Define the purpose and scope
First determine whom you are speaking to, what you want your audience to understand or do after the presentation, and which topic you will focus on. “Women’s empowerment” is a broad subject; choosing a focus such as education, working life, representation in decision-making, or health can make your presentation more concrete. These topics are suggestions for presentations; separately source any factual claims about the topic you choose.
Write a one-sentence purpose: “By the end of this presentation, the audience will be familiar with some options for supporting development opportunities in the workplace.” Choose whether to prioritize informing, raising awareness, or calling for action. Also clarify the presentation length, target audience, and whether the presentation will be an audiovisual product.
Build the central message with sources
Identify two or three supporting ideas for your central message. For every factual claim, check what the source says and which period and population it covers. Do not present information about one country, sector, or period as a universal fact. If you use a figure, state its scope and source on the slide; remove any claim you cannot verify.
Montgomery College’s “Empowering Women through Education” assignment asks students to develop a visual essay about how education contributes to women’s empowerment, using a portfolio of visuals such as photographs and videos. Students consider the experiences of the women selected and the impact of their work on other people’s lives; the assignment also specifies that permission must be obtained for photographs and other visuals used. This is a specific assignment example that can be useful for planning research and visual storytelling together; it is not a required format for every presentation. Review the Montgomery College assignment.
It may be useful to answer the questions, “What is the issue, whom does it affect and how, and what support options could be considered?” Do not define women solely by the barriers they face; make room for the diversity of their experiences and contributions as well. If you use a personal story, respect consent and privacy; do not present a fictional example as a real testimony.
Design the slide sequence
For a short presentation, you can adapt this sequence: title and purpose; context for the chosen topic; a specific need or issue; a verified source or example; options to consider; central message and questions. If time is limited, simplify examples and explanations rather than increasing the number of topics.
Write slide titles that convey the message; instead of a general title such as “Challenges,” state what the slide will explain. Using one central idea per slide and avoiding filling it with text like speaking notes can support readability. When choosing visuals, check their context and usage permissions; do not use color as the only way to convey meaning.
For examples of how to present your presentation skills on a résumé, see How to demonstrate presentation skills on your résumé with examples. This link does not replace the recommendation to focus on conveying the message in a way that serves the purpose, rather than turning the presentation itself into a list of skills.
Worked example: development opportunities in the workplace
Hypothetical example: Imagine that you will discuss practices that could support the professional development of women employees during an internal session at an organization. If you do not have verified data about your organization, do not make up a percentage. The organization and situation below are fictional; this is not a real research finding.
- Slide 1 — Purpose: “We will consider three practice options that could support access to development opportunities.” State the scope and audience.
- Slide 2 — Need: The example describes a fictional team where the criteria for taking on project responsibility are unclear. Clearly label this as a hypothetical scenario.
- Slide 3 — Context: Discuss how unclear criteria could affect access to opportunities. If you present this as a general fact, add an appropriate and verifiable source.
- Slide 4 — Options: Consider suggestions such as sharing task criteria, holding regular development discussions, and reviewing access to opportunities. Present these as options for discussion, not as guaranteed outcomes.
- Slide 5 — Closing: Ask the audience to identify a step that could be tried in their organization. If the person responsible or the follow-up method has not been decided, state that it still needs to be determined.
Keep visuals and delivery consistent
Check text size and contrast on the screen where the presentation will be shown. If you use a chart, include its title, unit, date, and source; make sure the scale or selected examples do not create a misleading impression. Verify the permissions and context for photographs and quotations.
Rehearse the presentation and time it; check that you can explain the main idea of each slide in your own words. If another person will take over the presentation, leave the sources and context in a clear form. For an approach to tailoring a message to its audience in student council campaign presentations, the article How to prepare a student council campaign presentation may also be helpful.
Use sources within their limits
A 2014 announcement from Husson University mentions a planned presentation on women’s health and sustainability. The announcement can provide an example of a presentation topic; by itself, it is not a general research finding about the effects of women’s empowerment. Review the announcement.
Final checklist and frequently asked questions
- Are the purpose, target audience, and scope clear?
- Have the sources, dates, and context for factual claims been checked?
- Are hypothetical examples clearly labeled?
- Have the different experiences and contributions of women been included?
- Are recommendations presented as options to consider, without promising guaranteed results?
- Have charts, visual permissions, sources, and timing been checked?
- Is the central message or a possible next step clear in the closing?
Which subtopic should I choose?
Choose according to your audience’s needs and the presentation length. You can select an area such as education, working life, health, or representation in decision-making and focus on one central question, leaving other topics outside the scope.
Is it necessary to use statistics?
No. Use statistics only if you can verify their source, date, and scope. A sourced example, a clearly identified hypothetical scenario, or a well-defined recommendation can also help explain the central message.
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