creativity, PowerPoint presentation outlines can serve multiple purposes:

• Use an outline as a slide of its own  to give your audience a sneak peek of the presentation's path.
• Send your outline as a pre-read  with critical details to build anticipation for your presentation.
• Print your outline  and keep it nearby to help you stay on topic while presenting.

Think of writing a presentation as a series of steps. Writing a presentation outline is the first step that saves time on all future steps. Learn how to do a presentation outline and more in our tutorial below:

Now, let's dive into our tutorial on PowerPoint presentation outlines.

How to Write a PowerPoint Presentation Outline

Once you've committed to writing a PowerPoint presentation outline, you might be wondering what the process looks like. Let's learn the keys to writing a presentation outline. Then, you'll learn how to incorporate that presentation outline into your PowerPoint.

The PowerPoint screenshots that you'll see in this section use a template called Brusher from Envato Elements . 

Now let's look at how to create PowerPoint outlines:

1. Close PowerPoint (If It's Already Open)

If PowerPoint is open, close the application! If it's not open, don't even think about heading for the Start menu to launch it.

That's right. The most important part of writing a PowerPoint presentation outline is to leave out the app for the time being. If you don't do this, you risk spinning your wheels and redoing parts of your presentation over and over. 

You might be surprised at how much focus a presentation outline brings to the process of learning how to write a presentation outline.

How many tutorials tell you to close the app while learning how to make a presentation outline? Well, this one just did, and it's crucial to the process of writing a presentation outline.

2. Set a Presentation Goal

It's vital that every presentation has a single, unifying goal. A PowerPoint presentation is a series of slides with supporting points that all tie back to that goal.

This goal is the guiding principle for everything you write. Setting the presentation's goal is the  first  step for writing your PowerPoint outline. 

As you set your presentation's goal, it's also crucial to think about the  type of presentation that you're giving. I divide presentation purposes into three key types, each with their nuances when it comes to writing. Here are the three types of presentation goals:

• To  educate  the audience on ideas and topics.
• To  update  colleagues on the latest status of a critical project or event (think of a meeting at work where you share a project update, for example).
• To  persuade  the audience to agree with and embrace your idea or position on an idea.

Before you start filling in the presentation outline, make sure that you've set this singular goal. Otherwise, you risk your presentation diverging into many ideas that don't support a common cause.

In summary, your first outline step is to  write your presentation's goal . It's that singular measuring stick that you use as you add more content. Every time you add a new slide or supporting point, ask yourself, " does this content support my presentation's goal? "

Supporting points help reiterate the presentation's goal. But you can't support the key goal if you don't define the goal! Learning how to do a presentation outline comes back to setting a goal.

3. Add Headers for the Key Sections

Now that you've set your presentation's " north star ," you can begin to block in the critical sections that support the goal. Each section should give a new angle but play a part in reinforcing the central goal.

I tend to aim for three or four key sections per presentation. Each of those sections might include multiple PowerPoint slides.

This is commonly called the " body " of the presentation. It's the meat and bones of the presentation with the content that helps you drive your key point home. Fill in a goal as you see in the presentation outline example below:

Let's walk through an example. Let's say that I'm attempting to inspire my audience to learn Power Query, a popular Excel data tool. The goal is to encourage them to action. I'll use three key sections that support the goal:

• What's Power Query?  It's best not to assume that your audience already knows. 
• Why should you use Power Query?  In a section like this, show the  benefit  of taking action. In this case, I'd show the audience how much faster data imports and transformations are when you use Power Query. This potential will inspire action.
• How to learn Power Query.  Once I've given the audience a taste of the power of the tool at hand, it's essential to provide them with a " next step " as well. A few primary resources of tutorials can serve as a launching pad.

No two presentations are the same. The way that you support your points will vary based on the presentation's goal. Remember: Y ou're the presenter. It's your story to tell.

Now, start filling in the details for each supporting section. Just as we expanded on the goal with crucial sections, each  section  should have supporting points.

In your medium of choice, write several supporting sentences for each of your key sections. This gives you several points that support your idea. Use these support points to create individual slides.

See the screenshot below for a sample presentation outline in progress:

Learn more about the writing process in this tutorial:

4. Write the Supporting Points

"You can't boil the entire ocean... The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time... Divide and conquer the task at hand..." 

All these phrases mean the same thing: the best way to tackle a project is to divide it into parts. When you're creating a PowerPoint, writing a  presentation outline first is the best way to break the project into easy-to-conquer tasks.

5. Open PowerPoint and Add Your Outline

Once you've finished writing your PowerPoint presentation outline, it's time to jump back to the app finally. You've laid the groundwork for writing a presentation rapidly. Now, it's time to drop it into PowerPoint.

There are many ways to approach this task. For me, I paste the entire outline on the first slide. Then, I'll start carving that outline up, pasting the sections, and supporting points out to their slides. I use this PowerPoint outline slide to plan my presentation.

Now, start pasting those sections to their own sections. Using Outline view in PowerPoint or another tool, gradually pull your outline apart into unique sections. Instead of typing them one-by-one, just paste the sections onto new slides.

You don't have to stick with the exact text you wrote. Instead, paste the sections out and use them as the inspiration for content. By doing this, your presentation stays true to the original outline and on topic!

PowerPoint even has a helpful feature to focus on outlines in the app. Learn more about Outline view in PowerPoint in the tutorial below:

It might seem odd that we saved this step for last, but this approach helps you stay focused. Instead of jumping around inside PowerPoint while writing a presentation outline, consider using a separate tool.

5 More Powerful Presentation Writing Tips

Before writing your presentation outline think consider the following:

1. Have One Idea Per Slide

Your slides should just have your main points. If there's too much on your slide, it can be overwhelming for your audience. It can also be distracting. Instead of listening to you, your audience might be reading the text on the slide.

2. Simplify Your Sentences

Instead of having complete sentences on your slide, you can reduce text by having simple sentences.

For example, instead of saying, " When you study before a test, you will remember the material, raise your grade and be knowledgeable about the subject. " You can simplify the statement to look like this:

Benefits of Studying

• Remember Material
• Raise Your Grade

Simplifying your sentences, as shown above, makes it easier to follow the rules on minimizing text on your slides.

3. Have Powerful Visuals

Visuals engage your audience, especially when they're eye-catching. They can also show what you’re discussing in the presentation.

If you want to add an emotional element to your presentation, a high-quality image is a great way to do that. If the image is low-quality or irrelevant, it can distract the audience. It’s best to think carefully about your visuals and what you want to add to the presentation.

4. Remember Your Audience

While writing your outline, remember who you’re writing for. One of the things you need to know about your audience is their knowledge of the subject you’re discussing. Are you speaking to a group of professionals who understand the terminology and the subject well? Or are you talking to a group of students who don’t know much about the subject?

You must also keep your audience in mind if you’re adding humor to your presentation. If you offend your audience, even accidentally, they'll stop listening to you.

5. Don’t Use Your Slides as Notes

Don’t read off your slides. This is a common mistake that people can make. The audience can read your slides, so it can be boring to hear you repeat what’s written on the slide.

It’s more effective when you give the audience new information. If you want to have notes, you can use the speaker notes tool in PowerPoint. This tool lets you add notes that the audience won’t see.

The Best Source for PowerPoint Presentation Templates (With Unlimited Downloads)

Before we dive into how to write presentations quickly, let's take a look at another timesaver: presentation templates . PowerPoint templates already have most of the design work done for you.

On Envato Elements, you can source unlimited  PowerPoint templates  for a flat rate. The singular subscription gives you everything you need to create a presentation—fast! Many of these options include PowerPoint outline templates already built.

Explore PowerPoint Templates

Not only will you unlock unlimited PowerPoint templates, but you'll also gain access to many other creative assets. That includes stock photos, graphics, illustrations, and more!

Top Envato Elements Presentation Templates

As you finish up your PowerPoint outline, why not pair it with a presentation outline template to rapidly craft your presentation? Here are three of our favorites in the Envato Elements library, all included as a part of the subscription!

1.  Outline - PowerPoint Template

The name might be a coincidence, but this PowerPoint presentation titled Outline is a perfect choice for many purposes. You've got 30 slides across five color schemes that are ready for practically any topic.

Flexible PowerPoint templates like this make it easy to adapt your presentation outline easily thanks to their well-designed structure.

2.  Business Strategy Two PowerPoint Template

The strategy is the unifying direction for a business or project plan. They work well with PowerPoint outlines thanks to the focused approach. This template captures many of the most popular strategy deliverables like:

• triple bottom line analyses
• and so much more

3.  Creativeplus - Agency PowerPoint Template

Are you running a creative agency? This PowerPoint template is sure to be a hit. It's useful for pitching projects or showing off your design chops. It's easy to update and has a fresh design that's certainly on-trend.

If you're still looking for presentation outline templates that save you time, Envato Elements might be right for you. Grab a template and design it rapidly!

More PowerPoint Presentation Templates

We've just scratched the surface of what's possible with templates for PowerPoint. Templates are the best way to save many hours of design work. Here are several articles with the best selection of PowerPoint templates:

More Powerful PowerPoint Resources

Learning how to write a presentation outline is just one of the many skills you need to become a confident presenter. Think of your learning journey in PowerPoint as a series of building blocks. Each skill gives you a steadier foundation.

Also, check our top-rated learning resource, How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide.) It's a comprehensive source of the best learning materials to master PowerPoint.

You've already learned how to write an outline for a presentation. Keep learning with these three excellent tutorials:

Start Writing Your PowerPoint Presentation Outline Today

You learned how to make a PowerPoint outline for a presentation. Writing a PowerPoint outline is a surefire way to save time and improve your presentation. It brings a focus and consistency to the content.

Every presentation is different. That means that every PowerPoint outline will differ. This guide offers general guidelines to help you. But remember to be confident in your subject knowledge.

Before you start writing a presentation, remember that writing an outline first is the best way to do it. Set a goal, write a few key sections, and fill in your supporting details. Then, rapidly build the slides with your content.

Don't forget! PowerPoint presentation templates from Envato Elements are major time-savers too! Use them alongside your outline to write presentations quickly. 

Editorial Note : This post was originally published in February of 2020. It's been updated for accuracy with help from Sarah Joy .

How to Create a Presentation Outline: A Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

Master presentation outlines with our easy, step-by-step guide, complete with practical examples.

Why Should You Write a Presentation Outline?

• Enhanced Focus: It helps keep you focused and prevents you from straying off topic.
• Time Efficiency: You save time when creating the actual presentation because you have a clear plan to follow.
• Audience Engagement: A well-organized flow helps maintain the audience's interest throughout the presentation.
• Stress Reduction: Having a structured plan in place can significantly lower anxiety by making you feel prepared.

Method 1: Create Your Outline from Scratch

• Identify Main Points: Begin by determining the three to five central messages you wish to convey. These should form the backbone of your presentation.
• Support with Details: For each main point, include supporting sub-points or data. This might consist of statistics, case studies, or other relevant information that reinforces your primary arguments.
• Introduction and Conclusion: Craft an engaging introduction that captures your audience's attention right from the start. You might use a striking statistic or a pertinent quote to do this. Conclude with a strong summary of the key takeaways and a compelling call to action.
• Introduction: Begin with a surprising statistic or a relevant quote to grab attention.
• Main Point 1: The importance of digital literacy.
• Sub-point: Provide current statistics on global digital literacy rates.
• Sub-point: Discuss a case study on successful digital education programs.
• Main Point 2: The benefits of improving digital literacy.
• Sub-point: Highlight economic benefits.
• Sub-point: Discuss social implications.

Method 2: Use an AI Presentation Maker

• Provide a Prompt: Enter a brief description of your presentation topic into the AI tool.
• Customize the Output: Examine the generated outline. You may need to modify the titles of the slides and their order to better suit your needs.
• Generate Presentation: Utilize the tool to transform the outline into a preliminary draft of your presentation.
• Introduction to Renewable Energy
• Benefits of Renewable Energy
• Challenges and Solutions
• Case Studies
• Conclusion and Future Outlook

Method 3: The Mind Mapping Technique

• Central Idea: Begin by placing the central topic of your discussion at the center of your map.
• Branch Out: Extend branches from the central idea to outline each primary point or theme.
• Sub-branches: Append sub-branches to these main branches to include supporting details, examples, and data.
• Visual Elements: Incorporate colors, symbols, and images to highlight and distinguish various ideas.
• Importance of Sustainability
• Strategies for Implementation
• Future Trends
• Green Energy
• Waste Management
• Sustainable Supply Chains

Method 4: The Storyboard Approach

• Sketch Scenes: Draw or describe each slide or section of your presentation as a panel in a storyboard.
• Narrative Flow: Arrange the panels to ensure a logical progression of ideas.
• Detailing: Add notes for key points, transitions, and how you plan to engage the audience.
• Feedback: Review and rearrange the panels as needed to improve storytelling and impact.
• Panels: Introduction, Definition of Key Terms, Benefits, Challenges, Solutions, Case Study, Conclusion
• Details for 'Benefits' Panel: List of major benefits, supporting statistics, visual graph

Method 5: The Reverse Engineering Method

• Define Objective: Clearly state what you want your audience to learn or do after your presentation.
• Outcome-based Sections: Create sections that directly contribute to achieving the objective.
• Supporting Information: Add information that reinforces each section.
• Logical Sequence: Arrange sections in a way that naturally leads to your conclusion.
• Objective: Convince stakeholders to invest in renewable energy.
• Sections: Introduction, Benefits of Renewable Energy, Investment Opportunities, Success Stories, Call to Action

Method 6: The Comparative Layout

• Identify Topics: List the topics or elements you will compare.
• Comparison Criteria: Define the criteria or parameters for comparison.
• Matrix Setup: Set up a matrix or table in your outline to systematically compare each element.
• Conclusions: Summarize insights or recommendations based on the comparison.
• Topics: Traditional Marketing vs. Digital Marketing
• Criteria: Cost, Reach, Engagement, ROI, Adaptability
• Matrix: Create a table with criteria as rows and marketing types as columns, filling in details for each.

How to create a Presentation from an Outline?

How to use ai to create presentations from outline.

• Install MagicSlides Extension: Start by installing the MagicSlides extension from the Google Workspace Marketplace.
• Open Google Slides: Launch Google Slides where you’ll create your presentation.
• Activate the Extension: Open the MagicSlides extension within Google Slides.
• Enter Presentation Details: Input the topic of your presentation and specify the number of slides you need. This helps MagicSlides understand the scope of your presentation.
• Customize Your Content: You can also input specific text you wish to include on your slides. This step is optional but helps in personalizing the slides to better fit your presentation's theme and content.

Tips for Great Presentations

• Visual Appeal: Use high-quality images and consistent fonts.
• Conciseness: Keep slides concise; aim for no more than six words per bullet point.
• Engagement: Incorporate stories or questions to engage the audience.
• Practice: Rehearse your presentation multiple times to ensure smooth delivery.

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How to Outline a Presentation: A Complete Guide From a Pro

• Filed under: Public speaking articles , Speaking tips , Speech preparation

When you’re writing an important speech, you must start with a clear outline. However, I find that many speakers are uncertain of how to write a good outline for their presentation. This is why I decided to write a guide for you, in hopes that learning to perfect your outlines will help you give better presentations in the future.

How do you outline a presentation? Always start with your introduction and end with your powerful closing. Flesh out the body by listing topics in the order that you want to cover them in. Never skimp on the important details of your speech. Remember that an outline is only a draft.

I know at this point that you still have questions, and that you still be confused at how to write the best outline for your speech. But writing a good outline for your presentation does not have to be stressful! This is my complete guide from a pro for you, in hopes that you can take the stress out of this important step.

Table of Contents

How to Outline a Presentation

Outlining a presentation can be done with a regular piece of paper, or on a word processing program on your computer. If you are hosting a PowerPoint presentation, you may prefer to do the entire thing from the comfort of your computer. But if you do decide to write your outline on a piece of paper, make sure you use a pencil and eraser so that you can make changes as you go along.

The very first step in creating an outline is to ask yourself what the purpose of your presentation is.

Write your main message or a one-sentence summary of your thesis at the top of your outline when you get started. This may help you stay on task, and it will keep the purpose of your speech right in your eye’s sight. After all, you don’t want to stray too far off the main topic of your presentation !

Remember, a quality outline is meant to enhance the purpose of your presentation. If you do not write a proper outline, you may risk not properly conveying the right message to your audience.

Or you may even forget to cover essential points that you wanted to talk about. A thorough outline is especially important if you are planning to speak without notes.

You should remember to properly summarize what you want to say with every sentence of your outline. After all, this is not a full script, so a summary is all you really need. Remember to rehearse and practice with your outline, so that you can remember what you have written.

Start With a Strong Beginning

Your introduction is where you start strong by grabbing your audience’s attention from the very beginning. But if that makes you feel stressed out, just remember to stay calm! Creating a great first impression from the beginning of your speech is not as difficult as you might be worrying.

When you create a strong beginning, you should try some of the following:

• Start with an attention-grabbing statement that captures your audience from the start. If you have a few ideas but are not sure what to use, try running your ideas by a trusted friend or mentor.
• Give a strong signal that you are beginning your speech. You don’t want your audience unsure of whether you’ve actually begun or not.
• Give the main thesis statement about the purpose of your presentation.
• You could start by giving a brief preview of all of the things that you are going to talk about in the body of your speech.
• Talk about your credentials at the beginning. However, you should make sure to find a way to do it that is entertaining. You don’t want to risk boring your audience from the very beginning of your speech!
• Thank your audience from the very beginning! This is not only a good way to begin your speech, but a good way to end it, as well.
• If there are any current events or famous historical events that relate to the purpose of your presentation, you can start by talking about these. However, pick only one so that you do not draw your introduction out too long.
• Ask your audience a question at the beginning. You could draw out their interest by answering this question at a later point in your speech.
• Whenever possible, make sure you begin your speech on a positive note . This sets a good tone for the rest of the presentation.
• Start by telling a story that relates to your presentation. A good reason to start with a story is that it helps you form a strong connection with your audience from the beginning. Write some of the main details of your story in your outline so that you remember them.

Be reminded thought, that sometimes it is wise to write your introduction last as only you know what you’ll be introducing. This way, you’ll also avoid including something in your introduction that you won’t be actually talking about.

Once you have written out your introduction, you have completed the first step in creating an excellent outline for your presentation.

Create a Powerful Ending

In my experience, it can be easier to create ending before you flesh out the body of your presentation. However, it is up to you if you prefer to create your outline in a different order.

If you are a regular reader, you might have realized that I already posted an in-depth article here about how to end a presentation in a powerful way . Right now we are going to talk about the same thing in somewhat less detail.

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Just like with your beginning, make sure that you’ve made it obvious you are ending. After all, few things are more awkward than your audience sitting there long after you’ve finished, feeling confused about whether they should leave or not.

If the point of your speech is to motivate your audience to do something, you might consider ending your speech with a call to action . A call to action is simply an instruction that you give your audience about something you want them to do.

You could also potentially end your presentation with a powerful quote or an entertaining story . And if you have a unique tagline that exists to help promote your personal brand, consider ending with it.

But if you are planning to have a question and answer period at all, make sure you are not directly ending with one. Plan to wrap up your question and answer period before delivering your speech’s closing at the end.

This is because ending with a question and answer period is not only not memorable, but a negative question from an audience member can leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth . This is not the last thing you want your audience members to remember as they’re leaving!

And as always, you should thank your audience at the end of your speech. This will make them feel valued, and impressed with your gratefulness.

Flesh Out the Body of Your Presentation

So, you’ve got your beginning and ending all figured out, but now what else do you do with your outline? This is the stage where you work on the body of your speech. That is, you will want to think about what you want to say in between your beginning and end. Here are some speech writing tips I have written about previously.

Write the main points of your outline in order

It may be easier for you to write bullet points or even a numbered list. List your main points in order of what you want to talk about. If at first glance the topics don’t seem to flow, it is okay to re-arrange them.

You can also decide at this point if there is anything you want to add or subtract. If you feel like you’ve made a mistake, don’t worry! It is okay to make any changes along the way.

Add sub-points and transitions to your topics

Add sub-points to your main points in order to further flesh out your outline. Even if you want to keep it simple, sub-points may help you to stay on track and remember what you were going to say.

You can also add to the ideas that your main points present. Make sure that the transitions from one point to another flow smoothly from one thing to the next.

Don’t forget the essential details!

Are there any special details that you need to remember for your presentation? Put these in your outline so that you don’t forget them. This can include important names, dates, and locations that you need to remember.

Write down how long will it take

If your speech is supposed to cover a certain amount of time, try listing times for each of your main points. This may help you not go over or under your time.

Also, take a look at these articles:

• 11 Great Tips How to Write a Great Persuasive Speech
• How to Deliver a Perfect Elevator Speech

How to Outline a PowerPoint Presentation?

You may be thinking that you don’t need an outline for your PowerPoint presentation. However, don’t rely on your slides alone ; you need a proper outline, too. An outline for a PowerPoint presentation should also include images that you intend to use for your slides.

Fortunately, the PowerPoint program itself also allows you to view an outline of your slides. This can help give you a visual of your overall presentation.

Remember, This is Only a Draft!

If your outline isn’t the way you want it to be, remember that it is only your very first rough draft. Your outline doesn’t have to be perfect, because it is not your final product. While you should work hard to make your outline as good as possible, you don’t need to stress about it.

And remember that if you finish your outline, and you are not satisfied with how it looks? It is okay for you to scrap it and start all over again. There is no reason that you should stick with an outline that you don’t feel confident about.

An outline is a great place to start whether you intend to read from a full script, read from cue cards, or speak without notes. If you are an avid reader of Speak and Conquer, you’ll remember that I recommend creating an outline in many of my articles.

Get Feedback From Others About Your Outline

There is no reason that you have to go any of this by yourself. If you have a friend or mentor who is experienced with public speaking , why not ask them to take a look at your outline for you? They may see something that needs to be changed that never even occurred to you.

You could also give a practice round of your speech in front of a friend, family member, or mentor. Give them a chance to make suggestions about whether or not there’s anything that you should change. After all, it’s better for you to realize if something needs to be done differently before the actual day of the presentation.

If you don’t have someone who you can rehearse in front of in person, try recording your presentation in front of a video camera . Show it to someone you trust via email or social media. If they have any suggestions for change, you can alter your outline accordingly.

Why is a Presentation Outline so Important, Anyway?

While reading this article, you may be wondering why you even need an outline for your presentation. This may be especially puzzling to you if you are planning to give a speech without notes . But I find that an outline can be incredibly useful no matter what kind of presentation you are planning to give to your audience.

Like I said before, the main point of an outline is to enhance the main purpose of your speech further. But I’m also going to give you a list of some more reasons why I believe an outline is absolutely essential.

Some other good reasons for creating an outline for your presentation are:

• You will have an easy visual to look at the order of the topics you are talking about. This way, you can see if anything looks out of place.
• The proper outline will help to keep your speech organized.
• You will be able to look at the connections between your ideas . This may even help you realize you need to add or subtract certain things from your speech.
• A good outline will help you remember to t ouch on every important point that you need to cover in your presentation.
• Outlining helps you see whether or not your main points and sub-points flow smoothly . If you create your outline and realize that some of your points do not flow, you can easily re-write key parts.
• Using an outline instead of a full script will give you more freedom to improvise during your presentation. This is why creating an outline is a great first strategy if you are speaking without notes, or trying to memorize a speech in a short period of time.
• If you’re not sure where to start preparing for your speech, then writing a loose outline is a good first step to help you out.
• Practicing with an outline will help enhance your memory about the main points and sub-points of your presentation.

No matter what kind of presentation you are planning to give, a solid outline with help you be prepared and ready to go.

Conclusion: How do you make an outline for a talk?

Today, I have compiled a thorough guide about writing a quality outline. We discussed creating a good beginning, ending, and body of your presentation. We have even talked about why a good outline is important, too. If you have any other tips to share about creating an outline for your presentation, make sure to share them in the comments section.

If you are looking to improve your public speaking and presentation skills, check out the rest of my articles on Speak and Conquer. The purpose of my site is to help you succeed in becoming a better public speaker. For example, I have covered popular topics such as how to memorize a speech in less than an hour , and how to use hand gestures effectively during a presentation .

Related Questions

What software should I use to outline my speech? Preferably, you should have a program that allows you to use bullet points or numbered lists. Bullet points and lists are a good place to start when you are outlining. Microsoft Word, Word Processor, or Notepad are acceptable for basic outlines.

How do I decide what the purpose of my speech is? Decide if you are there to inform, educate, motivate, or entertain your audience. When you have narrowed it down to just one of those, you will be able to decide the main idea of your speech. You should preferably speak about a topic that you are well-educated about.  

How do I write a speech? Start with a purpose, and then create a detailed outline. Flesh out the points and sub-points from your outline. Decide very early on if you want to give your speech with or without notes. Revise your drafts as much as possible until you have created a full speech. If you are going to speak with notes, write some of the information from your outline onto cue cards.

Useful reading

• 16 secret ways how to speak to a bored audience
• How to Use Your Voice Effectively in a Presentation?
• 13 Effective Ways How to Make Speech Pauses

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How to Write an Effective Presentation Outline

• By Herwin Jose
• April 17, 2024

Key Takeaways:

• A presentation outline is a structured plan that helps you organize and deliver a well-structured presentation.
• Creating an outline is important for organizing your ideas, ensuring clarity, and engaging your audience.
• Identify your objective, gather content, organize ideas, add supporting details, create an introduction, develop the body, and summarize with a conclusion.
• Tips for creating a compelling outline include keeping it concise, using bullet points, visualizing with headings and subheadings, including engaging elements, and practicing and revising.

What Is a Presentation Outline

A presentation outline is a structured plan that helps you organize and deliver a well-structured and engaging presentation. It serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the content, flow, and key points of your presentation. By creating an outline, you can ensure that your ideas are organized, your message is clear, and your audience remains engaged.

Importance of Presentation Outline

A presentation outline plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of your presentation. Here are some key reasons why having a well-crafted outline is important:

• Organization: A presentation outline will help you structure your thoughts and ideas in a logical and coherent way. It ensures that your presentation flows smoothly and that your main points are effectively conveyed to the audience.
• Clarity: By outlining the main ideas and supporting details of your presentation, you can clarify your message and avoid confusion. It helps you stay focused and deliver a clear and concise presentation.
• Engagement: An outline allows you to plan engaging and interactive elements , such as visual aids, examples, and audience participation. It helps you maintain your audience’s interest throughout the presentation.

Without an outline, your presentation may lack coherence and direction, leaving your audience confused and disengaged. By creating an outline, you can strategically plan the flow of information, ensuring that each point builds upon the previous one.

Elements of an Effective Presentation Outline

A well-crafted presentation outline consists of several key elements. In this section, we will discuss the essential components that make up an effective outline, including the introduction, body, and conclusion. Discover how to structure your outline to create a cohesive and impactful presentation.

• Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your presentation and grabs the attention of your audience. It should include a compelling opening statement, an overview of what will be covered, and a clear thesis statement that highlights the main purpose of your presentation. By crafting a strong introduction, you can captivate your audience from the start.
• Body: The body of your presentation outline is where you will present your main ideas, supporting evidence, and arguments. Break down your content into logical sections or subsections, making it easy for your audience to follow along. Each point should be clearly articulated and supported by relevant examples or data. Use headings and subheadings to create a structured flow of information.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is your opportunity to wrap up your presentation and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Summarize the main points discussed in the body of your presentation and reiterate your key message. If writing a brief yet information-rich conclusion seems hectic to you, then simply go for an AI conclusion generator to get the job done. It will promptly summarize all the key points of your presentation and write a concise conclusion. Additionally, you can provide a call to action or offer a thought-provoking question that encourages further reflection or engagement. A strong conclusion ensures that your presentation ends on a high note.

Tips for Creating a Compelling Presentation Outline

Crafting a presentation outline requires careful consideration of various elements. To enhance your outline and ensure a compelling presentation, it’s important to organize your ideas effectively, incorporate visual content strategically, and engage your audience from start to finish. Here are some practical tips and techniques to help you create an outline that captivates your audience:

Outline Organization

Start by identifying your main points and structuring your presentation in a logical order. Use headings and subheadings to create a clear hierarchy of ideas. This will help your audience follow along and comprehend the flow of your presentation.

Structure your Content

With your main ideas and supporting evidence in hand, it’s important to structure your content in a logical and coherent manner. This can be done by organizing your ideas into sections or segments that flow smoothly from one to the next.

“A well-structured presentation will capture the attention of your audience and keep them engaged throughout.” – John Smith, Speaker and Presentation Expert

Incorporate Visual Content

Visuals can significantly enhance the impact of your presentation. Consider using images, graphs, charts, and videos to support your key points. Visual content not only adds interest but also helps reinforce your message and make it more memorable.

Engage Your Audience

A successful presentation is interactive and engages the audience throughout. Incorporate interactive elements such as polls, Q&A sessions, or group activities to encourage participation. This will not only keep your audience engaged but also make your presentation more memorable and impactful.

“A well-structured presentation outline acts as a roadmap to guide both the presenter and the audience. It helps maintain a logical flow of ideas and ensures that key messages are effectively communicated.” – Jane Smith, Presentation Expert

Learn from Presentation Outline Examples

Take inspiration from real-life examples of effective presentation outlines. Analyze how others have organized their content, used visuals, and engaged their audience. By studying successful presentation outlines, you can gain valuable insights and ideas to enhance your own.

Pay Attention to Color and Design

Creating a presentation outline is crucial when it comes to making a good presentation. Start by brainstorming ideas on color and design that will create an impact. Using a presentation outline template helps in organizing your thoughts and structuring the main body of your presentation. When creating your outline, make sure to include a slide for each point you want your audience to take away. Consider the font and design of your presentation slides to ensure your audience stays engaged.

Including a Call to Action

To ensure your presentation design is on point, you should make a presentation outline that includes a call to action. When you have created your presentation outline, you can use presentation templates to help you make a presentation that is both visually appealing and engaging for your audience.

When writing a presentation outline for a new product, it’s a good idea to answer these questions:

What should be included in your outline to make a creative presentation? How can you make a presentation that leaves a lasting impact on your audience? By including a call to action as a part of your outline, you can create an effective presentation that encourages your audience to take action after the presentation is over.

Review, Revise, and Refine

Once you have created your initial outline, review it carefully. Ensure that it aligns with your presentation goals, effectively communicates your message, and maintains a logical flow. Revise and refine as needed, keeping your audience’s perspective in mind.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create an Effective Presentation Outline

Creating a presentation outline is an essential step in delivering a successful and impactful presentation. A well-structured outline helps you organize your thoughts, maintain a logical flow, and ensure that you cover all the key points you want to communicate to your audience.

Brainstorm and Define Your Objectives:

Start by brainstorming ideas and determining the main objectives of your presentation. Consider what information you want to convey, the key messages you want to deliver, and the desired outcomes you want to achieve.

Identify Your Main Points:

From your brainstorming session, identify the main points you want to address in your presentation. These should be the key ideas or concepts that support your objectives and help you effectively convey your message to the audience.

Organize Your Thoughts:

Once you have identified your main points, organize them in a logical sequence that flows naturally. Consider using headings and subheadings to create a hierarchical structure that guides your audience through the presentation.

Add Supporting Content:

Think about the supporting content that you need to include for each main point. This can be facts, statistics, examples, case studies, or visuals that help reinforce your message and provide additional context to your presentation.

Summarize Key Takeaways:

At the end of each main point or section, summarize the key takeaways or messages you want your audience to remember. These should be concise and impactful statements that leave a lasting impression.

Review and Refine:

Once you have created a draft of your presentation outline, take the time to review and refine it. Ensure that the structure is clear, the content is well-organized, and the flow is logical. Make any necessary adjustments or additions to improve the overall effectiveness of your outline.

1. What is a presentation outline?

A presentation outline is a roadmap or blueprint that helps you organize your ideas and content for a presentation. It outlines the structure, flow, and key points of your presentation, ensuring a logical and cohesive delivery.

2. How can I engage my audience throughout my Business presentation?

To engage your audience throughout your presentation, consider using storytelling techniques , interactive elements, or thought-provoking questions. Encourage audience participation through activities, discussions, or Q&A sessions. Use visual aids, such as images, videos, or graphs, to enhance understanding and maintain interest. Finally, deliver your content with enthusiasm, clarity, and confidence.

3. What are the three basic parts of a presentation outline?

When creating a presentation outline, it is crucial to include three essential components. The first part is the introduction, which sets the stage for the presentation and provides background information. Following the introduction is the body, where the main points and supporting details are discussed in depth. Finally, the outline should include a conclusion that summarizes the key points and reinforces the main message.

4. What are the 5 pieces of presentation Outline? The 5 key pieces of an outline include the introduction, main points, supporting information, visuals, and conclusion. Each section plays a vital role in delivering a clear and impactful message to the audience.

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Bid farewell to the drudgery and embrace effectiveness. Craft an impressive presentation with PREZENTIUM now!

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A Guide to Presentation Outline [Infographic]

Renderforest Staff

20 Jan 2022

4 min read  

Nowadays, presentations are firmly integrated into not only the academic but also the business world. They’re the perfect means whether you want to pitch your business or new idea, educate your audience , present reports, and the list continues. 

The power of a well-made presentation lies in its logical structure and intelligibility. The human brain is much better at retaining structured, organized data — even more so when it’s presented with engaging visual content. Presentations check both boxes.

To ensure a cohesive flow for your entire presentation and a smooth ride for the audience, you need to prepare a clear, cogent outline for your material with all the key points. Moreover, structuring information is just as beneficial to the presenter as it is to the audience.

So, if you already have your presentation idea but are unsure of the right next step, a presentation outline is your answer. Once you have a general idea about the topic and have completed basic research, you’re in the perfect position to carve out the skeleton of your talk.

Below, you’ll find the basic structure of a balanced presentation outline as well as useful stats. Stick till the end to discover beautiful presentation templates.

Use this HTML code to share the infographic on your website:

<a href="https://www.renderforest.com/blog/presentation-outline"><img src="https://static.rfstat.com/bloggers_folders/895b96b7-c00a-4f39-89d8-0bacf49eed72.jpg" width="100%" alt="Presentation Outline Infographic" border="0"/></a><br/>Via: <a href="https://www.renderforest.com/blog/presentation-outline">Renderforest</a>

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Presentation Outline

• Introduction
• Keep it under 5 minutes.
• Introduce yourself, your company, and the topic of discussion.
• Explain the significance and topic relevance.
• Specify your approach to the topic. Preview the main points or key idea.
• Make a transition to the main points.
•  Main Body 
• It’s recommended to have 2-5 main points. Focus on one idea per slide.
• Start each point with an introduction, present it, and conclude.
• Have supporting materials for each main point in the form of quotes, testimonials, examples, charts, graphs, and other visual content.
• Connect one point to the next with a transition.
•  Conclusion 
• Summarize the topic and what was covered. 
• Reiterate the key takeaways.
• End with a persuasive call to action that ties in with the presentation. 
• Display your contact details.
• This is optional, but you can set some time aside to answer the audience’s questions.
• Be aware of the length of your answers and the number of questions you choose to address to avoid going over the time limit.

Good to Know

• The average attention span is 15-20 minutes for adults.
• People retain information 40% more accurately when it’s structured.
• 90% of the anxiety we feel before giving a presentation is caused by a lack of preparation.
• It usually takes 5 seconds for the audience to determine whether a presenter is charismatic or not.
• 75% of adults are affected by the fear of public speaking.
• People will remember a fact 22 times better when it has been presented through a story.
• 55% of people agree that a compelling story is what holds their attention during a presentation.
• 64% of people confirm an active presentation with two-way interaction is more interesting than a linear presentation.

Before Creating Your Presentation, Consider

• The presentation’s main purpose and learning objectives
• How informed the audience is about the topic
• Time or technical constraints if there are any

Additional Tips

Here are a few more tips that will be of help when outlining and designing your presentation. If you’re looking for more presentation tips , check out our article on this topic.

Have a Purpose

Defining your presentation’s purpose is something that should be done before and not after you’ve planned your speech. To make sure that your presentation points build on one another, you need a single well-defined goal to unify them.

When you have a precise target to aim for, you’ll be able to build a much more strategic structure for your speech and the accompanying slides alike (if there’s going to be a slideshow). Knowing your purpose will also assist in specifying your approach to the topic. It could be an explanation, analysis, comparison, problem-solving, etc.

Design Slides Smartly

Always keep in mind that slides should only act as a supplement to make the data more vivid but never overpower the speaker. Don’t overload your presentation slides with too much text; otherwise, your audience will have to choose between reading the slides and listening to you. If you have difficulty remembering your text, use a script or sticky notes as support for your speech.

Choose your first slide wisely, as it’s the starting point that will attract the attention of your audience and the new slides should add up to it by keeping them engaged.

The 10-20-30 rule of the PowerPoint presentation suggests having 10 slides, delivering the presentation in around 20 minutes, and keeping your fonts no smaller than 30 points. Follow these guidelines only as far as they make sense for your pitch.

Presentation Templates

You can create attractive presentations with slideshow video templates free of charge. Plus, they take no longer than a few minutes to edit. Here are a few examples:

More Templates

Think of a presentation outline as the spine that holds your pitch together from its first step to the very end. An outline provides a solid structure to your material, making the information much easier to grasp and memorize.

Begin your talk with an introduction to yourself and the topic, cover the main points one by one, and weave all the strands together with a brief conclusion. If appropriate, set a certain amount of time aside after the presentation to answer your listeners’ questions. Best of luck!

Sources: Thompson Rivers University Library , University Writing Center , Stanford Graduate School of Business , Virtual Speech , Visme , Duarte

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Presentation Outline Example and Template

How to create a presentation Outline

A presentation outline is a roadmap to a more successful business pitch — a general plan that summarizes what you want to say to prospective customers, clients or investors. It lets you organize your thoughts, group ideas into main points and present your material logically. But what should you include in your slides?

We've compiled 11 tips for more effective pitch prep.

If you came here looking for presentation templates , here's an a couople of examples from of our most popular ones. If not, just carry on.

Browse our PRESENTATION TEMPLATES

What is a presentation outline.

An outline for a presentation is a helpful tool that organizes the main points and flow of the presentation. It acts as a guide for the presenter, outlining the order in which information will be presented and the main ideas that will be covered. A good outline should include headings and subheadings that outline the main topics and supporting details, ensuring a clear and logical arrangement of information. Creating a presentation outline helps the presenter stay organized and focused, and makes it easier for the audience to follow the content and understand the main concepts of the presentation.

11 tips to create more effective presentations

1. decide on a goal.

Before you brainstorm, and before you scribble down any notes, come up with a goal for your presentation. What do you want your pitch deck to say to your audience? What message do you want to convey? What do you want it to achieve?

Perhaps you want your pitch to raise seed funds. Maybe you want to introduce a new product or service to customers. Whatever the reason for creating your pitch, decide on a specific, measurable goal. This will guide the rest of your preparation.

2. Create a Structure for Your Presentation

Every good presentation includes an introduction, main body, and conclusion. These three components form the "skeleton" of your presentation — the bare bones of your pitch. You don't need to think about all the small details at this stage — you can flesh out your presentation slides at a later date.

Your introduction is probably the most important part of your pitch. After all, you only have seven seconds to make a good first impression, according to research. Use your intro to introduce your brand, greet your audience and give a taster of what's to come.

The body of your presentation includes your main ideas and any supporting ideas. Use it to feature testimonials, financials and fundraising info, traction and milestones, and, of course, your marketing plan.

Finally, your conclusion summarizes all your points in a few slides. This should leave your audience wanting more.

3. Think About Visual Content

Visual content is an essential ingredient. The human brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than regular text, so including images in your pitch is a great idea. Don't forget about videos, either. Consumers are 64 percent more likely to purchase a product after watching an online video, making visual content a good choice if you want to generate leads and boost sign-ups.

The most successful pitch decks incorporate striking visuals. Others have fancy fonts and graphics. All of this visual content demands attention from your audience and creates a cool aesthetic that will help you outrank your rivals.

At this early stage of pitch deck preparation, you don't have to finalize the images you are going to include in your pitch. However, we think it's a good idea to point out where you are going to use images in your presentation. This way, you can organize your ideas and make sure everything flows properly.

4. Understand What Makes a Good Presentation — and a Bad One

No two presentations are the same. The most successful pitch decks, however, certainly have a lot in common. When creating your outline, discover what makes a brilliant pitch. The University of Hawaii says great presentations rarely cover more than five points. The University of Cambridge in England says there should be four key points in every 45-minute presentation.

Here at Slidebean, we think one idea per slide, good design, lots of images, and quotes all make presentations so much more interesting. We're not fans of the 'thank you' slide, though — the one that recognizes your audience for sitting through your presentation. It's completely unnecessary.

5. Include a Call-to-Action

A call-to-action is much better than a 'thank you' slide. This encourages your audience to take action after your presentation. When creating your outline, think of a short, snappy call-to-action that prompts a response. A call-to-action is your final chance to engage with your audience during your presentation. You might want to encourage people to sign up to your mailing list, for example. Alternatively, you can include a link to your website so people can download a trial version of your product.

"No matter what form your CTA takes, the most important aspect is the copy," says growth marketing expert Sujan Patel and Voila Norbert co-founder, writing for Forbes magazine . "You’re telling the visitor what you want them to do, so it needs to be persuasive. Remember, your audience is looking for an answer or a solution to a problem. Connect with them by telling them exactly what they’re going to get if they take action."

6. Identify a Solution to a Problem

Every day, more than 30 million presentations are created on PowerPoint alone. Then there are the hundreds of thousands of pitches designed in Keynote, Prezi, and Slidebean. With so many presentations out there, how do you inspire people to invest in your services? One way to create a successful pitch is to identify a solution to a problem that your audience might have.

Slidebean recently reviewed some of the best presentation examples from successful startups. Most of them provide solutions to common problems early on in their respective pitches. Customer messaging platform Intercom, for example, says analytics, customer base browsing, and customer research is the answer for businesses who find it hard to engage with customers. They include these solutions near the beginning of their pitch deck.

If you want to have a more successful presentation, think about solving problems in your niche when creating your outline.

7. Use Quotes, Testimonials and Statistics

Quotes from senior management help you convey abstract ideas and make your presentation more engaging. You should obtain any quotes you want to use in your presentation during the planning stage. Testimonials from customers and clients also prove popular. Research shows that positive reviews influence purchasing decisions and increase trust.

Finally, statistics add some depth to your presentation. Industry facts and figures back up any claims you make and increase engagement. Discover relevant statistics when creating your outline. You don't need to include any actual quotes, testimonials or statistics yet. Just jot down where you want to place them in your presentation.

8. Think About Color and Design

The way you present information in your pitch is just as important as the information itself. Now is the time to start thinking about the font/s you want to use or the color of your slides. Research shows that red conveys passion and excitement and catches the attention of your audience. White, on the other hand, conveys simplicity and purity.

Slidebean has a range of color palettes that transform the look of your slides. You can choose up to three color sets and play around with different text, backgrounds, and highlights.

9. Plan the Order of Your Slides

Think of your presentation outline template as a very rough first draft. Decide on what types of slides you want to use, and decide on a final running order. You might feature quotes early on in your presentation, for example, and leave testimonials until the end. Don't forget to include a slide with your contact details — website, phone number, address, etc. — and your brand values.

Your presentation outline should be a group effort, too. Ask your colleagues for input.

10. Identify Key Takeaways From Your Presentation

Your outline should include enough information so you can visualize what your final presentation will look like. Once you have finished your outline, read it back and identify the key takeaways from the document. Is the structure of your presentation clear, for example? Does it convey your brand message? Will it engage your audience?

Every slide in your presentation should achieve the goal you created at the beginning of your outline. If something isn't working, make changes. You might want to switch slides around or remove unnecessary information, for example.

11. Use a Presentation Template

Once you have completed your outline, it's time to start putting everything together. Yes, you could create a PowerPoint pitch deck from scratch, but this is often time-consuming and complicated. Instead, use a template, which provides you with all the presentation slides you need.

Here at Slidebean, we have presentation templates for business of all sizes, including startups and scaleups. You can create a professional pitch deck in just a few minutes by following the on-screen prompts. Everything's included — bullet points, graphics, headers, footers, and more. Take the time to plan your pitch to produce a powerful sales document that helps you communicate with your audience.

Once you have created your presentation outline template, sign up to Slidebean and design a pitch that provides you with a huge return on your investment.

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Practical Presentation Outline Examples For Success (+ 8 Must Have Elements)

Jane Ng • 05 April, 2024 • 6 min read

Looking for Presentation Outline Examples ? Do you want to take your presentations from mediocre to magnificent? The secret weapon in achieving that transformation is a well-crafted presentation outline. A clear and organized outline not only guides you through your content but also ensures your audience stays captivated throughout your talk.

In this blog post, we're going to share practical presentation outline examples and 8 key elements for constructing your own outlines that will leave a lasting impression.

Table Of Contents 

What is presentation outline, why is presentation outline important, 8 key elements of presentation outline , presentation outline examples, key takeaways , faqs about presentation outline examples.

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A presentation outline is a plan or structure that helps you organize and deliver a presentation or speech. It's like a map that guides you through your talk. 

• It outlines the main points, ideas, and key elements you intend to cover during your presentation in a logical and organized sequence.
• It ensures that your presentation is clear, logical, and easy for your audience to follow. 

In essence, it's a tool that helps you stay on track and communicate your message effectively.

A presentation outline is a valuable tool that enhances both the organization and delivery of your presentation. 

• It benefits you as a presenter by reducing stress and improving focus, while also benefiting your audience by making your message more accessible and engaging. 
• If you're using visual aids like slides, an outline helps you synchronize your content with your visuals, ensuring they support your message effectively.
• If you need to make last-minute changes or adapt your presentation, having an outline makes it easier to identify and adjust specific sections without overhauling the entire presentation.

Whether you're giving a business presentation, a school lecture, or a public speech, an outline is a key element in ensuring your presentation's success.

A well-structured presentation outline should include the following key elements:

1/ Title or Topic: 

Begin your outline with a clear and concise title or topic that represents the subject of your presentation.

2/ Introduction:

• Hook or Attention-Grabber: Start with a compelling opening statement or question to engage your audience.
• Purpose or Objective: Clearly state the purpose of your presentation and what you aim to achieve.
• Main Points or Sections : Identify the major topics or sections that you will cover in your presentation. These are the core ideas that support your thesis statement.

3/ Subpoints or Supporting Details: 

Under each main point, list the specific details, examples, statistics, anecdotes, or evidence that support and elaborate on that main point.

4/ Transition Statements: 

Include transition phrases or sentences between each main point and subpoint to guide the flow of your presentation smoothly. Transitions help your audience follow your logic and connect the dots between ideas.

5/ Visual Aids: 

If your presentation includes slides or other visual aids, indicate when and where you plan to use them to enhance your points.

6/ Conclusion:

• Summary: Recap the main points you've discussed during your presentation.
• Include any final thoughts, a call to action, or a closing statement that leaves a lasting impression.

7/ Q&A or Discussion: 

If applicable, mention when you'll open the floor for questions and discussion. Be sure to allocate time for this if it's part of your presentation.

8/ References or Sources: 

If you're presenting information that requires citations or sources, include them in your outline. This ensures you give credit where it's due and can reference them during your presentation if needed.

Here are some additional tips for creating a Presentation Outline

• Time Allocation: Estimate how much time you intend to spend on each section of your presentation. This helps you manage your time effectively during the actual presentation.
• Notes or Reminders: Add any reminders, cues, or notes to yourself that will help you deliver your presentation effectively. These can include tips on delivery, body language, or specific points to emphasize.

Here are a few presentation outline examples for different types of presentations:

Example 1: Sales Pitch Presentation - Presentation Outline Examples

Title: Introducing Our New Product: XYZ Tech Gadgets

Introduction

• Hook: Begin with a relatable customer problem.
• Purpose: Explain the presentation's goal.
• Thesis: "Today, I'm excited to introduce our innovative XYZ Tech Gadgets designed to simplify your life."

Main Points

A. Product Features

• Subpoints: Highlight key features and benefits.

B. Target Audience

• Subpoints: Identify potential customers.

C. Pricing and Packages

• Subpoints: Offer options and discounts.

Transition: "I'm glad you're interested in our product. Let's talk about the different ways you can purchase it."

Purchase and Support

• a. Ordering Process
• b. Customer Support
• Recap product highlights and benefits.
• Call to action: "Visit our website or contact our sales team to get your XYZ Tech Gadgets today."

Q&A Session.

Example 2: The Evolution of Jazz Music - Presentation Outline Examples

Title: The Evolution of Jazz Music

• Hook: Begin with a famous jazz quote or a snippet of iconic jazz music.
• Purpose: Explain the goal of the presentation.
• Thesis: "Today, we'll take a journey through time to explore the fascinating evolution of jazz music."

A. Early Origins of Jazz

• Subpoints: African roots, New Orleans as a melting pot.

B. The Jazz Age (1920s)

• Subpoints: Swing music, jazz legends like Louis Armstrong.

C. Bebop and Modern Jazz (1940s-1960s)

• Subpoints: Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, experimental jazz.

Transition : "Let's now turn our attention to the diversity of jazz styles, which is as vast and complex as the history of the music itself."

Different Styles of Jazz

• a. Cool Jazz
• b. Fusion Jazz
• c. Latin Jazz
• d. Contemporary Jazz

Influence of Jazz on Popular Music

• Subpoints: Jazz's impact on rock, hip-hop, and other genres.
• Summary of the evolution of jazz music.
• Call to action: "Explore the world of jazz, attend live performances, or even pick up an instrument to contribute to this ever-evolving art form."

Presentation outlines are indispensable tools that can elevate your presentations from good to great. They provide structure, organization, and clarity, ensuring that your message reaches your audience effectively. No matter if you're delivering an educational presentation, a convincing sales pitch, or an interesting speech, these presentation outline examples aim to offer you valuable information.

To take your presentations to the next level, leverage AhaSlides. With AhaSlides , you can seamlessly integrate interactive features into your presentation, such as spinner wheel , live polls , surveys , quizzes , and audience feedback features.

These interactive features not only enhance audience engagement but also provide valuable insights and real-time interaction, making your presentations more dynamic and memorable.

So, let’s explore our template library !

📌 Tips: Asking open-ended questions help you to create an outline for presentation easier!

What should a presentation outline include?

Title, Introduction, Key points, subpoints, transitions, visuals, conclusion, Q&A , and time allocation.

What are the 5 parts of a presentation?

Introduction, main points, visuals, conclusion, and Q&A.

How do you outline a project presentation?

Define objectives, list key topics, organize content logically, and allocate time.

Do you need an outline for a presentation?

Yes, an outline helps structure and guide your presentation effectively.

Ref: Indeed | EdrawMind

A writer who wants to create practical and valuable content for the audience

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Create Effective Presentation Outlines: A Step-by-Step Guide with Tips & Examples

Table of Contents

What is a presentation outline.

A presentation outline is like a roadmap for organizing your thoughts and delivering your message smoothly during a presentation. It helps you structure your content logically, ensuring that your audience can follow along easily. By providing a clear framework, an outline enhances the clarity and effectiveness of your presentation.

Importance of Presentation Outline  

1. Clarity and Focus

Using an outline keeps your presentation organized and focused, preventing you from going off track. It ensures that your presentation has a clear purpose and that all the information you share is relevant to your main points.

2. Logical Structure

A well-crafted outline ensures that your presentation flows logically, guiding your audience smoothly from one point to the next. This helps your audience follow your train of thought and understand your message more easily.

3. Enhanced Delivery

Having a clear outline can boost your confidence and make your delivery smoother. With a structured plan, you’re less likely to forget important points or ramble on, resulting in a more professional presentation.

4. Time Management

An outline helps you manage your time better by estimating how long each part of your presentation will take. This ensures that you stay within the allotted timeframe, keeping your presentation on track and engaging for your audience.

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How to Build Strong Presentation Outline s?

1. Purpose of Presentation

Understanding why you’re giving your presentation is crucial for planning its structure. Identifying your goal means thinking about what you want your audience to get out of it. This clarity forms the basis of your whole presentation. There are six potential reasons you might be presenting:

• Sharing information
• Teaching something new
• Making it enjoyable
• Inspiring action
• Convincing people of something
• Motivating them

Thinking about your goal will help you make a presentation that really grabs attention. Answering these questions can help you figure out what your goal is:

• What do I want people to learn or understand from my presentation?
• How will my presentation make a difference to those listening?
• What do I want people to do after my presentation?

Once you have the answers, you’ll have a good idea of what your presentation should cover and where to start.

2. Consider Color and Design

How you present your pitch matters just as much as what you say. Take a moment to think about the fonts and colors you’ll use on your slides. Research suggests that red can convey excitement and grab your audience’s attention, while white gives off a sense of simplicity and clarity.

3. Establishing Structure: Arrange Your Ideas in a Logical Order

When crafting your presentation, it’s important to structure your ideas in a clear and logical sequence. Start with an introduction to set the stage, followed by the main body where you delve into your key points, and wrap it up with a conclusion to summarize your main ideas.

4. Engaging Your Audience

When you’re getting ready for your presentation, think about how you can start off in a way that grabs everyone’s attention. You could ask a thought-provoking question, share an interesting story, or begin with a meaningful quote. The main thing is to get your audience interested right from the beginning and set the tone for the rest of your talk.

5. Adding Visuals

Give some thought to whether you want to include pictures, videos, or other visual stuff in your presentation. Even if your outline doesn’t mention exactly what visuals to use, you can suggest where they might fit in to help explain your ideas.

6. Encouraging Action

Come up with a clear and compelling message to encourage your audience to take action. Whether it’s encouraging customers to try out a new product or inviting people to join a demo, make sure they understand what’s in it for them. And if your presentation doesn’t really need a specific call to action, just wrap up by summarizing your main points and saying thanks for listening.

Alternatively, you can skip the hassle of crafting a presentation outline manually – try SlidesAI for seamless assistance .

Strategies for Crafting an Engaging Presentation

1. Understanding Your Audience

Take some time to know your audience by researching beforehand. This helps you adjust your presentation to connect with them better.

2. Enhance with Quotes, Testimonials, or Data

Make your presentation more interesting by adding extra info like quotes, testimonials, or data. It can make your audience more engaged and reinforce your message.

3. Visualize Your Concepts

How you show your ideas matters a lot. Tools like SlidesAI can help you express your concepts clearly and effectively.

4. Highlight Key Takeaways

Figure out the most important points you want your audience to remember. This makes it easier for them to recall and understand your message.

5. Seek Feedback

Ask for feedback to improve your presentation. It’s a good way to make sure it connects better with your audience.

Presentation Outline Example

Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Target Audience: College students

Time Limit: 15 minutes

I. Introduction (2 minutes)

Attention Grabber : Briefly discuss a real-life example of how social media can negatively impact mental health (e.g., cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards).

Introduce the topic : Clearly state the topic and its significance (e.g., “Today, I’ll be talking about the increasing impact of social media on mental health, particularly among young adults like yourselves”).

Preview : Briefly outline the key points that will be covered (e.g., “We’ll explore the positive and negative aspects of social media use, discuss common mental health concerns associated with it, and offer some tips for healthy social media habits”).

II. Main Body (10 minutes)

Positive aspects of social media:

Connection and community : Highlight how social media can help people connect with friends and family, build communities based on shared interests, and combat feelings of loneliness.

Information and self-expression : Discuss how social media can be a source of information, news, and inspiration, and provide a platform for self-expression and creativity.

Negative aspects of social media:

Social comparison and envy : Explain how constant exposure to curated online profiles can lead to social comparison, feelings of inadequacy, and envy.

Cyberbullying and harassment : Discuss the prevalence of cyberbullying and online harassment, their potential to significantly impact mental health, and the importance of online safety.

Addiction and anxiety : Explain how excessive social media use can lead to addiction, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

III. Conclusion (3 minutes)

Summary : Briefly recap the key takeaways discussed in the presentation.

Call to action : Encourage the audience to be mindful of their social media usage and offer practical tips for developing healthy habits, such as setting time limits, curating their feed, and prioritizing real-life interactions.

Question and Answer : Allocate time for audience questions and address them thoughtfully.

• No design skills required
• 3 presentations/month free
• Don’t need to learn a new software

This is just a sample outline, and you can adapt and modify it based on your specific topic, audience, and time constraints. Remember, a well-structured and engaging presentation will effectively communicate your message and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can ai help you create a presentation outline .

With the assistance of AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, crafting outlines becomes a breeze. Furthermore, you can utilize user-friendly online AI presentation tools such as SlidesAI to effortlessly generate your presentations.

Why is putting your outline on a slide a good idea?

Using a presentation outline can be helpful. It makes things clearer, boosts the speaker’s confidence, and helps manage information better. It also keeps the audience more engaged. But, if your presentation is fast-paced, casual, or focused on a specific area of expertise, you might want to keep the outline short and sweet. Just pick what works best for your situation and audience.

What is the format of the presentation outline?

There are various formats, but a common approach is using bullet points, numbered lists , or headings and subheadings. Choose the format that best suits your content and visualizes your information.

How can I adapt my presentation outline for different audiences?

Adapt your presentation outline by tailoring:

• Content : Depth, complexity, and examples based on audience expertise.
• Language : Formality, jargon, and storytelling to match audience and occasion.
• Visuals : Complexity and style to suit audience understanding.
• Delivery : Pace, volume, and even body language to audience energy.
• Focus : Highlight information most relevant to specific interests.

How long should a presentation outline be?

There’s no set rule; it depends on the complexity of your topic and presentation length.

Can I use a mind map to create a presentation outline?

Yes, mind maps can be a good way to visually brainstorm and organize presentation ideas.

What tools can I use to create a presentation outline?

You can use pen and paper, a word processing software like Microsoft Word, or dedicated outlining tools. Presentation software like PowerPoint also offers built-in outlining features.

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A comprehensive guide on creating an effective presentation outline

Master the skill of outlining presentations with these insightful tips for creating an impactful presentation structure.

Supriya Sarkar

Building presentations

A well-organized presentation serves as a powerful tool in the realm of effective communication. A presentation outline acts as the backbone of a successful presentation, providing a roadmap for the presenter and ensuring that key points are delivered clearly. In this article, we will examine the intricacies of presentation outlines, explore their significance, and some tips for crafting an effective outline to enhance the presentation process.

What is a Presentation Outline?

A presentation outline is a structured framework that organizes the content of a presentation by highlighting key points and supporting details. It serves as a guide for the presenter, helping to maintain a logical flow and ensuring that the audience can easily follow and understand the information being presented. Research shows that structured presentations with a clear outline led to a 40% improvement in information retention compared to unstructured presentations.

Why is it important to have a Presentation Outline?

A presentation outline serves as the backbone for a well-organized and effective presentation. Here are some key reasons why having a presentation outline is important:

Clarity and structure:

An outline provides a structured framework for your presentation, helping you organize your thoughts and ideas in a logical order.  It plays an important role in ensuring a seamless flow of information from the introduction to the conclusion. This structured approach allows you to prioritize key information, guaranteeing that your audience understands the central message of your presentation with clarity and focus.

Prevention of information overload:

A well-structured outline helps in avoiding information overload. It encourages you to prioritize essential points and discard unnecessary details, keeping your presentation focused and engaging.

Time management:

Time is of the essence in any presentation. An outline assists in managing your time effectively during the presentation. It helps you allocate appropriate time to each section, preventing you from running over the allotted time and ensuring a well-paced delivery.

Audience engagement:

With a clear and organized outline, you can maintain audience engagement more effectively. The structured format helps keep the audience's attention and makes it easier to follow and understand your presentation.

Message retention:

An outline helps your audience to retain the shared information. Its logical flow reduces your dependency on written notes as you remember the content and as a result, you establish a meaningful connection with your audience.

What to consider before working on an outline?

Before you create a presentation outline, several crucial factors must be considered to make your presentation truly impactful. These considerations will help you create a well-organized and effective outline tailored to your audience and goals:

Know your audience:

Understanding your audience is extremely important to make business communication a success. Tailor your presentation outline to the needs and expectations of your audience. To better understand your audience, consider taking these actions.

•    First, conduct thorough research on their demographics, interests, seniority level, and data consumption preferences. The more you know, the better you can tailor your messaging for a diverse audience.

•    Analyze their communication styles to identify effective approaches. Apply these insights to refine your messaging and improve your business writing skills.

•    Lastly, invest time in building personal connections with your key audience. Learn about their hobbies, interests, and unique preferences to demonstrate a genuine understanding in your written and verbal communications.

Define clear objectives:

Defining clear presentation objectives is crucial for guiding your content creation and engaging your audience effectively. These objectives outline the purpose of your presentation, whether it's to inform, persuade, educate, or inspire. Consider the following points before working on your presentation objectives:

•    Reflect on the "why" by answering questions like why the presentation matters to the audience and why they should dedicate their time and attention to it.

•    Consider what you want the audience to learn, feel, and do because of your presentation. This includes the information they gather, the emotions they experience, and the actions you hope they take afterward.

•    Keep each slide focused by including no more than three key points, promoting clarity in your presentation.

Structure content logically:

Without a well-defined structure in your presentation, there's a risk of losing your audience's attention, leading to communication breakdown and potential damage to your reputation.

Different types of structures serve different purposes, and before deciding, consider two crucial factors:

The goal of your presentation:

Your presentation objective influences the approach you take. Therefore, the structure you choose should align with your presentation's purpose, whether it's to inspire, motivate, inform, persuade, or entertain.

Your audience:

Consider your audience's needs. Those unfamiliar with your topic may require more background information, impacting the structure to ensure clarity and reinforcement of key points.

Additionally, prioritize the use of a storyline to facilitate a smooth transition from one point to another.  This ensures a cohesive and engaging presentation, enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message.

Storytelling provides a natural structure to convey information , making it more memorable and persuasive. Storytelling has five key parts- exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This approach not only engages the audience but also adds depth and impact to business presentations by providing context, direction, and value to the information.

Visual aids and data:

According to a study, visuals significantly improve information retention, with audiences recalling 65% of content from oral presentations with visuals compared to 10% from oral presentations alone. Effectively incorporating visuals into your presentation demands attention to two critical considerations:

•    Ensure that visuals are strategically placed to reinforce your arguments. Thoughtfully integrate them at key points to enhance the narrative and reinforce your key points.

•    Carefully choose visuals that align with the data you're presenting. Select the right graphs and charts that best illustrate your points.

When you correctly visualize the data you not only enhance understanding but also empower the audience to make informed decisions based on the presented data.

Choosing the right type of chart, graph, or map for data visualization depends on the nature of the information you aim to convey. When deciding on the most suitable visualization, consider the specific insights you want to present, understand, or prove. Aligning the visuals with the objectives of your presentation enhances clarity and ensures that your visual representation effectively communicates the intended message.

Effective time management is crucial for establishing yourself as a distinguished and well-versed presenter in your subject. Presentations that are either too short or too long can risk losing the audience's attention and may impact your reputation. Therefore, it's essential to determine the allocated time for your presentation and plan strategically.

Break down the time for each section of your outline to ensure comprehensive coverage of essential points without rushing or exceeding the time limit. This approach not only keeps your audience engaged but also reinforces your credibility as a skilled presenter.

Scheduling your presentation involves careful planning to ensure effective time management and audience engagement. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to schedule your presentation:

•    Capture attention at the start: Allocate a couple of minutes at the beginning of the presentation to engage and captivate your audience. This sets the tone for an attentive audience throughout your presentation.

•    Plan for a Q&A session at the end: Reserve a few minutes toward the end of your presentation to address questions from the audience. This ensures a smooth and uninterrupted flow of your main content.

•    Include a Call to Action (CTA): Dedicate about 30-40 seconds for your call to action. Communicate the desired action you want your audience to take after the presentation.

•    Divide time for each content section: Separate the remaining time into portions, allocating specific timeframes for each section of your content. This helps in maintaining a balanced and well-paced delivery.

•    Maintain a strong finish: As you approach the end, ensure a strong and memorable finish to leave a lasting impact on your audience.

Engagement strategies:

Capturing and maintaining audience attention is crucial for a successful presentation, especially considering the diminishing attention spans in our digital age. Microsoft's study on digital attention spans reveals that the average attention span of humans has declined to approximately 8 seconds . This data underscores the importance of audience engagement to overcome shorter attention spans and ensure that the audience remains captivated throughout the presentation.

Here are some of the valuable insights on how to overcome the challenge of low attention span and deliver effective communication.

Emphasize conversation: Involving the audience in a conversation right from the beginning is a key strategy. Actively engaging with your audience and incorporating their perspectives creates a shared experience. This approach demonstrates that you value their input and care about what matters to them.

Bring in your authentic self: Embrace your authentic self by acknowledging the distinct qualities you bring to the table. Understand your personal story and communicate a compelling sense of purpose that deeply connects with your

Communicate confidently: Success in communication involves three key aspects: being clear with the objective of your presentation, sharing engaging and real stories to connect with your audience, and showing confidence by actively listening and asking interesting questions. Confidence is crucial for effective communication, ensuring your message is impactful and resonates with others.

Whether you plan audience engagement through questions, interactive elements, or storytelling, incorporating engagement strategies can enhance the overall experience. Keep the above insights in mind to ensure a more engaging and impactful delivery.

How does Prezent help in an effective presentation outline?

Prezent provides innovative solutions to streamline and enhance your presentation outline process by empowering you with the following features:

In-built storylines: Prezent simplifies the storytelling process by offering built-in storylines based on diverse business themes. This saves you valuable time in creating impactful presentations.

Hyper personalize with fingerprint: Prezent's Fingerprint feature analyzes your audience's communication style and preferences. This helps you to customize your content to align seamlessly with your audience's preferences, ensuring that your presentation resonates effectively and increases its impact.

Slide library: Prezent provides an extensive library of over 35,000 pre-designed slides , thoughtfully curated for effective communication. These slides are easily customizable, ensuring that your presentations not only convey information effectively but also align seamlessly with your brand guidelines.

Experience the power of Prezent in revolutionizing presentation creation by signing up for a free trial . Alternatively, opt for a comprehensive demo to delve into the tool's features and capabilities. Take your presentations to the next level – begin your free trial with Prezent today!

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An effective presentation starts with an effective presentation outline

Reading time: about 7 min

A presentation outline is an organizational tool that will help you organize your thoughts and summarize what you want to share in your presentation. A well-written outline can help you create a logical flow for the information you present and keep you on track as you present. This can also help you make your message more clear and keep your audience interested in what you have to say.   

Chances are that at some point in your career, you will be asked to give a presentation to your team, department, or senior management. And that’s a good thing because presentations are a great way to share your ideas and communicate important information in a compelling, visual format.

An essential but sometimes overlooked part of an effective presentation is an effective presentation outline. A well-crafted outline can help you to:

• Organize your thoughts.
• Determine how information will flow.
• Keep your overall message clear and easy to understand.

Ultimately, an effective outline will help you create an effective presentation that will get the support you need from your intended audience.

What is a presentation outline?

Before a director shoots a frame of a movie, they first create a storyboard that outlines the sequence and flow of the movie’s story. In a similar way, you can create a presentation outline as a blueprint for the story you want to tell your audience. A presentation outline can help you to stay on message during your presentation, keep your audience engaged, and make the information you share easier to understand.

Why is it important to create a presentation outline?

Some people don’t like to create outlines because they think of them as time-consuming and tedious, but taking the time to create a well-structured presentation outline is important. An outline can help you:

• Brainstorm ideas : Quickly gather and prioritize ideas that you want to share with your audience. 
• Organize content : Create a sequential flow that helps you to clearly present your ideas in a logical order. 
• Manage time: Estimate how long your presentation will last during the outlining phase. You might want to assign a specific amount of time to each section. This can help you spend enough time on more important or complex ideas while not spending too much time on easy-to-understand concepts.
• Engage your audience : A good presentation outline helps you create a good presentation, which is more likely to keep your audience engaged.

How to write an outline for a presentation

The following steps can help you to create a presentation that will keep your audience engaged and informed.

Step 1: Define the purpose and the audience

It’s hard to create an outline for a presentation if you don’t understand why you are making the presentation, what it’s about, or who your audience is. To understand the presentation’s purpose and its audience, answer these questions:

• What is the main message you want to convey?
• What is your goal for this presentation? This is the outcome you expect, which can include entertaining, educating, informing, persuading, motivating, or inspiring an action.
• Who is your target audience? Knowing your target audience is critical to shaping the tone of your presentation. For example, a presentation to executives might have a more formal tone than a presentation to your team. Consider what your audience is interested in, their level of expertise, and their expectations. 

Step 2: Choose a structure

A structure helps you determine how and where to present your key points. There are several different structures you can use in your presentation, including:

• Chronological : Information is presented in chronological order. This structure is good for presenting historical information and for listing step-by-step processes.
• Topical : Your information is organized by topic or theme. This is good for presenting different topics that are related to each other.
• Problem/solution : This structure lets you present and describe a problem followed by possible solutions. This structure can be helpful if your purpose is to persuade your audience to adopt specific solutions.
• Compare and contrast : Used to compare and contrast ideas, products, concepts, etc. This is good for discussions about the pros and cons of various items.
• Cause and effect : This structure helps you to explore the cause and effect of various events. It can help you to explain the impact that decisions or actions might have on the solutions you choose.   

Choose the structure that works for your needs. You can also mix and match structures to customize your outline. It doesn’t matter which structure you choose. Just understand that the structure needs to include an introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Step 3: Use an attention grabber

This is where you consider how you want to start your presentation. Grabbing your audience’s attention will help them to engage early and remain interested in your presentation. For example, you can ask questions that lead into your subject, share a related story, or tell an amusing anecdote. Your opening can help to set the tone for the presentation.

Step 4: Use visuals 

Step 5: include a call to action.

The goal of a call to action is to motivate the audience to take a particular action when your presentation is completed. 

For example, if your presentation is about the importance of writing weekly progress reports, your call to action should motivate your audience to make the process of writing progress reports a standard procedure in their work week. The presentation itself should illustrate why you need their reports and help them understand what’s in it for them if they write their reports.

Step 6: Leave time for questions and answers

In a perfect world, your audience will understand everything in your presentation and there will be enthusiastic applause when you finish. But in case that doesn’t happen, make sure you include in your outline some time to address any questions your audience might have.

Step 7: Review and refine

After you’ve created your presentation outline, you might want to review it with other people to see if they catch something you missed. 

Tips for creating an effective presentation 

When your outline is completed, it’s time to create your presentation. Here are a few tips that can help you to make your presentation more effective.

• Incorporate storytelling elements : Telling a relevant story has the potential to connect with your audience on an emotional level. Indicate in your outline where you will tell stories that can make information more relatable and memorable.
• Practice, review, and refine : Practice your presentation, pay attention to its timing and flow, and identify areas that need to be refined. Get feedback from trusted co-workers or mentors who can help you to identify problem areas.
• Keep your outline separate from your presentation : The outline provides the structure of your presentation, but it is not the presentation itself. You should keep it separate from the presentation so you can refer to it as needed during the presentation.
• Be flexible : Expect the unexpected. Audience reactions and questions could lead your presentation down an unexpected path. Be adaptable and flexible to keep your presentation relevant. 

Using a presentation outline template

Templates are a great starting point for creating documents like a presentation outline. You can create your own template or use an existing template. A basic presentation outline example is:

[Presentation Title]

• Attention grabber
• Purpose of presentation
• Subtopic 1.1
• Subtopic 1.2
• Subtopic 2.1
• Subtopic 2.2
• Summary to recap main points
• Question and answer session
• Call to action

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How to Write an Outline for a Presentation

Crafting an outline is essential for presentations. It helps you stay organized and makes sure all key points are covered, whether you use Microsoft Word, Pages for Mac, or just bullet points.

An outline can greatly benefit both you and your audience. It provides a clear picture of tasks while giving your audience a sense of order. By outlining your presentation, you’ll find it easier to deliver your speech. Let’s explore what a presentation outline is, why it’s important, and how to create one.

Key Takeaways for Creating a Presentation Outline

What is a presentation outline, why is an outline important, brainstorm your ideas, organize your points, analyze your audience, build a structure , start with an attention-grabbing statement, include visual content, come up with a well-developed conclusion, use presentation templates, practice your outline.

• An outline organizes your presentation, ensuring all necessary information is included.
• It aids in delivering your talk effectively, making it easier for the audience to follow.
• Creating an outline involves brainstorming, organizing points, and analyzing the audience’s needs.
• Use visual content and templates to enhance engagement and clarity.
• Practice your outline to smooth out the flow and ensure thorough coverage of topics.

A presentation outline lists the main points you plan to cover. This written guide shows you how to present a speech, presentation, or report. Creating an outline ensures all key information is included and presented clearly.

Using an outline helps you deliver your talk more effectively and gives your audience a clearer understanding of your presentation. Below are the benefits of a presentation outline:

• It gives your audience a sense of order when listening to the presentation which will make it easier for them to understand what is being said.
• A presentation outline enables you to deliver your talk more efficiently.
• Using an outline makes you better prepared because you already know how everything fits together and what information needs to be covered next.
•  It will help you stay organized and ensure that all the necessary information is included.

Steps to Follow to create a presentation

Here’s how to write an outline for a presentation:

First, brainstorm the key information for your presentation. List each theme or topic, and note any ideas or points that come to mind.

Write down the presentation’s main points and key messages. Use a pen and paper or type them into your computer. Ensure they’re in the order you plan to present to your audience.

After listing your presentation points, organize them with short headings for each. Use bullet points in your outline instead of full sentences. Limit your presentation to three main points to keep it clear and easy to follow.

Analyze your audience to decide your approach. How familiar are they with the topic? What interests do they have? What’s the goal of your presentation? Will you engage directly with them, asking questions? Consider all these factors when assessing your audience.

If they don’t know the topic well, start with an introduction and some background. Follow up with detailed points, and finish strong.

The next step is to create a structure for your presentation. This helps you see how all the points connect. Consider the talking points, main themes, and their order. Identify the most important points and decide how many you need to include.

Add transitions between presentation points to make them more interesting for your audience. Think about what you want to communicate and how the points relate to each other. Don’t overcomplicate your outline; simplicity helps others follow along more easily.

Start your presentation with a strong introduction that grabs the audience’s attention. Use a common question or share a fascinating fact about your topic.

If you’ve plotted your presentation in bullet points, stating this outline up front can help attendees know what to expect.

Visual contents make your presentation engaging for your audience. Use presentation software to insert graphics and photos into slides. Also, consider adding relevant stories or examples to help your audience better understand your message.

Your presentation will fall flat without a strong conclusion. Before you start writing, think about the key takeaways for your audience and how you’ll end with those points in focus.

Ensure you link each part of your presentation so everything ties together by the end.

Presentation templates are great as they save you from creating content from scratch or reusing old material. They also save time by handling formatting of colors, fonts, and text box sizes.

A template presentation simplifies things for your audience. Less visual clutter means fewer distractions, making it easier to focus on your key points.

After writing your presentation outline, practice delivering your key points in front of a mirror or with friends and family. Follow the order you’ll use in your actual presentation and ask for feedback.

While practicing, watch for any glitches in flow and order. Check if points are too short or long and if they cover each topic well. Watch videos online to see how others present and compare their outlines to find what works best.

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1. What is a Presentation Outline?

A presentation outline presents a comprehensive idea of what you plan to share with the audience. It is a synopsis of a talk, pitch, or subject matter under discussion. It serves as a guide for writing a paper, publishing a study, or building a presentation and enables you to structure your information in a way that is easy to understand. Making a presentation outline is similar to having all the necessary pieces in place before building a house. It may appear counter-productive to spend time and resources sorting things in the form of an outline. However, outlining saves time and gives clarity on a particular topic.

2. Why Should You Create a Presentation Outline?

A presentation outline assists you in preparing for your pitch or speech. It provides a clear path to take your audience from where it is to where you want it to be. It plays an important role in positively shaping people's perspectives about your planning and execution skills. There are several other advantages associated with creating a presentation outline which includes:

• It helps in brainstorming your presentation and saves time by giving a clear idea of what you need to focus on.
• It helps structure ideas so that they appear in a logical order.
• It enables you to determine the main points you need to keep in your presentation.
• You can categorize ideas into groups and create separate slides for each group for further clarity.
• It helps you rehearse your presentation while going over the important points.
• It provides a visual aid to help people understand your topic in a better way.

3. How to Create a Presentation Outline?

The following steps will help you create a presentation outline:

1 Considering the Purpose of Presentation

Determination of your presentation goal is fundamental to creating an outline. To find the purpose, you need to think about what you want from your audience. Finding this out will enable you to build your whole presentation. There are six purposes your presentation possibly have:

• Entertaining
• Inspiring to act

Considering the purpose will help you build an impressive presentation. The following few questions will enable you to figure this out:

• What do I want people to take away or understand from my presentation?
• How will my talk help those attending the presentation?
• What do I want people to do after the presentation is over?

Answers to these questions will help you create a summary of your presentation and will serve as a fine starting point.

2 Creating Structure

Creating a structure implies considering where different points belong in your discussion and where to use the supporting material. There are three main components of a presentation:

• Introduction

Structuring your points and arguments in these parts will enable you to transition from one part of the presentation to another without creating any trouble.

3 Using an Attention Grabber

Thinking about how you want to open your topic is an integral part of planning a presentation. If you want your audience to get engaged with what you are talking about, you can ask an interesting question, share a related story or quote something entertaining. It sets the tone for the rest of your discussion.

4 Considering Visual Content

You can add images, videos, or other visual content to your presentation to convey what you want to. It helps you to communicate emotions, excitement, passion, and experiences effectively. You can also focus on using different fonts and colors to make your presentation more interactive and interesting.

5 Including a Call to Action

A creative call to action will inspire your audience to take appropriate action. It will show what you want your audience to do after the presentation. Let your audience know what it will get from performing the required action.

4. How to Make a Presentation Outline?

You can make a presentation outline in the following two ways:

With PowerPoint and Word

1 creating an outline in word.

• Open Word document.
• Select View > Outline. This will automatically generate an outline and open the Outlining tools.
• If there are headings in your document, you will witness those headings organized by level (from H1 to H9). If there are no headings in the document, the outline will appear as a bullet list. You can assign or edit headings, and heading levels. You can also set up the structure of your document.
• Select a bullet item.
• Select a heading Level 1 for slide titles, Level 2 for bullet points on that slide from the Outline Level box.
• When the work is done, select Outline View to edit your document.
• Select Save to save your document, name your file, and then select Save once more.
• Select Close to close the document.

2 Importing a Word Outline into PowerPoint

• Open PowerPoint and select Home > New Slide.
• Select Slides from Outline.
• In the Insert Outline dialog box, find and select your Word outline. Select Insert.

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5. Presentation Outline Template

This presentation outline template describes three components of the outline: The introduction, the main body, and the conclusion. The introductory part opens the topic with an attention grabber and summarises the importance of the topic and its relevance of the topic to the audience. It also includes learning objectives that points out what the audience is going to learn from this presentation. The main body part constitutes the main idea of the topic. This idea is substantiated by supporting material. The concluding part constitutes a summary of the topic discussed and what the audience learned from it. It reviews the main points and calls the audience to take appropriate action.

6. Key Tips for Creating a More Effective Presentation

Here are some important points to consider to create an effective presentation:

• Know Your Audience. Get to know your audience by researching ahead of time so that you can make your presentation relatable.
• Add Quotes, Testimonials, or Data. Adding additional information to your presentation can help you engage your audience better.
• Visualize Your Ideas. The way you present your ideas is fundamental to the success of those ideas. EdrawMind helps you to create and present your ideas most effectively and efficiently.
• Identify Key Takeaways from Your Presentation. It will enable you to recall, review, and reassert what you want to communicate with your audience.
• Gather Feedback. Gathering honest feedback will help you make further improvements and adjustments to your presentation to make it more effective.

7. Key Takeaways

A presentation outline is a tool to communicate your ideas precisely. It helps you brainstorm and plan your presentation in a logical flow. Moreover, it helps to grab the attention of your audience by providing it with a visual depiction of what you are going to talk. If you want to create an impressive and creative presentation outline, EdrawMind will help you in this regard. It has a variety of functions and tools which enable you to create a dynamic outline suited to your topic. It enables you to brainstorm and present your ideas most effectively by using different diagrams, charts, graphs, clipart, etc. EdrawMind provides the best solution to your presentation problems.

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Whether you are solving a puzzle, cooking a meal, or writing an article – the tasks can be significantly easier if all the pieces are present before you start. A presentation outline is a tool that will help a presenter arrange the ideas and make the conversation flow logically to give an efficient and effective presentation.

It may feel like wasting time planning the presentation when you could get started directly. But the facts and experience of great presenters in history give premises for the opposite. Planning saves time, and the same applies to business presentations or writing a speech. Start with planning; start with the presentation outline.

In this article, we’re going to understand the presentation outline, discuss its significance, provide a step-by-step guide on how to create one, and provide some expert advice.

What is a Presentation Outline?

A presentation outline is a simplified summary of your speech. Its purpose is to help you shape your thinking, make your presentation presented in the most logical manner, and organize the material in the most efficient way. It should follow the basic structure of your presentation and include concise summaries of your major points.

Why create a Presentation Outline?

A presentation outline can guide you in preparing for your presentation or speech. It provides you with a simplified version of the synopsis of your thoughts and a direct route for moving your audience from where they are now to where you desire them to be. Some of the key advantages of the presentation outline are:

·         Helps the speaker review the content’s scope and check the applicability of supportive arguments

·         Helps organize a message that the audience can understand by creating a visual aid showing the balance and proportion of a speech

·         Saves time by helping you brainstorm the presentation

·         Assisting with what ideas to keep in the presentation

·         Gives general direction to your presentation

How to Create a Presentation Outline

“A person without a plan is lost before they start.” – Lewis K Bendele

Here is a step-by-step guide to creating the outline for your presentation:

1. Know the Purpose of Your Presentation

The essential part of creating a presentation outline is to determine the goal of your presentation. To find this, consider what you want your audience to learn or support following your talk. For example, a non-profit organization that takes care of street dogs may give a presentation to persuade listeners to take care of street dogs by giving them some food. The goal for the presentation should be very concise and measurable so you can have a particular point of focus for your presentation. The most common goals for presentations include:

·         Motivating

·         Educating

·         Inciting an action

·         Informing

·         Entertaining

·         Persuading users to do something specific

2. Build a Structure

To build a great skyscraper, make sure the structure is right! The same goes for building an efficient presentation outline. While building the structure of your presentation outline, consider in which direction each of your discussion points is going in your talk and what premises you can use to support those points. The most popular way to organize the structure is by writing each point on sticky notes so that they can move around and see how each point contributes to the purpose of the presentation. To make better use of the audience’s time, you can also write how much time each segment of the presentation takes. The three major segments into which a presentation is divided are:

·         Introduction

·         Body

·         Conclusion

3. Outline the Start of Your Presentation

Have you wondered why great presenters always start their presentations with a rhetorical question, or share a relatable story, or use a quote? The answer to this is they create a backstage for their presentation and engage their audience early on by setting the tone they want for the rest of their presentation. These are the ways they grab the attention of the audience, which leads to better engagement and response.

When you plan your presentation outline, always plan how you want to start the presentation, as it will set the tone and backstage of your presentation.

4. Use Visual Aids

We’ve all been there; those long lectures and corporate meetings, where you give it all to stay attentive to the data being shown and slowly being read off of a boring spreadsheet.

Don’t make that same mistake in your presentation. Incorporate your data in a visual and engaging way. Take a thought about adding pictures, videos, or other content to your presentation. The style and color scheme you choose for the text on your slides should be taken into account as additional visual material. You can communicate some emotions through color; for example, the color red portrays passion.

While outlining your presentation, mention which visual aids you want to use, where, and how you want to use them.

5. Include a Call-to-Action

Add a call-to-action for your audience to get a better outcome from your presentation. For example, a businessman in a presentation to the audience will try to persuade them to buy his company’s product. Call-to-action brings the audience to the desired place that you want them to. Make your audience aware of the benefits they will get by coming to your desired place.

Clearly mention in your presentation outline which CTA you will be using.

A presentation outline is a tool that can be used for creating a presentation in the most logical manner. It helps improve the presentation on an all-rounder basis. Moreover, it gives your audience a visual representation of what you will be talking about and supports in capturing their interest.

It takes meticulous planning, close attention to content details, and a keen eye for design to produce an effective presentation outline. If not properly outlined, even the best presentations can be disastrous.  

“Practice makes a man perfect,” as they said. “Practice can make your presentation perfect,” we implied.

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How to Outline a Presentation – A Complete Step By Step Guide

It is inevitable that on certain occasions we would be asked to give a presentation. Some people may find this terrifying and become hesitant, especially when the topic assigned is unfamiliar to them. However, acing a presentation is possible if you would prepare properly. Mostly overlooked, and a step that many skips but this is the key to saving yourself from having self-doubt and anxiety caused by i nsufficient readiness. If you are wondering how to begin, then it’s best to start digging for information to draft your outline.   

A presentation outline is a blueprint or framework of your speech. It is a  textual arrangement that gives a picture of the entire speech you are preparing.  It is an important planning tool which guides you logically through all the aspects that you need to consider prior to writing the presentation itself. It helps you to think of the elements to include and how do they correspond to one another. It also allows you to analyze and test the order of arrangement of your ideas and makes identifying weak and unnecessary points in your speech easier. Thus the preparation outline helps in giving your speech a structure.

Outline Structure

Since outlines are used to arrange all the elements in a presentation, it has organizational hierarchy and a common format There are a variety of outline styles, however, they all generally follow the same pattern. Below is a sample of a generic speech outline that can support your core message and works for a wide range of speech topics.

Outline Formatting Guidelines

As shown in the generic outline structure above, the following basic principles can be observed when organizing ideas and preparing your outline.

• Depending on your preference, your speech details may be preceded by the title, topic, specific purpose statement, thesis statement plus additional information you may want to add. As you develop and organize your speech this will help you to be on track on the purpose and main theme of your speech.
• When writing your outline follow the suggested simple formula for any presentation: (1) Tell them what you are going to tell them (2) Tell them (3) Then, tell them what you told them. In your presentation’s outline, this is your introduction , body , and conclusion . Dividing your presentation into main headings will ensure a logical and orderly development of the subjects 
• In sequencing the ideas in your outline, observe the principles of unity, coherence, and emphasis. Try to avoid random order and focus instead on seeking and extracting meaningful relationships on the materials you gathered.  Arrange it according to their meaningfulness and usefulness in the speech.
• Include only the essentials. If you have covered too much, narrow it down and sift out irrelevant materials to keep your focus on pertinent details. Distinguish clearly between important ideas and less important ones and rearrange your points if needed. If some of your main points are sufficiently supported while others are lacking, you may add or subtract supporting material to polish your presentation. 
• The body of the speech contains the main ideas about your topic.  To help your listeners easily understand and remember your main points, group your facts into a few main topics. If possible, limit it to three then start with the strongest and most supportive argument. 
• Under each main point, write down the supporting information. These subordinate ideas should develop the main points above them. Also, each division of the outline should contain only one idea. Make sure that the supporting details you are going to add are placed under the appropriate main point.
• When preparing the outline, focus on the body of your speech first to make writing the introduction and closing easier. 
• After carefully planning your body, identify how you would like to begin your presentation. Write an introduction that would arouse the attention of your audience then provide a  general view of the speech.
• Pull together all your main points, subordinate points and supporting materials in your conclusion to give a final impact on your proposition
• Use transitional statements between elements to hint your audience that you are moving from one point to another. Write it in parenthesis and place it between the main points
• To indicate the main and subordinate ideas, use a consistent set of symbols and numbers. Also, make sure that your subordinate points are properly indented under its main idea. Indenting makes identifying your main points, sub-points, and examples easier. 
• Write each heading or subheading in complete sentences using the active voice. It should contain the words of the actual speech that helps to somewhat complete the script of your entire speech. Writing your points in full-sentence will help you to remember the easy to forget significant points. 
• At the end of the outline, include bibliographic information for any outside resources you will mention during your presentation. This will help you to easily find the sources you will use.

Some may be writing their presentation without an outline, however, having it saves time. The speech you are writing will almost develop itself by having an adequate and detailed outline, therefore allowing you to craft a coherent and more focussed presentation. Exceptional English presenters and public speakers understand the value of having an outline. They know that is an effective device to write and deliver a successful presentation. 

Special Bonus Tip: Writing a presentation outline is often perceived to be reserved for planning purposes only.  However, your outline can function both as a tool when organizing your points and as a reference when delivering your speech. The only difference is that with your preparation outline you utilize full sentences. If you decide to convert it as a speaking outline then you just have to tweak it and use words or short phrases instead of full sentences. 

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30 Perfect Presentation Outline Templates (+Examples)

A presentation outline template gives you an overview of what encompasses an entire presentation. Based on the outline, you can start dealing with one slide at a time and then into the nitty-gritty of it. You may consider as a roadmap that leads to a successful final presentation and impress the attendees .

• 1 Presentation Outline Templates
• 2 What is the outline of a presentation?
• 3 Presentation Outline Examples
• 4 How do you write an outline for a presentation?
• 5 PowerPoint Outline Examples

Presentation Outline Templates

What is the outline of a presentation.

You can make a presentation outline template using just a sheet of paper or a word processing software of your choice. For instance, if you intend to make a PowerPoint presentation, it would be best to create the whole thing from your computer itself.

Using presentation outline examples and templates can make it easier for you to come up with a standout presentation. Moreover, the template helps you organize your ideas in a logical way. This method ensures that you will include all of the most important details of your presentation.

The template allows you to collect all of the information needed to communicate with your target audience throughout your presentation. You can use headers, bullet points, footers, and even graphics that you need in your presentation. The outline helps you create and put together the perfect message that you want to deliver.

Since you will use the presentation outline template as your guide when presenting, it is therefore important to organize the points logically. For instance, the outline must begin with an introduction where you will invite your audience to your presentation.

Here, you will highlight what your presentation involves. The introduction plays a crucial role in your presentation since this is where you grab your audience’s attention from the start. You might feel stressed at the start but just try to remain calm. Making an amazing first impression isn’t as difficult as you may think.

After your introduction, you will come to the substance of your presentation – and you can find this in the body. This section consists of your main points followed by their own sub-points.

After the body comes the conclusion where you will give a summary of your whole presentation. If you’re making a sales pitch, have to conclude with a CTA. Another great way to conclude your presentation is with an entertaining anecdote or a powerful quote.

Presentation Outline Examples

How do you write an outline for a presentation.

In analogy, you can compare your presentation outline template to a roadmap you will use as a guide to move your audience from where they are at the start of your presentation to where you want them to be by the end of it. Here are some points to consider when composing your own PowerPoint outline example:

• Determine your goal When writing an outline for your presentation, the first thing you have to decide on is your goal. You should be specific with your goals and make sure these are highly achievable in the situation and timeframe you have. For instance, when making an oral presentation example, make sure you have enough time to discuss all of the points in your outline.
• Analyze your audience This determines the starting point of your presentation. Consider all of the aspects of your audience to help you determine where you should begin with your message. For instance, when making a sales presentation outline, you may want to present your audience with a problem that you know they all have. Then you can present the solution in the form of the products or services you offer.
• Plan the content of your presentation As soon as you have formulated your goal and analyzed your audience, you are now prepared to plan the content of your presentation. You can think about having 3 levels in your presentation outline template: The highest levels consist of the topics that you want to discuss – usually about 3 to 5 topics Break each of these topics into the points you want to make Decide on the supporting information you will use to prove or support each point.
• Ask for feedback and opinions To deliver an impactful presentation, it is important to ask for other people’s feedback and opinions. These people could be a mentor or somebody who gives a lot of presentations. These persons may help you make important changes that you might have overlooked. In the absence of this kind of help to criticize your outline, you may rehearse your presentation on your own then record yourself. Then send the recording to someone through email for their feedback and comments.
• Include visual elements Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to incorporate visual elements in your outline as they help greatly in improving your overall presentation. By nature, people understand visual content more than they do words. Besides, even a simple illustration or diagram can potentially summarize a significant amount of written text. It pays to use graphs, images, diagrams, and the like in your outline. To make it more effective, use a clear and standard font that’s easy to read for the text. Also, make sure that everyone can read the size of the text that you choose.
• Think about the most important information Usually, in presentations, you cannot accommodate all of the details. As such, it becomes vital to include only special information that you can easily forget like as names, locations, and dates. You should maintain a clear statement of what your presentation is all about. Remember that your thesis statement serves as a guide on what to include in your presentation. In addition, this also prevents you from straying away from your main topic. Also, you must keep your outline clear but simple.
• Consider creating an alphanumeric outline Consider the use of alphanumeric characters to organize your outline better. For instance, you can use capital letters for the main points and small letters for sub-points. Make sure to itemize each level of your outline. You can use Arabic numbers, Roman numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and so on.
• Follow a clear and logical structure There should be a logical sequence in the order of points or events in your outline. This enables your audience to easily understand your message without getting confused. For instance, when you’re creating a narrative – this should begin with an introduction, a body of content, and a conclusion. You will have an easier time with your presentation if your outline has a clear and logical structure.

PowerPoint Outline Examples

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"Tell them what you are going to tell them; tell them; tell them what you have told them“

The number of points in the body of your lecture can expand and contract as required.

• average adult attention span is 15-20 minutes: divide the body of your talk into 15-minute sub-topics
• give each sub-topic a short introduction, conclusion, and transition into the next sub-topic
• vary the pace: for example, have question periods at the end of each sub-topic, or alternate 15-minute lectures with 15-minute interactive activities or audio-visual presentations

I. Introduction (2-3 minutes)

• Opener Or Attention Getter
• Significance of topic
• Relevance to Audience
• Thesis and Preview (Tell your audience “the big picture”; give them a roadmap to their learning)  
• Support material

(sign post - words that indicate that you are going to make a point - initially, finally, next.)

TRANSITION and CONNECTION

(sign post - words that indicate that you are going to make a point - initially, finally, next)

III. Conclusion (2-3 minutes)

• Summary of topic and what was learned
• Review the main points or your learning objectives
• << Previous: Define your goal & learning objectives
• Next: Presentation Tools >>
• Last Updated: Jun 27, 2024 11:21 AM
• URL: https://libguides.tru.ca/presentation

Presentation Outline

The thought of giving a presentation in front of other people is enough to make your hands sweat and knees shake. Being tasked to do a project presentation can cause a person to overthink and worry about things. What happens if you forget what to say next? What happens if you end up giving a poor performance? Erase all these negative thoughts by preparing a presentation outline.

10+ Presentation Outline Examples

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2. Presentation Outline Worksheet

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11. Case Presentation Outline in DOC

What Is a Presentation Outline?

A presentation outline is a document that will list the organized flow of a presentation. You can use this outline as a guide or as a note in planning for your presentation. In addition, you can also use this in case you forget something when presenting in front of the audience.

How to Construct an Organized Presentation Outline

Both students and business professionals would have to give a class or sales presentation more than once in their lives. If you have given one, you surely have realized the importance of preparing an outline before your presentation. To learn how to create a reliable one,  continue reading this article and learn presentation outline writing tips .

1. Choose a Software

In reporting, it is always better to use creative visual aids such as a PowerPoint presentation. Generating visuals can help in capturing the attention and increasing the clarity of the topic you are presenting. There are plenty of presentation tools and software you can choose from in generating your business presentation or academic report , but you should go for the one you’re most familiar with and comfortable using.

2. Compose an Introduction

Before composing your introduction, it is advisable to conduct your audience analysis and write your presentation agenda . Undergoing these steps will help you determine whether your audience already has prior knowledge about the topic you are about to present and will give an idea of where to start. After this, you can proceed with coming up with a brief introduction speech.

3. Structure Your Presentation

Split your topic into separate slides. In deciding the order of your slides, make sure the sequence makes sense. After organizing your content, create your outline following the order in your visual slides. Label each slide in your presentation outline with the necessary things you should include in your discussion. Setting how long you should discuss each concept would also be helpful. You can use a blank outline template, process flow chart , or roadmap to make it easier to review.

4. Devise Your Conclusion

Your presentation would be incomplete unless you wrap everything up. In devising the conclusion to your project outline , you don’t have to go through everything in detail again. You should summarize and reiterate only the main points of your presentation. You should ensure to meet the objectives that you set beforehand. Don’t forget to note to let your audience ask if they have any questions regarding your discussion.

What do you mean by the 10,20, 30 rule?

The 10 20 30 rule means that an oral presentation should have a maximum of ten slides and not last more than twenty minutes. The thirty in 10 20 30 stands for the rule of not using fonts smaller than thirty. Assuming that an adult’s attention span lasts for 15-30 minutes, this rule is widespread in the business world.

What are the elements of a presentation?

There are components a speaker should consider to make his or her presentation effective. The first one is to establish a connection with your audience. Don’t look at your slides too much. It is necessary to maintain eye contact. Also, you should choose a design that’s not too distracting. Lastly, try considering using diagrams and charts that would better present data and ideas.

What are the necessary skills of a presenter?

A good presenter should be confident and should also know how to command the room. Being good at using gestures and facial expressions are also necessary characteristics of a presenter. Aside from that, they should also be enthusiastic, good at delivering their presentation speech , and they should also have a vast knowledge about what they are discussing.

Aside from your nervousness, other factors can also affect your presentation. Despite that, a good outline can combat them all. You know, you can never be too prepared. If your presentation outline is reliable enough, you can be more ambitious of your end goal and aim to deliver a presentation that would leave them in awe of your presentation skills.

AI Generator

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

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Lesson topics

Client engagements, design & research, meeting & workshops, strategy & planning, brainstorming & ideation, present and organize with outlines.

Outlines are great for knowing exactly where objects are on the mural. Here’s how you can use this to efficiently convey the flow.

What is the outline?

When you’re planning a meeting or workshop, you may break your work into smaller sections. This is especially useful if you’re presenting content to your collaborators and want them to follow the conversation. If you think about your mural as a place to create a visual story, then the outline breaks the content into different chapters.

The outline is also great for navigating your collaborators around the mural. Every collaborator can click through the outline in a mural to move through these different chapters.

Create an outline

Facilitators on MURAL can create an outline for easy navigation. Here’s how to create an outline:

• Multi-select an element or group of elements
• Right-click and select add to outline
• This will automatically be added to the outline area
• Click the outline icon at the top right corner to view this new section.

When you build an outline, your participants will automatically see it in the mural. They can hide or bring the outline back into view at any time.

• You can hide outlines by clicking the exit key on the top right corner of the canvas. With this, you will be able to move around your workspace on your own without problems.
• Click on the outline icon on the top right corner to reveal it again.

Presenting with the outline

Guide your participants around the mural to share your work or tell a story. Presentation mode allows you to walk through content like a slideshow.

To start presentation mode:

• Select any element or multi-select if you want to choose more than one element to add to an outline. 
• Right-click and select add to outline . You can view the list of items by clicking on the outline icon next to the activity feed.
• To present your content, click the presentation icon at the top of the outline bar.
• In the presentation view, your mural would let you navigate the screen like a slideshow. Click the < and > buttons at the bottom of the mural to navigate through the presentation.
• To end the presentation, click the presentation icon once again. The mural will return to collaboration mode.

Hide and reveal elements with outline

Create focus during meetings and works by hiding and revealing content on the mural at the right moment. Hiding and revealing content helps simplify the experience for your participants when collaborating. Once you add content to the outline, here’s how you hide and reveal the content:

• When you click on the eye icon, it automatically hides your elements. No one on the canvas will be able to see them.
• Clicking on the eye icon again reveals your elements. You can do this at any time.

Link to a specific step in outline

Every area you add to a mural is included in the outline. Click on the bulleted list to access your mural. You can also get a participant to go to a specific section by linking them to the step. Here’s how. How to link to a step:

• Where the step is, search for the options icon and click on this.
• Click the three dots icon for this step

Select link to this step

Was this lesson helpful?

Hey team. Augstin from MURAL here and today I want to tell you a bit about our outline. The outline is an amazing feature that allows the facilitator off a canvas to simply organized and arranged the content that they have inside of the mural for much easier and smoother navigation, not only for them but for every single user that accesses the mural. 

This is because the outline will always come up the moment that you access a new mural. You can see it right here on the right side of my screen. This column on the ride is the outline. As you can see, I have nine different steps added to it, so it also efficiently conveys the flow that you're supposed to follow. 

Once you enter the mural, you know that you're supposed to start on welcome than what is MURAL, How is MURAL organized and so on. It's super easy to use it for navigation as well, because when you click on one of those steps that has been added to the outline, you'll be taken directly to that spot in an instant, so you can instantly follow every single one of those steps If you want to hide the outline because you already know how to navigate around the canvas and you know the flow that you're supposed to follow, you can simply hit the exit key here on the top right corner of the canvas, and you'll be able to move on your own without any problems. 

If you want to see the outline again, then simply click on the outline icon on the top right corner of the screen to reveal it once more. This way, you know your way around the canvas and you know the flow that you're supposed to follow. I wanna tell you a bit about our hide feature. This allows you to hide and reveal steps that you previously added to the outline. 

All that you need to do is simply hover over that step on the outline and you'll see this eye icon pop up. You can click on that to hide the elements, and now nobody inside of the canvas will actually be able to see them. You can click on the I again to reveal it at any point so everyone can actually pay attention to it.

This comes in very handy If maybe you want to keep the attention in one specific part of the canvas, you can hide the rest of the elements on the other sections that you have in your mural to make sure that nobody is drifting off or changing focus from section to section. You can reveal those steps as you go along to better run your session. Or maybe you have a big surprise planned out for the end. 

You can hide that surprise so that it stays a surprise and reveal it when your session ends. That way, you can always end your sessions with a bang. 

Related lessons

PSB Presentation Skills

• Introduction
• Storytelling
• Presentation Outlines

Writing a Presentation Script

• Tools for Creating Presentations
• Creating Interactive Presentations
• Designing Presentation Slides
• Finding & Citing Media
• Citing Your Sources on Slides
• Preparing & Testing Technology
• Recording Your Presentation
• Handling Audience Questions
• Presentation Anxiety
• Group Presentations
• Online Presentations
• Feedback Form
• Co-Curricular Recognition Form
• Faculty Resources

Once you've decided on your presentation structure or outline, your next step is to write a script.

A presentation script include details about your key talking points , cues for visual aids such as slides or props, and a structured outline to guide your session.

In this section, we'll explore how you can script and practice your presentation to help you organize your ideas, create a logical flow in your argument, and avoid unnecessary details.

Learn how your favourite professors structure their course content and use these tips to create an engaging presentation!

How to Write an Engaging Script for a Presentation-based Online Course

After creating your outline, write out how you would explain your information to a person sitting right in front of you. Resist the urge to rewrite at this step! You can edit later.

Make sure your pacing is consistent so you're not lingering on a single slide for too long. Be concise! Consider how your bullet points might be broken up into slides, and try to keep the same number of sentences or paragraphs per slide.

One of the most challenging parts of writing a script is sounding natural—we can sometimes become too formal with our language, which can make us sound flat and inauthentic. Make sure to add some of your personality to your script, and use language that sounds more like you.

Add some cues to your script to help you remember how you want to deliver certain parts of your presentation. For example, you might write out certain words in italics to remind yourself to emphasize certain words.

Presentation Script Basics

Click on the boxes below to learn some quick tips you can consider when writing your next presentation script:

1. Outline the structure

Start with an attention-grabbing introduction, followed by the main points you want to share, and conclude with a strong summary or a call to action.

For example:

Your introduction should be a welcome, personal connection to your topic.

Your main points are the key parts of your message or argument. You'll use facts, figures, stories, examples, etc. to illustrate your main points and build a compelling presentation.

Transitions are the phrases and sentences you'll use to help your audience know when you're moving between your different main points. You might use phrases like, "Now, let's move on to…" or "Next, we'll discuss…".

In your conclusion, you'll recap your key points and share a call to action for your audience (i.e., what do you want your audience to do with the information you've shared with them).

2. Craft a powerful opening

Crafting a strong opening is crucial to capturing your audience's attention and setting the tone for your presentation.

Here are some key elements to consider when you're crafting your opening statement:

A good hook introduces your subject matter and engages your audience while also setting the tone of your session. Hooks are sharp and quick to grab attention —they could be a surprising statistic, a thought-provoking question, and even a short personal story. This is your chance to get creative!

Communicate the relevance and importance of your topic to your audience. Highlight how it relates to their lives, challenges, or goals.

Appeal to your audience's emotions and allow them to resonate or empathize with your ideas. For example, you could share a personal story about you or someone you know who's personally affected by your topic before sharing facts and statistics about the topic.

3. Develop key points

When you're developing the key points in your presentation script, it's essential to provide supporting information, examples, or evidence that reinforces your message.

A few ways you could expand on each main point include:

Supporting information

• Present facts, data, or expert opinions that support your main point.
• Use credible sources (e.g., journal articles) to strengthen your arguments and provide context.
• Use evidence from studies to back up your claims and increase credibility.

Logical order or Narrative flow

• Organize your main points in a logical order to make it easier for your audience to follow your argument.
• Consider using a narrative flow to create a compelling storyline that connects your main points. For example, if you were talking about healthcare access issues, you might create a character experiencing several of these issues and show your audience how it can impact someone's life (especially if your audience has never experienced the issue you're describing).

4. Incorporate visual aids

Incorporating visual aids strategically in your presentation can significantly enhance your audience's understanding, engagement, and retention of information.

• For example, if you're presenting to the class about a new product idea, you could display images or a short video demonstrating the product's functionality as you describe each feature.

5. Include transitions and signposts

Including clear transitions and signposts helps your audience with following your ideas and message.

You could use concise and engaging language to introduce the upcoming content.

• For example, "Next, we'll explore the latest…".

You could also use questions to transition between sections or engage the audience's attention.

• For example, "But how can we tackle this challenge? The answer lies in…".

6. Summarize and conclude

Take the time to recap your main points to reinforce your message concisely. Try to summarize each of your key points in a single bullet point in a list.

You could also end your presentation with a memorable story or quote that leaves a lasting impression with your audience, or a clear call to action for your audience (e.g., asking your audience to visit your portfolio website, your new product's website, to learn more about an organization you worked with to plan your presentation, etc.)

7. Seek feedback and revise

Practice your presentation with a trusted colleague, friend, or family member to get constructive feedback. It's helpful to present your content to someone who has no knowledge of the topic so they can point out any areas where you might need to give more context.

You could also book a free tutoring session at Sheridan's Tutoring Centre to get feedback on your script and slides. You can book an appointment through the TutorOcean portal.

Once you've made your edits and revisions based on this feedback, practice your presentation again. You could do this on your own to make sure you feel comfortable and confident with the material.

Bonus points—you could try recording yourself while you're presenting and watch it back to help identify any other changes you want to make!

Presentation Script Examples

We've covered what you want to include in your presentation script—but how should you write out that script?

Watch the video below as an example of a short presentation you might see in your class.

Below the video, you'll find three examples of scripts the creator might use to organize their ideas:

• A script layout in a Microsoft Word document; 
• A formatted table in Microsoft Excel and
• In the Notes section of a Microsoft PowerPoint slide deck

• Script Layout [Microsoft Word doc] Includes slide content, cues for rehearsed gestures or body language, video editing notes, and more.
• Formatted Table [Microsoft Excel] Table divided into three key areas: Presentation section or slide, planned material for spoken and visual content, and timing estimates.
• Notes Section [Microsoft PowerPoint] Add speaking notes and transitions to the Notes section in PowerPoint so you can refer to them during your presentation.
• Last Updated: Aug 8, 2024 10:49 AM
• URL: https://sheridancollege.libguides.com/psb-presentation-skills-module

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Proposal Outlining: A Guide for Getting Started

Have you ever felt the sting of presenting a project proposal only to watch it fall flat? Despite pouring your heart and soul into it, all you get back are crickets and cleared throats. The reality is that crafting a proposal that captivates and convinces isn't a matter of effort alone—it's about strategy. And that strategy starts with a well-structured outline.

In this article, we'll unlock the secrets of an effective proposal outline and explore the elements that make a proposal not just good but remarkable. This first step will help you to align your ideas with your client's needs.

Key takeaways

• A good proposal outline can help you organize your ideas and the key points you need to make to persuade your prospect.
• Each part of the proposal outline should serve a specific purpose
• You might want to share your proposal outline with a peer or even your prospect to ensure it covers all of the critical information your proposal will need

What is a proposal outline?

A proposal outline is a framework that organizes your ideas and pitches into a coherent structure, ensuring every crucial element of your proposal is considered and clearly presented. It’s the backbone of your proposal, guiding you from the introduction to the conclusion, ensuring a logical flow and that no key points are missed.

A well-crafted proposal outline consists of several parts, each serving a specific purpose:

• Introduction : Sets the stage, introduces the problem or need, and captures interest.
• Problem Statement : Clearly defines the issue that your proposal aims to solve.
• Solution Overview : Outlines your proposed solution and its benefits.
• Deliverables and Timelines : Specifies what will be delivered and when .
• Cost Estimate : Provides a clear and detailed breakdown of costs associated with the proposal.
• Conclusion : Summarizes the proposal, reinforcing the value and feasibility of your solution.

By using a proposal outline, you ensure your proposal is not only complete but also tailored to directly address the needs and concerns of your clients. There is also a good selection of proposal software (and even proposal templates ) to help you futher speed up and scale the process here. In fact, we might know a few people ourselves…

Importance of outlining

Why spend extra time on a proposal outline? Well, outlining isn't just about organizing your thoughts—it's about setting a strategic foundation for your proposal. Here’s why it’s absolutely crucial:

• Enhances clarity and focus : An outline keeps your proposal focused on the client’s needs and your solution. It prevents you from veering off-topic and ensures every part of the proposal pushes toward the end goal—securing approval.
• Saves time in the long run : It might seem like extra work at the start, but having a clear outline actually speeds up the writing process. You know exactly what to write about in each section, cutting down on revisions and rewrites.
• Improves persuasiveness : A structured proposal is a persuasive proposal. With all points logically flowing from one to the next, your argument builds momentum- and with it, a compelling case to your client.
• Facilitates collaboration : When working in a team, an outline acts as a shared plan. Everyone knows their part, reducing overlap and ensuring all necessary points are covered.
• Makes a professional impression : A well-organized proposal reflects professionalism and attention to detail. It shows potential clients that you are thorough and capable, boosting their confidence in your abilities.

In short, an outline isn’t just a planning tool—it’s a critical element that elevates the quality and effectiveness of your proposal. By taking the time to outline, you're paving the way for a smoother, more impactful presentation that aligns perfectly with your client's expectations.

Key elements of a detailed project proposal outline

Crafting a project proposal is like telling a story where you're the hero who can solve the client's problem. To tell this story effectively, you need several key elements, communicating your understanding, plan, and commitment to the project's success. These elements are:

• Introduction

Kick off your proposal by grabbing attention. Introduce the problem and hint at the solution, making sure to connect emotionally (and logically) with your potential client.

• Problem statement

Dive deep into the problem. Demonstrate your understanding of the client's needs and challenges. Show empathy and expertise, making it clear why this issue needs resolution.

• Solution overview

This is where you shine. Outline your proposed solution and the unique benefits it offers. Be clear and concise , using simple terms that convey value and feasibility.

• Objectives and goals

Define what success looks like. Detail the objectives your solution aims to achieve, aligning them closely with the client’s requirements.

• Methodology and approach

Explain how you plan to achieve the outlined objectives. This section should reassure the client of your method's effectiveness and your team's capability.

• Deliverables

Specify what you will deliver, including tangible products, reports, and results. This sets clear expectations and helps avoid scope creep.

Map out the project timeline. Include key milestones and deadlines to demonstrate your project management skills and realistic approach.

• Cost estimate

Provide a detailed breakdown of the project cost. Transparency here builds trust and helps the client understand the value they are getting.

Wrap up with a strong conclusion that reiterates the benefits of your proposal. Encourage the client to take action, and make it easy for them to say Yes.

By including these elements, your proposal will not only be comprehensive but also tailored to clearly communicate how you are the best choice for the project.

How to create the perfect proposal outline (then fill it in)

Creating the perfect proposal outline is like preparing a recipe that’s tailored to taste—it needs the right ingredients, a pinch of creativity, and a good understanding of who's going to enjoy it! Here’s a simple, effective way to put it all together:

Step 1: Understand the client’s needs

Begin by thoroughly researching your client’s industry, challenges, and specific needs. The more you know, the better you can tailor your proposal to speak directly to them. Dive into their company reports, read relevant industry news, and analyze their competitors. This groundwork enables you to address their unique pain points with precision.

Step 2: Define the project scope

Clearly define what the proposal will cover and- importantly- what it won’t. Setting these boundaries early prevents misunderstandings and keeps your proposal laser-focused.

Step 3: Gather your data

Collect all the necessary information, data, and resources that will support your solution. This could include case studies, testimonials, or relevant statistics that reinforce your points. Solid data not only backs up your claims but also builds credibility, showing that your solution is grounded in proven results and sound research.

Step 4: Draft the structure

Using the key elements outlined above, start drafting your proposal. Arrange the sections in a logical order that tells a compelling story, from problem to solution. Each section should naturally lead into the next, creating a seamless narrative that keeps the reader engaged and makes your argument compelling.

Step 5: Write the details

Fill in each section with detailed information. Ensure your writing is clear, persuasive, and directly addresses how you will solve the client’s problem. Use active language, avoid jargon, and be specific about the benefits of your solution. Remember, the goal here is to make it easy for the client to understand and see the value in your proposal.

Step 6: Review and refine

Step back and review your proposal as a whole. Does it flow logically? Is it persuasive? Ask a colleague to proofread it for clarity and coherence. A fresh set of eyes can catch errors you might have missed and provide valuable feedback to improve the overall quality of the proposal.

Step 7: Customize your presentation

Tailor the final document to the client’s preferences. Consider their company culture and the decision-maker’s personal style when finalizing the format and tone. Customization shows you’ve taken the time to understand their business and care about their unique context, making your proposal stand out from more generic submissions.

Step 8: Include a Call To Action

End with a clear, compelling call to action. What do you want the client to do next? Make it easy for them to take the next step, whether it’s scheduling a meeting, signing a contract, or simply getting in touch. A strong CTA helps to turn interest into action, guiding the client towards a positive decision.

By following these steps, you’ll create a proposal outline that not only meets the client’s needs but also highlights your capabilities and understanding of their challenges.

6 Top tips for outlining proposals

Here are some top tips to ensure your proposal outlines set you up for success:

Tip 1: Start with a strong hook

Capture your reader's attention from the outset. Use a compelling fact, question, or statement that speaks directly to the reader's interests or pain points.

Tip 2: Keep the client central

Always tailor your proposal outline with the client in mind. Every section should reflect an understanding of their needs, goals, and preferences.

Tip 3: Use clear, concise language

Avoid jargon and complex language. Your proposal should be easy to understand, making the client feel confident about what you’re offering. Simple language helps to ensure your message is clear.

Tip 4: Visualize the flow

Before writing detailed content, visualize how each section flows into the next. A logical, intuitive flow keeps the reader engaged and makes your arguments more persuasive.

Tip 5: Highlight key benefits

While detailing the features of your solution is important, focusing on the benefits for the client can be even more persuasive. Make it clear how your proposal will solve their problems or improve their situation.

Tip 6: Be realistic and honest

Set realistic expectations about what you can deliver and when. Honesty builds trust and reduces the chance of client dissatisfaction down the line.

By implementing these tips, your outlines will lay the foundations for a proposal that is hard to resist.

SaaS Proposal Template

Propel your business forward with our SaaS Proposal Template – present a persuasive case for adopting your solution to prospects.

Final thoughts

We've delved into the nitty-gritty of creating a persuasive proposal outline, focusing on clarity , structure , and a client-centered approach. Your proposal's true power lies in how effectively it addresses your client's needs and highlights your unique solution.

But why stop there? With Qwilr's innovative tools and templates , you can transform your outlines into visually stunning, interactive documents that captivate and convince. If you’re ready to gain a competitive edge and make your proposals irresistible, check out what Qwilr can do for you.

About the author

Marissa Taffer | Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting

Marissa Taffer is the Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting. She brings over 15 years of sales and marketing experience across various industries to a broad range of clients.

Frequently asked questions

What's the ideal length for a proposal.

The length of your proposal should be determined by the complexity of the project and the client’s requirements. Generally, aim for clarity and concision.

How much detail should I include about costs?

Provide a detailed breakdown of costs, including all relevant expenses. Transparency here is crucial—clients appreciate knowing exactly what they are paying for and why.

Can I reuse parts of an old proposal for a new client?

While you can reuse generic sections like your company overview, always tailor the proposal to each client’s specific needs and circumstances to show that you’ve crafted a solution just for them. Proposal automation software can help speed up the more generic aspects.

What if the client asks for changes to the proposal?

Be open to feedback and willing to make adjustments. This flexibility can often strengthen the client relationship and lead to a more successful partnership.

How often should I follow up after submitting a proposal?

Follow up within a week of submission to show your enthusiasm and commitment. If you haven’t received a response, a gentle reminder every few weeks can keep your proposal top of mind.

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• Sales techniques
• Sales enablement
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• Presentation Ideas for Students: Easy and Unique Topics

Presentations at school are not just an everyday task: they are your chance to show you are a bright student and demonstrate your vision. Adding some creativity and your personal touch to your presentations will provide an extra level of interest and help your presentation remain in people’s memories.

You don’t need to be a techie, either. Software packages such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Canva are easy to use and provide many colorful devices to make your ideas visually striking.

To create this article, we invited experienced presentation designers and effective presenters to share tips and original ideas for presentations that will help students succeed. So, choose an interesting topic from our list and create a presentation using the tips from our experts!

List of Topic Ideas for Different Categories

As you already know, the right topic needs to appeal to you, fit the occasion, and hold the interest of your audience. Here's a more detailed checklist of the characteristics of the best presentation topics:

• Engaging: Captures and holds the audience’s interest throughout the presentation.
• Relevant: Relates to trends and topics in your field of study or work.
• Researchable: Information and resources are available to support your claims and arguments.
• Brief and Concise: Easily understood by the target audience with no convoluted ideas or overused terminology.
• Original: Offers a fresh perspective or approach, distinguishing it from common topics.
• Appropriately Scoped: Well-suited for the allotted presentation time; not too broad or too narrow.

Thus, when selecting presentation topics for students, consider these factors to create an excellent presentation. You can also explore what a good essay topic looks like to get more inspiration and ideas for your presentation.

So, check out our list of 100 PowerPoint presentation topics for students, which has been thoroughly structured to make it easier for a school or university student to choose a topic!

10-Minute Presentation Ideas

You must pick your subject carefully if you have 10 minutes to make an impression. It has to be brief and compelling. Here are ten short and memorable ideas for presentation topics:

• The Future of Renewable Energy Sources
• The Psychology Behind First Impressions
• The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life
• Minimalism: More Than Just Decluttering
• The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
• Brief History of the Internet
• How to Start a Small Business
• The Basics of Personal Financial Management
• The Importance of Voting in Democratic Societies
• The Benefits of Daily Physical Activity

If you need help creating a great topic, consider consulting expert writers. The PowerPoint presentation writing service can provide engaging presentation examples for students. Moreover, experienced authors will help you with any part of your presentation if required.

Good Higher School Presentation Ideas

School presentations for high school students can be a perfect way to introduce exciting topics and help them broaden their educational horizons. Here are ten PowerPoint presentation topics for higher school students:

• The Effects of Global Warming on Our Planet
• The Evolution of Pop Music
• Understanding the Stock Market
• The Science of Habit Formation
• Exploring Career Options in Technology
• The Role of the United Nations in World Peace
• The Influence of Advertising on Consumer Behavior
• Teenage Mental Health: Understanding and Support
• The History and Impact of Comic Books
• Cybersecurity: Protecting Yourself Online

Business Topics for Presentation at University

Business presentations must be informative, explaining industry trends, strategies, and innovations. Here are the ten most impressive business slideshow ideas for students:

• The Impact of E-commerce on Traditional Retail
• The Role of Social Media in Modern Marketing Strategies
• Startup Culture: Evolution and Impact
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Examples and Outcomes
• The Future of Work: Remote vs. In-Office
• Blockchain Technology in Business
• Global Economic Trends and Their Impact on Local Businesses
• Customer Relationship Management: Best Practices
• Business Ethics in the Age of Technology
• Mergers and Acquisitions: Strategy and Outcomes

>> Find more business research paper topics  for presentation  at StateOfWriting!

Medical and Nursing Topics for Presentation

Medical and nursing presentations usually focus on today's issues, innovations, and new or best practices. This list covers ten interesting topics for presentation for healthcare professionals and students:

• The Role of Telemedicine in Modern Healthcare
• Advances in Robotic Surgery
• The Impact of Mental Health on Physical Well-being
• Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing Practice
• The Importance of Patient Education in Chronic Disease Management
• Breakthroughs in Alzheimer's Disease Research
• Handling Medical Emergencies in Remote Areas
• The Evolution of Nursing Roles in Healthcare
• Strategies to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in Hospitals

Unique Management Topics for Presentation

Good management is at the heart of a successful enterprise. The following ten creative presentation ideas explore leadership, strategy, and operational effectiveness:

• Leadership Styles and Organizational Impact
• Change Management: Strategies for Successful Implementation
• The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
• Project Management Techniques for Efficient Workflow
• Cross-Cultural Management and Its Challenges
• Corporate Governance and Accountability
• Managing Remote Teams: Tools and Tips
• Innovation Management in Companies
• Crisis Management: Case Studies and Lessons Learned
• Performance Management and Employee Development

Interesting Psychology Topics for Presentation

Psychology is a human science that seeks to understand the mechanics of our minds and behaviour. Here are ten topics to do a presentation on psychology that are sure to captivate and educate any audience:

• The Psychology of Motivation and its Impact on Success
• Cognitive Biases and Decision-Making
• The Effects of Stress on Mental and Physical Health
• Child Development: The Role of Nature vs. Nurture
• The Influence of Personality on Lifestyle Choices
• Psychological Techniques in Pain Management
• The Impact of Social Media on Teen Self-Esteem
• Memory Formation and the Mechanisms of Forgetting
• The Role of Therapy in Treating Anxiety Disorders
• The Psychological Effects of Color on Mood and Behavior

Best Biology Topics for Presentation

Life comes in many forms, and biology is the science that explores them all. Here are ten easy topics for presentation on biology:

• The Genetic Basis of Inherited Diseases
• The Role of Microbiomes in Human Health
• Conservation Strategies for Endangered Species
• The Process and Implications of CRISPR and Gene Editing
• Plant-Animal Interactions and Their Ecological Impact
• Marine Biology: Deep Sea Ecosystems and Their Mysteries
• The Biology of Aging and Longevity
• Biotechnology in Agriculture: Innovations and Ethics
• Behavioral Ecology and Animal Communication

Good Physics Topics for Presentation

Physics helps people understand the general laws of the Universe. Here are ten unique topics for presentation in college:

• The Theory of Relativity and Its Applications
• Quantum Mechanics: Principles and Paradoxes
• The Physics of Black Holes and Neutron Stars
• Advances in Particle Physics and the Large Hadron Collider
• The Role of Physics in Renewable Energy Technologies
• Nuclear Fusion: The Future of Energy?
• The Science of Thermodynamics and Its Modern Applications
• Astrophysics: Exploring the Composition of the Universe
• The Physics of Sound and Music
• Fluid Dynamics in Nature and Technology

Chemistry-Related Topics for Presentation

Chemistry is central to many innovations around us and our daily experiences. Let’s explore ten presentation topic ideas explaining chemistry from practical applications and theoretical research:

• The Chemistry of Everyday Life: Soaps and Detergents
• Organic Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Development
• Nanotechnology in Chemistry: Materials and Applications
• The Role of Chemistry in Environmental Conservation
• Catalysis and Its Importance in Industrial Processes
• The Future of Materials Science with Polymers and Composites
• Biochemistry: Proteins and Enzymes at Work
• The Chemistry of Food and Flavor
• Electrochemistry and Its Applications in Energy Storage
• Chemical Safety and Toxicology in the Modern World

Tips for Creating Powerful Presentations

Shaping the perfect presentation is vital to persuade the audience to listen. Mastering the art of presentation can impact your success. Our experts have kindly provided basic advices for a successful presentation:

• Know your Audience: Match the content to your audience's interests, level of knowledge, and expectations.
• Lead with a Hook: The story or compelling start that helps you capture attention and achieve the tone you want for your presentation.
• Use Visuals Wisely: Relevant visuals can support and enhance your message – but must never overshadow it.
• Practise Makes Perfect: Rehearse your speech beforehand many times to deliver it more fluently and confidently.
• Make Your Presentation Interactive: Add questions, interactions, and active engagement with your audience to keep them interested.

To be effective with presentations, you must know your audience, have a killer beginning, use stage-appropriate visuals, practice, and use a strong engagement hook.

Elevate Your Presentation to Leave a Lasting Impression

To sum up, picking interesting presentation ideas for students and adding a touch of creativity to them can turn school assignments into memorable experiences. You can also use visual aids or UK writing service to make your presentation eye-catching and showcase your unique perspectives and insights. Your efforts will impress and inspire those who listen.

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How Far Trump Would Go

D onald Trump thinks he’s identified a crucial mistake of his first term: He was too nice.

We’ve been talking for more than an hour on April 12 at his fever-dream palace in Palm Beach. Aides lurk around the perimeter of a gilded dining room overlooking the manicured lawn. When one nudges me to wrap up the interview, I bring up the many former Cabinet officials who refuse to endorse Trump this time. Some have publicly warned that he poses a danger to the Republic. Why should voters trust you, I ask, when some of the people who observed you most closely do not?

As always, Trump punches back, denigrating his former top advisers. But beneath the typical torrent of invective, there is a larger lesson he has taken away. “I let them quit because I have a heart. I don’t want to embarrass anybody,” Trump says. “I don’t think I’ll do that again. From now on, I’ll fire.” 

Six months from the 2024 presidential election, Trump is better positioned to win the White House than at any point in either of his previous campaigns. He leads Joe Biden by slim margins in most polls, including in several of the seven swing states likely to determine the outcome. But I had not come to ask about the election, the disgrace that followed the last one, or how he has become the first former—and perhaps future—American President to face a criminal trial . I wanted to know what Trump would do if he wins a second term, to hear his vision for the nation, in his own words.

Buy your copy of this issue here

What emerged in two interviews with Trump , and conversations with more than a dozen of his closest advisers and confidants, were the outlines of an imperial presidency that would reshape America and its role in the world. To carry out a deportation operation designed to remove more than 11 million people from the country, Trump told me, he would be willing to build migrant detention camps and deploy the U.S. military, both at the border and inland. He would let red states monitor women’s pregnancies and prosecute those who violate abortion bans. He would, at his personal discretion, withhold funds appropriated by Congress, according to top advisers. He would be willing to fire a U.S. Attorney who doesn’t carry out his order to prosecute someone, breaking with a tradition of independent law enforcement that dates from America’s founding. He is weighing pardons for every one of his supporters accused of attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, more than 800 of whom have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a jury. He might not come to the aid of an attacked ally in Europe or Asia if he felt that country wasn’t paying enough for its own defense. He would gut the U.S. civil service, deploy the National Guard to American cities as he sees fit, close the White House pandemic-preparedness office, and staff his Administration with acolytes who back his false assertion that the 2020 election was stolen.

Trump remains the same guy, with the same goals and grievances. But in person, if anything, he appears more assertive and confident. “When I first got to Washington, I knew very few people,” he says. “I had to rely on people.” Now he is in charge. The arranged marriage with the timorous Republican Party stalwarts is over; the old guard is vanquished, and the people who remain are his people. Trump would enter a second term backed by a slew of policy shops staffed by loyalists who have drawn up detailed plans in service of his agenda, which would concentrate the powers of the state in the hands of a man whose appetite for power appears all but insatiable. “I don’t think it’s a big mystery what his agenda would be,” says his close adviser Kellyanne Conway. “But I think people will be surprised at the alacrity with which he will take action.”

Read More: Read the Full Transcripts of Donald Trump's Interviews With TIME

The courts, the Constitution, and a Congress of unknown composition would all have a say in whether Trump’s objectives come to pass. The machinery of Washington has a range of defenses: leaks to a free press, whistle-blower protections, the oversight of inspectors general. The same deficiencies of temperament and judgment that hindered him in the past remain present. If he wins, Trump would be a lame duck—contrary to the suggestions of some supporters, he tells TIME he would not seek to overturn or ignore the Constitution’s prohibition on a third term. Public opinion would also be a powerful check. Amid a popular outcry, Trump was forced to scale back some of his most draconian first-term initiatives, including the policy of separating migrant families. As George Orwell wrote in 1945, the ability of governments to carry out their designs “depends on the general temper in the country.”

Every election is billed as a national turning point. This time that rings true. To supporters, the prospect of Trump 2.0, unconstrained and backed by a disciplined movement of true believers, offers revolutionary promise. To much of the rest of the nation and the world, it represents an alarming risk. A second Trump term could bring “the end of our democracy,” says presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, “and the birth of a new kind of authoritarian presidential order.”

Trump steps onto the patio at Mar-a-Lago near dusk. The well-heeled crowd eating Wagyu steaks and grilled branzino pauses to applaud as he takes his seat. On this gorgeous evening, the club is a MAGA mecca. Billionaire donor Steve Wynn is here. So is Speaker of the House Mike Johnson , who is dining with the former President after a joint press conference proposing legislation to prevent noncitizens from voting. Their voting in federal elections is already illegal, and extremely rare, but remains a Trumpian fixation that the embattled Speaker appeared happy to co-sign in exchange for the political cover that standing with Trump provides.

At the moment, though, Trump’s attention is elsewhere. With an index finger, he swipes through an iPad on the table to curate the restaurant’s soundtrack. The playlist veers from Sinead O’Connor to James Brown to  The Phantom of the Opera.  And there’s a uniquely Trump choice: a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung by a choir of defendants imprisoned for attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, interspersed with a recording of Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. This has become a staple of his rallies, converting the ultimate symbol of national unity into a weapon of factional devotion. 

The spectacle picks up where his first term left off. The events of Jan. 6 , during which a pro-Trump mob attacked the center of American democracy in an effort to subvert the peaceful transfer of power, was a profound stain on his legacy. Trump has sought to recast an insurrectionist riot as an act of patriotism. “I call them the J-6 patriots,” he says. When I ask whether he would consider pardoning every one of them, he says, “Yes, absolutely.” As Trump faces dozens of felony charges, including for election interference, conspiracy to defraud the United States, willful retention of national-security secrets, and falsifying business records to conceal hush-money payments, he has tried to turn legal peril into a badge of honor.

In a second term, Trump’s influence on American democracy would extend far beyond pardoning powers. Allies are laying the groundwork to restructure the presidency in line with a doctrine called the unitary executive theory, which holds that many of the constraints imposed on the White House by legislators and the courts should be swept away in favor of a more powerful Commander in Chief.

Read More: Fact-Checking What Donald Trump Said In His Interviews With TIME

Nowhere would that power be more momentous than at the Department of Justice. Since the nation’s earliest days, Presidents have generally kept a respectful distance from Senate-confirmed law-enforcement officials to avoid exploiting for personal ends their enormous ability to curtail Americans’ freedoms. But Trump, burned in his first term by multiple investigations directed by his own appointees, is ever more vocal about imposing his will directly on the department and its far-flung investigators and prosecutors.

In our Mar-a-Lago interview, Trump says he might fire U.S. Attorneys who refuse his orders to prosecute someone: “It would depend on the situation.” He’s told supporters he would seek retribution against his enemies in a second term. Would that include Fani Willis , the Atlanta-area district attorney who charged him with election interference, or Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan DA in the Stormy Daniels case, who Trump has previously said should be prosecuted? Trump demurs but offers no promises. “No, I don’t want to do that,” he says, before adding, “We’re gonna look at a lot of things. What they’ve done is a terrible thing.”

Trump has also vowed to appoint a “real special prosecutor” to go after Biden. “I wouldn’t want to hurt Biden,” he tells me. “I have too much respect for the office.” Seconds later, though, he suggests Biden’s fate may be tied to an upcoming Supreme Court ruling on whether Presidents can face criminal prosecution for acts committed in office. “If they said that a President doesn’t get immunity,” says Trump, “then Biden, I am sure, will be prosecuted for all of his crimes.” (Biden has not been charged with any, and a House Republican effort to impeach him has failed to unearth evidence of any crimes or misdemeanors, high or low.)

Read More: Trump Says ‘Anti-White Feeling’ Is a Problem in the U.S .

Such moves would be potentially catastrophic for the credibility of American law enforcement, scholars and former Justice Department leaders from both parties say. “If he ordered an improper prosecution, I would expect any respectable U.S. Attorney to say no,” says Michael McConnell, a former U.S. appellate judge appointed by President George W. Bush. “If the President fired the U.S. Attorney, it would be an enormous firestorm.” McConnell, now a Stanford law professor, says the dismissal could have a cascading effect similar to the Saturday Night Massacre , when President Richard Nixon ordered top DOJ officials to remove the special counsel investigating Watergate. Presidents have the constitutional right to fire U.S. Attorneys, and typically replace their predecessors’ appointees upon taking office. But discharging one specifically for refusing a President’s order would be all but unprecedented.

Trump’s radical designs for presidential power would be felt throughout the country. A main focus is the southern border. Trump says he plans to sign orders to reinstall many of the same policies from his first term, such as the Remain in Mexico program, which requires that non-Mexican asylum seekers be sent south of the border until their court dates, and Title 42 , which allows border officials to expel migrants without letting them apply for asylum. Advisers say he plans to cite record border crossings and fentanyl- and child-trafficking as justification for reimposing the emergency measures. He would direct federal funding to resume construction of the border wall, likely by allocating money from the military budget without congressional approval. The capstone of this program, advisers say, would be a massive deportation operation that would target millions of people. Trump made similar pledges in his first term, but says he plans to be more aggressive in a second. “People need to be deported,” says Tom Homan, a top Trump adviser and former acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “No one should be off the table.”

Read More: The Story Behind TIME's 'If He Wins' Trump Cover

For an operation of that scale, Trump says he would rely mostly on the National Guard to round up and remove undocumented migrants throughout the country. “If they weren’t able to, then I’d use [other parts of] the military,” he says. When I ask if that means he would override the Posse Comitatus Act—an 1878 law that prohibits the use of military force on civilians—Trump seems unmoved by the weight of the statute. “Well, these aren’t civilians,” he says. “These are people that aren’t legally in our country.” He would also seek help from local police and says he would deny funding for jurisdictions that decline to adopt his policies. “There’s a possibility that some won’t want to participate,” Trump says, “and they won’t partake in the riches.”

As President, Trump nominated three Supreme Court Justices who voted to overturn  Roe v. Wade,  and he claims credit for his role in ending a constitutional right to an abortion. At the same time, he has sought to defuse a potent campaign issue for the Democrats by saying he wouldn’t sign a federal ban. In our interview at Mar-a-Lago, he declines to commit to vetoing any additional federal restrictions if they came to his desk. More than 20 states now have full or partial abortion bans, and Trump says those policies should be left to the states to do what they want, including monitoring women’s pregnancies. “I think they might do that,” he says. When I ask whether he would be comfortable with states prosecuting women for having abortions beyond the point the laws permit, he says, “It’s irrelevant whether I’m comfortable or not. It’s totally irrelevant, because the states are going to make those decisions.” President Biden has said he would fight state anti-abortion measures in court and with regulation.

Trump’s allies don’t plan to be passive on abortion if he returns to power. The Heritage Foundation has called for enforcement of a 19th century statute that would outlaw the mailing of abortion pills. The Republican Study Committee (RSC), which includes more than 80% of the House GOP conference, included in its 2025 budget proposal the Life at Conception Act, which says the right to life extends to “the moment of fertilization.” I ask Trump if he would veto that bill if it came to his desk. “I don’t have to do anything about vetoes,” Trump says, “because we now have it back in the states.”

Presidents typically have a narrow window to pass major legislation. Trump’s team is eyeing two bills to kick off a second term: a border-security and immigration package, and an extension of his 2017 tax cuts. Many of the latter’s provisions expire early in 2025: the tax cuts on individual income brackets, 100% business expensing, the doubling of the estate-tax deduction. Trump is planning to intensify his protectionist agenda, telling me he’s considering a tariff of more than 10% on all imports, and perhaps even a 100% tariff on some Chinese goods. Trump says the tariffs will liberate the U.S. economy from being at the mercy of foreign manufacturing and spur an industrial renaissance in the U.S. When I point out that independent analysts estimate Trump’s first term tariffs on thousands of products, including steel and aluminum, solar panels, and washing machines, may have cost the U.S. $316 billion and more than 300,000 jobs, by one account, he dismisses these experts out of hand. His advisers argue that the average yearly inflation rate in his first term—under 2%—is evidence that his tariffs won’t raise prices.

Since leaving office, Trump has tried to engineer a caucus of the compliant, clearing primary fields in Senate and House races. His hope is that GOP majorities replete with MAGA diehards could rubber-stamp his legislative agenda and nominees. Representative Jim Banks of Indiana, a former RSC chairman and the GOP nominee for the state’s open Senate seat, recalls an August 2022 RSC planning meeting with Trump at his residence in Bedminster, N.J. As the group arrived, Banks recalls, news broke that Mar-a-Lago had been raided by the FBI. Banks was sure the meeting would be canceled. Moments later, Trump walked through the doors, defiant and pledging to run again. “I need allies there when I’m elected,” Banks recalls Trump saying. The difference in a second Trump term, Banks says now, “is he’s going to have the backup in Congress that he didn’t have before.”

Trump’s intention to remake America’s relations abroad may be just as consequential. Since its founding, the U.S. has sought to build and sustain alliances based on the shared values of political and economic freedom. Trump takes a much more transactional approach to international relations than his predecessors, expressing disdain for what he views as free-riding friends and appreciation for authoritarian leaders like President Xi Jinping of China, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, or former President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil.

That’s one reason America’s traditional allies were horrified when Trump recently said at a campaign rally that Russia could “do whatever the hell they want” to a NATO country he believes doesn’t spend enough on collective defense. That wasn’t idle bluster, Trump tells me. “If you’re not going to pay, then you’re on your own,” he says. Trump has long said the alliance is ripping the U.S. off. Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg credited Trump’s first-term threat to pull out of the alliance with spurring other members to add more than $100 billion to their defense budgets.

But an insecure NATO is as likely to accrue to Russia’s benefit as it is to America’s. President Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine looks to many in Europe and the U.S. like a test of his broader vision to reconstruct the Soviet empire. Under Biden and a bipartisan Congress, the U.S. has sent more than $100 billion to Ukraine to defend itself. It’s unlikely Trump would extend the same support to Kyiv. After Orban visited Mar-a-Lago in March, he said Trump “wouldn’t give a penny” to Ukraine. “I wouldn’t give unless Europe starts equalizing,” Trump hedges in our interview. “If Europe is not going to pay, why should we pay? They’re much more greatly affected. We have an ocean in between us. They don’t.” (E.U. nations have given more than $100 billion in aid to Ukraine as well.)

Trump has historically been reluctant to criticize or confront Putin. He sided with the Russian autocrat over his own intelligence community when it asserted that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Even now, Trump uses Putin as a foil for his own political purposes. When I asked Trump why he has not called for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been unjustly held on spurious charges in a Moscow prison for a year , Trump says, “I guess because I have so many other things I’m working on.” Gershkovich should be freed, he adds, but he doubts it will happen before the election. “The reporter should be released and he will be released,” Trump tells me. “I don’t know if he’s going to be released under Biden. I would get him released.”

America’s Asian allies, like its European ones, may be on their own under Trump. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister recently said aid to Ukraine was critical in deterring Xi from invading the island. Communist China’s leaders “have to understand that things like that can’t come easy,” Trump says, but he declines to say whether he would come to Taiwan’s defense. 

Trump is less cryptic on current U.S. troop deployments in Asia. If South Korea doesn’t pay more to support U.S. troops there to deter Kim Jong Un’s increasingly belligerent regime to the north, Trump suggests the U.S. could withdraw its forces. “We have 40,000 troops that are in a precarious position,” he tells TIME. (The number is actually 28,500.) “Which doesn’t make any sense. Why would we defend somebody? And we’re talking about a very wealthy country.”

Transactional isolationism may be the main strain of Trump’s foreign policy, but there are limits. Trump says he would join Israel’s side in a confrontation with Iran. “If they attack Israel, yes, we would be there,” he tells me. He says he has come around to the now widespread belief in Israel that a Palestinian state existing side by side in peace is increasingly unlikely. “There was a time when I thought two-state could work,” he says. “Now I think two-state is going to be very, very tough.”

Yet even his support for Israel is not absolute. He’s criticized Israel’s handling of its war against Hamas, which has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza, and has called for the nation to “get it over with.” When I ask whether he would consider withholding U.S. military aid to Israel to push it toward winding down the war, he doesn’t say yes, but he doesn’t rule it out, either. He is sharply critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, once a close ally. “I had a bad experience with Bibi,” Trump says. In his telling, a January 2020 U.S. operation to assassinate a top Iranian general was supposed to be a joint attack until Netanyahu backed out at the last moment. “That was something I never forgot,” he says. He blames Netanyahu for failing to prevent the Oct. 7 attack, when Hamas militants infiltrated southern Israel and killed nearly 1,200 people amid acts of brutality including burning entire families alive and raping women and girls. “It happened on his watch,” Trump says.

On the second day of Trump’s New York trial on April 17, I stand behind the packed counter of the Sanaa Convenience Store on 139th Street and Broadway, waiting for Trump to drop in for a postcourt campaign stop. He chose the bodega for its history. In 2022, one of the store’s clerks fatally stabbed a customer who attacked him. Bragg, the Manhattan DA, charged the clerk with second-degree murder. (The charges were later dropped amid public outrage over video footage that appeared to show the clerk acting in self-defense.) A baseball bat behind the counter alludes to lingering security concerns. When Trump arrives, he asks the store’s co-owner, Maad Ahmed, a Yemeni immigrant, about safety. “You should be allowed to have a gun,” Trump tells Ahmed. “If you had a gun, you’d never get robbed.”

On the campaign trail, Trump uses crime as a cudgel, painting urban America as a savage hell-scape even though violent crime has declined in recent years, with homicides sinking 6% in 2022 and 13% in 2023, according to the FBI. When I point this out, Trump tells me he thinks the data, which is collected by state and local police departments, is rigged. “It’s a lie,” he says. He has pledged to send the National Guard into cities struggling with crime in a second term—possibly without the request of governors—and plans to approve Justice Department grants only to cities that adopt his preferred policing methods like stop-and-frisk.

To critics, Trump’s preoccupation with crime is a racial dog whistle. In polls, large numbers of his supporters have expressed the view that antiwhite racism now represents a greater problem in the U.S. than the systemic racism that has long afflicted Black Americans. When I ask if he agrees, Trump does not dispute this position. “There is a definite antiwhite feeling in the country,” he tells TIME, “and that can’t be allowed either.” In a second term, advisers say, a Trump Administration would rescind Biden’s Executive Orders designed to boost diversity and racial equity.

Trump’s ability to campaign for the White House in the midst of an unprecedented criminal trial is the product of a more professional campaign operation that has avoided the infighting that plagued past versions. “He has a very disciplined team around him,” says Representative Elise Stefanik of New York. “That is an indicator of how disciplined and focused a second term will be.” That control now extends to the party writ large. In 2016, the GOP establishment, having failed to derail Trump’s campaign, surrounded him with staff who sought to temper him. Today the party’s permanent class have either devoted themselves to the gospel of MAGA or given up. Trump has cleaned house at the Republican National Committee, installing handpicked leaders—including his daughter-in-law—who have reportedly imposed loyalty tests on prospective job applicants, asking whether they believe the false assertion that the 2020 election was stolen. (The RNC has denied there is a litmus test.) Trump tells me he would have trouble hiring anyone who admits Biden won: “I wouldn’t feel good about it.”

Policy groups are creating a government-in-waiting full of true believers. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 has drawn up plans for legislation and Executive Orders as it trains prospective personnel for a second Trump term. The Center for Renewing America, led by Russell Vought, Trump’s former director of the Office of Management and Budget, is dedicated to disempowering the so-called administrative state, the collection of bureaucrats with the power to control everything from drug-safety determinations to the contents of school lunches. The America First Policy Institute is a research haven of pro-Trump right-wing populists. America First Legal, led by Trump’s immigration adviser Stephen Miller, is mounting court battles against the Biden Administration. 

The goal of these groups is to put Trump’s vision into action on day one. “The President never had a policy process that was designed to give him what he actually wanted and campaigned on,” says Vought. “[We are] sorting through the legal authorities, the mechanics, and providing the momentum for a future Administration.” That includes a litany of boundary-pushing right-wing policies, including slashing Department of Justice funding and cutting climate and environmental regulations.

Read More: Fact-Checking What Donald Trump Said in His 2024 Interviews With TIME

Trump’s campaign says he would be the final decision-maker on which policies suggested by these organizations would get implemented. But at the least, these advisers could form the front lines of a planned march against what Trump dubs the Deep State, marrying bureaucratic savvy to their leader’s anti-bureaucratic zeal. One weapon in Trump’s second-term “War on Washington” is a wonky one: restoring the power of impoundment, which allowed Presidents to withhold congressionally appropriated funds. Impoundment was a favorite maneuver of Nixon, who used his authority to freeze funding for subsidized housing and the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump and his allies plan to challenge a 1974 law that prohibits use of the measure, according to campaign policy advisers.

Another inside move is the enforcement of Schedule F, which allows the President to fire nonpolitical government officials and which Trump says he would embrace. “You have some people that are protected that shouldn’t be protected,” he says. A senior U.S. judge offers an example of how consequential such a move could be. Suppose there’s another pandemic, and President Trump wants to push the use of an untested drug, much as he did with hydroxychloroquine during COVID-19. Under Schedule F, if the drug’s medical reviewer at the Food and Drug Administration refuses to sign off on its use, Trump could fire them, and anyone else who doesn’t approve it. The Trump team says the President needs the power to hold bureaucrats accountable to voters. “The mere mention of Schedule F,” says Vought, “ensures that the bureaucracy moves in your direction.”

It can be hard at times to discern Trump’s true intentions. In his interviews with TIME, he often sidestepped questions or answered them in contradictory ways. There’s no telling how his ego and self-destructive behavior might hinder his objectives. And for all his norm-breaking, there are lines he says he won’t cross. When asked if he would comply with all orders upheld by the Supreme Court, Trump says he would. 

But his policy preoccupations are clear and consistent. If Trump is able to carry out a fraction of his goals, the impact could prove as transformative as any presidency in more than a century. “He’s in full war mode,” says his former adviser and occasional confidant Stephen Bannon. Trump’s sense of the state of the country is “quite apocalyptic,” Bannon says. “That’s where Trump’s heart is. That’s where his obsession is.”

These obsessions could once again push the nation to the brink of crisis. Trump does not dismiss the possibility of political violence around the election. “If we don’t win, you know, it depends,” he tells TIME. “It always depends on the fairness of the election.” When I ask what he meant when he baselessly claimed on Truth Social that a stolen election “allows for the termination of all rules, regulations and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” Trump responded by denying he had said it. He then complained about the “Biden-inspired” court case he faces in New York and suggested that the “fascists” in America’s government were its greatest threat. “I think the enemy from within, in many cases, is much more dangerous for our country than the outside enemies of China, Russia, and various others,” he tells me.

Toward the end of our conversation at Mar-a-Lago, I ask Trump to explain another troubling comment he made: that he wants to be dictator for a day. It came during a Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity, who gave Trump an opportunity to allay concerns that he would abuse power in office or seek retribution against political opponents. Trump said he would not be a dictator—“except for day one,” he added. “I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill.”

Trump says that the remark “was said in fun, in jest, sarcastically.” He compares it to an infamous moment from the 2016 campaign, when he encouraged the Russians to hack and leak Hillary Clinton’s emails. In Trump’s mind, the media sensationalized those remarks too. But the Russians weren’t joking: among many other efforts to influence the core exercise of American democracy that year, they hacked the Democratic National Committee’s servers and disseminated its emails through WikiLeaks.

Whether or not he was kidding about bringing a tyrannical end to our 248-year experiment in democracy, I ask him, Don’t you see why many Americans see such talk of dictatorship as contrary to our most cherished principles? Trump says no. Quite the opposite, he insists. “I think a lot of people like it.” — With reporting by Leslie Dickstein, Simmone Shah, and Julia Zorthian

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Shiny in production 2024: full speaker lineup.

Posted on August 8, 2024 by The Jumping Rivers Blog in R bloggers | 0 Comments

We are pleased to announce the full line-up for this year’s Shiny in Production conference! This year, we’re introducing a new lightning talk session. These short 5 minute talks will allow us to showcase many more uses of Shiny in Production. The conference will still feature 6 full length talks, as well as a session of lightning speakers.

Register now

Cara Thompson – Freelance Data Consultant

Data-To-Wow: Leveraging Shiny as a no-code solution for high-end parameterised visualisations

You’ve created a prototype visualisation, fine-tuned it so it looks amazing and perfectly on-brand, and turned the plot code into a function so that you can run it again on different data and highlight different aspects of the story. Others on the team have seen how good the outputs look and they want in on the magic! But they don’t want to learn R.

This talk will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the process of creating a Shiny App that functions as a black box to get straight from the data to high-end parameterised visualisations. We’ll start by looking at creating parameterised plot functions using ggplot, before exploring how to bring the data and parameterisation into Shiny to create a seamless no-code data-to-viz workflow for the users.

Gareth Burns – Exploristics

Shiny in Secondary Education: Supplementing traditional learning resources to allow students to explore statistical concepts

The Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PSI) Schools Outreach initiative aims at promoting data literacy and statistical concepts to the next generation of Statisticians and Data Scientists. Volunteers attend secondary schools to present from specialised workshops which are designed to be interactive, engaging and aligned to the national curriculum for different age groups.

The PSI Visualisation Special Interest Group (VIS SIG) created a Shiny application to supplement an existing workshop for Asthma. This workshop aims to introduce the students to analysis of continuous data and make them think about concealing treatment assignment and consider false positive and false negative results. The application allowed electronic data capture the ability to dynamically explore their own data, re-enforcing the statistical concepts and making learning more engaging and accessible.

Each school is different in terms of class size, computer resources and student abilities, therefore the application needed to be flexible to account for this and enable independent set up by a volunteer instructor. User experience and accessibility were fundamental in the design concepts to ensure the application was appropriate for a classroom environment and data visualisation were at an appropriate level for students.

In this presentation we discuss the range of issues required to get a Shiny application being implemented by a team of volunteers into a classroom setting. This includes flexible project management for a team of volunteers, use of persistent storage to enable multiple simultaneous users and use of Shiny modules to make code flexible and scalable for future Workshops.

Cassio Felix Jardim – Data4Shiny

Creating any User Interface in Shiny: The Importance of CSS in Shaping Shiny Apps’ User Interface

The main goal of this presentation is to use CSS concepts to assist in building User Interfaces for Dashboards constructed through Programming Languages. In particular, the R language and its Dashboard creation package (shiny package).

The presentation aims to demonstrate that CSS is crucial for organizing the elements of our Dashboard on the screen and also for the aesthetic aspect of the Dashboard User Interface.

Through the concepts of CSS Flexbox and CSS Grid, the presentation will take on a tutorial format where the entire process of constructing the user interface of any dashboard will be covered from start to finish. The main idea is to consider elements of storytelling, UI Design, and UX Design in the process of building a Dashboard.

The Shiny package and its entire ecosystem include various packages that bridge the gap between Data Science and Web Design, especially languages like Html, CSS, and Javascript. Creating this “bridge” between the worlds of Data Science and Web Design is my main objective.

Katy Morgan – Government Internal Audit Agency

More than just a chat bot: Tailoring the use of Generative AI within Government Internal Audit Agency with user-friendly R shiny applications

Generative AI offers huge potential for driving creativity by suggesting new ideas and perspectives and can also improve efficiency by rapidly processing and extracting insights from large volumes of text. However, using a chatbot-style tool such as ChatGPT can be overwhelming as users have to work out, through trial and error, which questions and instructions give them the outputs they need. The Government Internal Audit Agency’s data analytics team has created two R shiny web applications, each of which simplifies the user’s experience of using generative AI by providing a user-friendly interface and implementing a set of standardised prompts. The Risk Engine walks the user through a stepwise process to explore and articulate the potential risks that might impact any given business objective. The Writing Engine enables users to analyse and generate text in several ways, including generating a draft audit report from rough notes, and summarising common themes from a set of audit reports. This presentation will cover the process of developing and deploying the web applications and the challenges we faced along the way, describing how we tailored the appearance and functionality of the apps to best meet user needs.

Keith Newman – Jumping Rivers

Title coming soon

Following a PhD in statistics at Newcastle University, Keith developed software to improve road safety modelling. He enjoys creating Shiny apps and teaching the use of R.

Vikki Richardson – Audit Scotland

Faster than a Speeding Arrow – R Shiny Optimisation In Practice

The task of optimising your R Shiny apps for great performance can be challenging. Ensuring your code is efficient, using promises where you can, caching resources, and reducing the number of widgets or reactive variables can all help. But datasets can’t be squeezed any more – or can they? By storing larger chunks of data in Arrow format and using the Arrow package for manipulation, we were able to speed up some slower computations by at least one order of magnitude – often more.

This presentation will cover a case study of migrating a financial data auditing system to Arrow data storage. Because of Arrow, we were able to drop from two Connect servers to one, making management very happy with the cost savings – and delighting our users with the new, snappier application.

Lightning talks

Yigit aydede – saint mary’s university.

Transforming Community Understanding: A Shiny Application for Real-Time Crime and Real Estate Market Insights in Nova Scotia

This presentation showcases the Nova Scotia Property Insights (NSPI) application, a Shiny-based tool designed to provide comprehensive neighborhood insights through the integration of crime statistics and real estate market data. NSPI leverages the power of interactive maps to offer users a dynamic and engaging experience, facilitating informed decision-making for residents, potential homebuyers, policymakers, and researchers.

The core functionality of NSPI includes real-time visualization of crime data and property market trends across Nova Scotia neighborhoods. Users can select specific areas on the map to view detailed statistics within customizable radii, offering a granular perspective on local conditions. The application features a user-friendly interface with multiple tabs, including crime type comparisons, real estate market analysis, and historical data trends.

One of the key innovations of NSPI is its ability to allow users to perform side-by-side neighborhood comparisons. By simply clicking on different map areas, users can generate comparative reports that highlight variations in crime rates and property values. This feature is particularly valuable for those considering relocation or investment in Nova Scotia.

The presentation will delve into the technical aspects of developing NSPI, including data integration, user authentication, and the creation of a responsive UI. Additionally, we will discuss the challenges encountered and the solutions implemented to ensure data accuracy and user engagement.

Abbie Brookes & Jeremy Horne – Datacove

Shiny Policies: Dashboards to Aid British Government Decisions

In collaboration with Natural England, Datacove developed a bespoke Shiny dashboard for informed government decision-making, covering Health and Wellbeing, Nature, and Sustainability (HWNS). This presentation will outline three major topics: project and data management, our approach to customization, and the route taken to enhance usability.

The first phase involved project and data management to establish clear expectations. By engaging with Natural England stakeholders, we ensured that the envisioned product met their specific needs and provided a tangible preview of the dashboard’s functionality and design. We connected to government APIs and used R to extract, process, and transform multiple sources of HWNS data, bringing this information into one place for localised decision-making.

In the second phase, we focused on customisation to ensure seamless integration with Natural England’s existing webpage. Using the brand guidelines and custom CSS/JavaScript, we ensured that the dashboard had the same look and feel as other products built outside of Shiny. This step was crucial in maintaining a cohesive user experience by complementing their established digital ecosystem. Thus, making it easy to access and increasing the likelihood of use.

In the third phase, we emphasized making the dashboard accessible to all, regardless of data literacy. We implemented user-friendly design principles, pre-calculated dynamic stats, and intuitive navigation. For example, we built interactive charts using libraries such as Leaflet and Highcharts, this ensured that comparisons were clear and easy to dynamically explore. We will demonstrate our tips for easy interactive visualisations.

Throughout the project, we adopted best practices in data interpretation and are looking forward to sharing our insights at Shiny in Production.

David Carayon – INRAE

The SK8 project: A scalable institutional architecture for managing and hosting Shiny applications

Introducing the SK8 Project (Shiny Kubernetes Service), where data scientists, statisticians and engineers from INRAE, the French national research institute for agriculture, food and environment, have teamed up to create a new solution for managing and hosting Shiny applications.

Shiny has become very popular in our institute, widely used for sharing, showcasing, and democratizing scientific work. However, the enduring challenge of establishing scalable, secure, and sustainable hosting for these apps had yet to be addressed.

So, after realizing that different research labs had each implemented their own local and makeshift solutions, we put on our thinking caps and decided to craft an open-source institutional solution. Our mission? Break down silos, unite the R community at INRAE, and make hosting applications easy for Shiny developers with no IT backgrounds.

The SK8 infrastructure allows to host Shiny code on a GitLab instance opened to all INRAE staff. We’ve got pipelines (GitLab CI/CD), stability ({renv}), containerization with Docker, scalability and seamless deployment in a Kubernetes cluster. All of this is developed, managed, and maintained by the SK8 team using open-source solutions.

Using SK8 is a piece of cake – just toss your application code into a dedicated GitLab project and hit the “play” button.

In this talk, we will be speaking about the project itself, the ecosystem that’s making it all happen and how you could replicate this in your own company.

Juan Ramon Vallarta Robledo – FIND

Chagas diagnostic algorithms: an online application to estimate cost and effectiveness of diagnostic algorithms for Chagas disease

Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, is a significant public health concern in Latin America, with an estimated 6-7 million people affected and increasing incidence rates worldwide. Examining the available diagnostic tests and their cost-effectiveness is essential for improving early diagnosis, which is crucial in managing the disease and preventing severe chronic conditions. To address this, FIND, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating equitable access to reliable diagnosis, developed Chagaspathways to provide guidance for Chagas disease testing.

The application is entirely built using Shiny and it incorporates a separate R library ( patientpathways ), developed by FIND that contains all the analysis algorithms. It is designed to let users select different scenarios and specify parameters about the target population they are analyzing, like prevalence, testing costs, and the type of test used. The results show the recommended testing approach, the expected number of diagnosed cases, the cost per diagnosed case, along with the positive and negative predictive values. A comprehensive outcomes table is included in the results section and users have the option to download the results as an html report, to help them with further dissemination.

The Chagaspathways application is designed to be a user-friendly tool for public health professionals, recommending the most economical testing approaches to maximize resources and achieve the best results for patients and healthcare infrastructures. The application is intended to expand its scope to cover additional diseases, aiming to become an essential asset in global health initiatives for disease diagnostic modeling.

For updates and revisions to this article, see the original post

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Fact Checking Trump’s Mar-a-Lago News Conference

The former president took questions from reporters for more than hour. We examined his claims, attacks and policy positions.

By The New York Times

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Former President Donald J. Trump held an hourlong news conference with reporters on Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, during which he attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, his general election opponent, criticized the Biden administration’s policies and boasted of the crowd size at his rallies. We took a closer look at many of his claims.

Trump claims his Jan. 6 rally crowd rivaled the 1963 March on Washington. Estimates say otherwise.

“If you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech. And you look at ours, same real estate, same everything, same number of people. If not, we had more.” — Former President Donald J. Trump

This lacks evidence.

Mr. Trump was talking about the crowds gathered for his speech on Jan. 6, 2021, and for the “I Have a Dream” speech the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered during the March on Washington in 1963. While it is difficult to gauge exact crowd sizes, estimates counter Mr. Trump’s claim that the numbers gathered were comparable. Dr. King’s speech drew an estimated 250,000 people . The House Select Committee responsible for investigating the events of Jan. 6 estimated that Mr. Trump’s speech drew 53,000 people.

“She wants to take away your guns.”

— Former President Donald J. Trump

Ms. Harris, in 2019, said she supports a gun buyback program for assault weapons, not all guns. Her campaign told The New York Times recently that she no longer supports a buyback program.

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Peter Baker

“They take the strategic national reserves. They’re virtually empty now. We have never had it this low.”

This is exaggerated..

President Biden has indeed tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try to mitigate gasoline price increases , drawing it down by about 40 percent from when he took office, and it is currently at the lowest level since the 1980s. But it still has 375 million barrels in it now , which is not “virtually empty” nor is it at the lowest level ever.

“The vast majority of the country does support me.”

Mr. Trump never won a majority of the popular vote in either of the elections he ran in and never had the approval of a majority of Americans in a single day of Gallup polling during his presidency. An average of polls by FiveThirtyEight.com shows that he is viewed favorably by just 43 percent of Americans today and has the same level of support in a matchup against Vice President Kamala Harris.

Alan Rappeport

“They’re going to destroy Social Security.”

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have pledged not to make any cuts to America’s social safety net programs. Mr. Trump suggested this year that he was open to scaling back the programs when he said there was “a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting.” He later walked back those comments and pledged to protect the programs. But if changes to the programs are not made, the programs’ benefits will automatically be reduced eventually. Government reports released earlier this year projected that the Social Security and disability insurance programs, if combined, would not have enough money to pay all of their obligations in 2035. Medicare will be unable to pay all its hospital bills starting in 2036.

Coral Davenport

“Everybody is going to be forced to buy an electric car.”

While the Biden administration has enacted regulations designed to ensure that the majority of new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States are all-electric or hybrids by 2032, the rules do not require consumers to buy electric vehicles.

“Our tax cuts, which are the biggest in history.”

The $1.5 trillion tax cut, enacted in December 2017, ranks below at least half a dozen others by several metrics. The 1981 tax cut enacted under President Ronald Reagan is the largest as a percentage of the economy and by its reduction to federal revenue. The 2012 cut enacted under President Barack Obama amounted to the largest cut in inflation-adjusted dollars: $321 billion a year.

“They’re drilling now because they had to go back because gasoline was going up to seven, eight, nine dollars a barrel. The day after the election, if they won, you’re going to have fuel prices go through the roof.”

The price of gasoline reached a low of $1.98 per gallon in April 2020, when Mr. Trump was president, chiefly as a result of the drop in driving in the first months of the Covid pandemic. It rose to a peak of $5 per gallon in June 2022, but has since steadily dropped to $3.60 per gallon in July 2024. The United States has steadily increased its oil production over the last decade, becoming the world’s largest producer of oil in 2018, a status it still holds today .

“If you go back and check your records for 18 months, I had a talk with Abdul. Abdul was the leader of the Taliban still is, but had a strong talk with him. For 18 months. Not one American soldier was shot at or killed, but not even shot at 18 months.”

Mr. Trump spoke with a leader of the Taliban in March 2020. In the 18 months that followed, from April 2020 to October 2021, 13 soldiers died in hostile action in Afghanistan.

“Democrats are really the radical ones on this, because they’re allowed to do abortion on the eighth and ninth month, and even after birth.”

No state has passed a law allowing for the execution of a baby after it is born, which is infanticide. Moreover, abortions later in pregnancy are very rare: In 2021, less than 1 percent of abortions happened after 21 weeks’ gestation, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report based on data from state and other health agencies. More than 90 percent of abortions happened within 13 weeks of gestation.