Structure:
Construct your presentation around a central message or narrative. Emphasizing this main message or revisiting the core story will maintain the audience’s interest throughout the talk.

Present your narrative with varying levels of detail to accommodate the diverse expertise of your audience. Begin with a broad overview that highlights the key takeaway messages, then progressively delve deeper into specifics based on audience engagement and interest.

Ensure that all content is directly relevant to the overarching story you aim to convey. Avoid diverging into information that does not support the main narrative.

Finally, offer a compelling reason for the audience to connect with and invest in the significance of the research being presented.

Oratory:
Practice your entire presentation 3-4 times, focusing on the first few slides for 5-10 repetitions.
Develop key phrases that will assist you in clarifying complex ideas or in initiating discussion for each slide.
Engage with your audience by observing their expressions to gauge their comprehension. This is where your “break” slides can be beneficial. Avoid using notecards, as they may divert your attention away from the audience.
When introducing a plot, always begin by explaining the axes before delving into the plot’s content.
Be mindful of your hand movements. While a pointer can provide something to hold, utilize your hands to enhance the animation and engagement of your presentation.
Ensure consistency in your language. The terminology used in your slides should align with the terminology in your spoken presentation. Avoid synonyms that may lead to confusion for the audience.

Visual Aids:
Any information presented orally should be reinforced visually. Conversely, every element on the slide should be discussed; if it won’t be addressed in your presentation, it should not be included in the slide.
Use clear, straightforward language, eliminating superfluous words. Complete sentences are not required. Ensure legibility.
Keep text to a minimum and convey your narrative through images (one idea per slide).
Utilize a minimum font size of 16 points, with a preference for 24 points or larger.
Label your axes appropriately: axis labels should be 14 points and aligned horizontally. Position the y-axis label above the axis for readability.
Avoid placing important content within the outer 5% of the screen edges. Ensure figures are accessible to colorblind viewers.
Craft your slide titles as conclusion or takeaway messages.
Incorporate breaks throughout your presentation to allow the audience to process information.