A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations, 7th edition - Kate L. Turabian 2007

Design your presentation to be listened to - Sketch your introduction
Presenting research in alternative forums
Part I. Research and writing: from planning to production

To hold your listeners' attention, you must seem to be not lecturing at them, but rather amiably conversing with them, a skill that does not come easily, because few of us can write as we speak and because most of us need notes to keep us on track. If you must read, read no faster than about two minutes a page (at about three hundred words a page). Time yourself reading more slowly than you ordinarily speak. The top of your head is probably not your most attractive feature, so build in moments when you deliberately look straight out at your audience, especially when you're saying something important. Do that at least once or twice a page.

Far better is to talk from notes, but to do that well you need to prepare them well.

13.2.1 Sketch your introduction

For a twenty-minute talk, you get one shot at motivating your audience before they tune out, so prepare your introduction more carefully than any other part of your talk. Base it on the four-part problem statement described in section 10.1, plus a road map. (The times in parentheses are rough estimates.)

Use your notes only to remind yourself of the four parts, not as a word-for-word script. If you can't remember the content, you're not ready to give a talk. Sketch enough in your notes to remind yourself of the following:

1. the research that you extend, modify, or correct (no more than a minute)

2. a statement of your research question—the gap in knowledge or understanding that you address (thirty seconds or less)

3. an answer to So what? (thirty seconds)

Those three steps are crucial in motivating your listeners. If your question is new or controversial, give it more time. If your listeners know its significance, mention it quickly and go on.

4. Your claim, the answer to your research question (thirty seconds or less)

Listeners need to know your answer up front even more than readers do, so state at least its gist, unless you have a compelling reason to wait for the end. If you do wait, at least forecast your answer.

5. A forecast of the structure of your presentation (ten to twenty seconds). The most useful forecast is a verbal table of contents: “First I will discuss. . . .” That can seem clumsy in print, but listeners need more help than readers do. Repeat that structure as you work through the body of your talk.

Rehearse your introduction, not only to get it right, but to be able to look your audience in the eye as you give it. You can look down at notes later.

All told, spend no more than three minutes or so on your introduction.