Once you’ve developed a focus for your presentation and determined its main point and general organization, you can create an outline. It’s a good idea to begin with a basic outline that includes the following:
an opening line that captures the attention of your audience
a statement of your main point — typically in the form of a thesis statement
a sentence establishing your credibility and purpose so that your audience can see that you care about and understand the issue, either through personal experience or through research, and that they can trust what you have to say
two to four key points
evidence to support your key points
transition statements to guide your audience through your talk
a conclusion that reinforces your audience’s understanding of the main ideas they should take away from your talk
a closing line or an invitation to ask questions that makes it clear to your audience that you have finished your presentation