- Say your name and the title of your talk
- State your thesis or argument
- Describe why you're qualified to give the talk
- (optional) Explain why you're inspired to give the talk
- Have a hook: something compelling, funny or thought-provoking to keep the audience engaged
- Identify who will benefit from hearing the talk
- Provide a roadmap about what you'll cover in the talk
- Announce that you have have arrived at the conclusion of the talk
- For example: "In summary", "In conclusion", "Let's cover what we learned", etc.
- Recap your outcomes or restate your thesis and outline how you defended it
- Have a call to action for the audience
- Leave the door open for more discussion either through Q&A or after the talk
- Provide a link to a list of resources
- The final slide says "Thank you" and lists your name and contact information