Signposting: previewing and moving on

A listener cannot look back at the previous page, so a speaker has to say aloud where the talk is going. Preview the structure at the start, and mark every change of topic with a transition phrase.

• Let me begin by setting out the problem we are trying to solve.
• I'll cover three areas: first the customer data, then the costs, and finally the timeline.
• Let me move on to the question of funding.

Emphasis frames: What matters most is …

In a presentation, a key message delivered as a plain statement is easily lost. A focusing frame announces that something important is coming and delays it to the end of the sentence: What matters most is …, The point I want to underscore is that ….

What + (subject) + verb + is + key idea | The point I want to underscore / stress is (that) + clause

• What these figures show most clearly is the growth in repeat orders.
• The point I'd like to underline is that none of this requires new funding.
• What we need from this meeting is a clear decision.