PREPARING THE MAIN POINTS FOR A PRESENTATION Show
LIMIT the number of main topics in the body of the presentation. Develop between two to five main points. Audiences often have trouble following a presentation that tries to cover too many major topics. PHRASE main points in parallel language if possible. The similarity in wording that parallel phrasing introduces will help your audiences identify the major topics of the presentation. STATE main points as concisely as possible. Use simple, declarative sentences to introduce each point you wish to make in the presentation. BALANCE the development given to each main point. Each topic should receive roughly the same amount of time. If some points are developed at great length while others are just briefly noted, the presentation gives the impression that some main points are unimportant. CONNECT each main point to the thesis of your presentation. The best way to avoid wandering off on a tangent is to ask yourself why this particular point is pertinent to the central idea of the presentation you are giving. Avoid the temptation to explore amusing facts and ideas which, while interesting in an of themselves, have very little to do with the central goal of your presentation. USE clear transitional statements to indicate movement to a new point. Transitions alert the audience that you are finished with one point and are moving on. Without them, you risk leaving your audience behind as you advance to a new topic.
(Do not confuse with the 4 types of sentence structure.) There are four types of English sentence, classified by their purpose:
Sentence types are sometimes called clause types.
1. Declarative Sentence (statement)Declarative sentences make a statement. They tell us something. They give us information, and they normally end with a full-stop/period. The usual word order for the declarative sentence is:
Declarative sentences can be positive or negative. Look at these examples:
Declarative sentences are the most common type of sentence. 2. Interrogative Sentence (question)Interrogative sentences ask a question. They ask us something. They want information, and they always end with a question mark. The usual word order for the interrogative sentence is:
Interrogative sentences can be positive or negative. Look at these examples:
3. Imperative Sentence (command)Imperative sentences give a command. They tell us to do something, and they end with a full-stop/period (.) or exclamation mark/point (!). The usual word order for the imperative sentence is:
Note that there is usually no subject—because the subject is understood, it is YOU. Imperative sentences can be positive or negative. Look at these examples:
4. Exclamative Sentence (exclamation)Exclamative sentences express strong emotion/surprise—an exclamation—and they always end with an exclamation mark/point (!). The usual word order for the exclamative sentence is:
Look at these examples:
Note the form and function of the above four types. In general, we use the declarative form to make a statement. We use the interrogative form to ask a question. We use the imperative form to issue a command. We use the exclamative form to make an exclamation. But function and form do not always coincide, especially with a change in intonation. For example, we can use the declarative form to give a command—You will now start the exam. Or we can use the interrogative form to make an exclamation—Wow, can Jo play the piano! We can even ask a question with the declarative form—Bangkok is in Thailand? So it is important to recognize this and not be confused when the function does not always match the form. Contributor: Josef Essberger What is the main idea of a speech called?The central idea (sometimes called the thesis) states in one sentence what the speech is about. You can use your specific-purpose statement to help you write your central idea.
Which term describes a single sentence in the speech itself that refers to the main purpose and topic of the speech?first step in a powerful conclusion; a thesis statement is a short, declarative sentence that states the pur- pose, intent, or main idea of a speech.
What is the name of the section of a speech that includes a summary of main points and a clincher?The conclusion provides a review of what you just talked about. Ideally, the conclusion should remind your audience what you talked about and why it matters to them. You can do this by reviewing the main ideas, restating the thesis, and ending the speech in a memorable way with a clincher.
Which of the following speech elements should be stated as declarative sentences?each main point and supporting point is stated in sentence form as a declarative statement. what are some functions of an introduction? sharing a compelling quotation or story, posing a question, providing unusual information, humor acknowledging the audience, and referring to the occasion.
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