Developing a Presentation
- Determine what you want to present. Find something that you enjoy, know a lot about, and feel others will want to learn about.
- Work on discovering how to best present the information so that you are comfortable and your audience is enjoying the session.
- Know what you MUST cover and then what you WANT to cover. Add to that some extra talking points in case your presentation goes too fast.
- Work in ways to engage your audience. Is lecturing your style? What about activities or interactions? What method do you enjoy as an audience member? Your audience will probably think the same way you do!
- Limit your focus to no more than 3 main ideas. Having more will give the audience too much to remember!
- Be clear in your explanations. Even though you know what you’re talking about, your audience doesn’t. Assume they know NOTHING about your topic and explain everything in detail.
- Respect the audience. You will have people of various ages, backgrounds, cultures, and religions in your session. Appeal to all of them.
- When forming your outline, have a method of progressing from one point to the next and stay in order. There is always a sensible way to put materials together - figure out what it is for your information and work from there.
- Always talk about both the good and the bad. If you did an activity that went off very well, consider what could have gone wrong, or what things did go wrong that you were able to fix quickly. Knowing that your event didn’t go “perfectly” will allow participants to feel more comfortable trying it at their own school.
- Remember to introduce yourself, the other presenters, and anyone else helping with the presentation. Tell them your name and school and your grade if you want. Make sure the audience knows what you’re going to be presenting (share your title) and what you expect from them (if you’re doing an activity). At the end, thank everyone for coming!
Idea Starters for a Presentation Topic
Remember, you want to have a presentation that is unique and original!
These are ideas or topics that have been addressed in the past. Use them as a guide for your own ideas!
- Fundraisers
- Induction Ceremonies
- Record Keeping
- Charity Events
- Service Projects
- Event Planning
- Dance Themes
- Spirit Games
- Social Events
- Holiday Events
- Spirit Themes
- New Member Training
- Staff Appreciation
- School Activities
- Community Events
- Student Appreciation
- Inclusive Activities
- School Swapping
- Member Appreciation
- Off-Campus Events
- Upper & Underclassmen Pairs
- Academic Banquets/Rallies
- Administrative Relationships
- Graduation
- Membership Ceremonies
- Leadership Lessons
- Senior Citizen Events
- Election/Selection Procedures
- Public Relations
- Transition from Elem/Middle School
- Icebreakers
- Meeting Management
- Organizational Skills
- Team Builders
- Summer Camp
- Group Management
- School Improvement
- Recruiting Members
- Recognition & Rewards
- Peer Counseling
- Leadership Development
- Team Recognition
- New Student Orientation
- Thinking OUTSIDE THE BOX!
