Microsoft Office · Intermediate level

Intermediate level · Module 3: Presentations that Persuade · Lesson 1 of 3

Planning a Persuasive Presentation

Plan a presentation around the audience's decision, with a clear message and evidence.

In this lesson you will

  • Define audience, goal and key message
  • Structure slides as problem–evidence–recommendation

Key concepts

audience analysiskey messagestorylinecall to action

The lesson

Persuasive presentations start from what the audience must decide. A donor needs to understand the problem, believe your solution works, trust your organisation and know exactly what you are asking for.

Write the key message in one sentence first. Then plan the slides as a story: problem, evidence, solution, results expected, budget, ask. Each slide title is a headline sentence that makes its point.

Support claims with evidence — numbers, quotes from beneficiaries, photos used with consent. Unsupported claims weaken the pitch.

Step by step

  1. Write your one-sentence key message.
  2. Outline the story in six to ten headline titles.
  3. Choose the evidence for each slide.
  4. Get feedback on the outline before designing.

Practice activity

Plan a 10-minute presentation to a donor requesting funding for a youth skills project, as a slide-by-slide outline.

Expected result: An approved outline with headline titles.

Check your understanding

  1. What is a 'headline title' on a slide?

    Show answer

    A short sentence that states the slide's main point rather than a vague topic label.

Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.