Gather all the data in an organized manner. Whether it be books, magazines or online articles, having all the research material at your direct disposal makes it easier to select the necessary information. Taking this preliminary step puts the presenter in the right mindset.
Determine the objective(s). Get to the point. Figure out the major points or main concepts and outline them in a logical manner. Dr. Heidi M. Anderson at the University of Kentucky suggests that grouping objectives together can help determine the order of information. Once you have your major points established, it is easier to select relevant supplementary information. Otherwise, minor details may overwhelm the presentation and confuse the audience.
Know the time limit. Time is a crucial factor in an effective presentation. Keep the presentation length in accordance with the allotted time. Condense or expand the presentation appropriately. If it is a 10-minute presentation, then there should not be 100 slides.
Know your audience. Be familiar with the their level of knowledge prior to the presentation. This is important in determining the thoroughness of the introduction and in tailoring the focus. Ask questions such as: What background information do you need in order to understand this presentation? What will they want to hear? What type of language should I use?
Support the main concepts in the form of charts, graphs, examples and other visual aids. Select information that strengthens the objectives. When utilizing these tools, be sure to stick to a few strong pieces of evidence rather than many weak ones. Jan Glover of the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library at Yale University School of Medicine recommends no more than one concept per visual aid. If there are graphs and charts, make sure that they are easy to decipher so that they do not distract from the main concept. If using an example, try to select ones that relate to the audience.
Review and edit. Go through your presentation and analyze it as objectively as possible. Review the presentation just as one would proofread an essay. Ask yourself: Does the order of the points make sense? What information is unnecessary? Is there missing information? Is the conclusion strong enough? What does the audience come away with at the end?