# Presentation / Briefing Template > **Back to [Markdown Style Guide](../markdown_style_guide.md)** — Read the style guide first for formatting, citation, and emoji rules. **Use this template for:** Slide-deck-style documents, research presentations, briefings, lectures, walkthroughs, or any content that would traditionally be a PowerPoint. Designed to read well as a standalone document AND to serve as speaker-ready presentation notes. **Key features:** Collapsible speaker notes under every section, structured flow from context through content to action items, figure captions, and footnote citations. --- ## How to Use 1. Copy this file to your project 2. Replace all `[bracketed placeholders]` with your content 3. Delete sections that don't apply (but keep the core flow) 4. Add/remove content topics (H3s under 📚 Content) as needed 5. Follow the [Markdown Style Guide](../markdown_style_guide.md) for all formatting 6. Add [Mermaid diagrams](../mermaid_style_guide.md) wherever a concept benefits from a visual --- ## Template Structure The presentation follows a 6-section flow. Each section has an H2 with one emoji, content, and optional collapsible speaker notes. ``` 1. 🏠 Housekeeping — Logistics, context, announcements 2. 📍 Agenda — What we'll cover, with time estimates 3. 🎯 Objectives — What the audience will walk away with 4. 📚 Content — The main body (multiple H3 topics) 5. ✍️ Action Items — What happens next, who owns what 6. 🔗 References — Citations, resources, further reading ``` --- ## The Template Everything below the line is the template. Copy from here: --- # [Presentation Title] _[Context line — project, team, date, or purpose]_ --- ## 🏠 Housekeeping - [Logistics item or announcement] - [Important deadline or reminder] - [Any prerequisite context the audience needs]
💬 Speaker Notes - **Timing:** 2–3 minutes for this section - **Tone:** Conversational, get the room settled - [Specific note about announcement context] - [Transition line:] "With that covered, here's our plan for today..."
--- ## 📍 Agenda - [x] Housekeeping (3 min) - [ ] [Topic 1 name] (10 min) - [ ] [Topic 2 name] (15 min) - [ ] [Topic 3 name] (15 min) - [ ] Action items and Q&A (10 min) **Total:** [estimated time]
💬 Speaker Notes - Reference this agenda when transitioning between topics - If running long on a topic, note what you'll compress - "We have a natural break around the halfway point" - Adjust timing based on audience engagement — questions are good
--- ## 🎯 Objectives After this presentation, you'll be able to: - **[Action verb]** [specific, measurable outcome] - **[Action verb]** [specific, measurable outcome] - **[Action verb]** [specific, measurable outcome]
💬 Speaker Notes - Reference these objectives throughout the presentation - "This connects back to our first objective..." - At the end, revisit: "Let's check — did we hit all three?" - **Strong action verbs:** Identify, Analyze, Compare, Evaluate, Design, Implement, Explain, Distinguish, Create, Apply
--- ## 📚 Content ### [Topic 1 title] [Opening context — why this matters, what problem it solves] **Key points:** - [Point 1 with brief explanation] - [Point 2 with brief explanation] - [Point 3 with brief explanation] Image placeholder: `images/slide-[filename].png` _Figure 1: [What this image demonstrates]_ > 💡 **Key insight:** [The one-liner the audience should remember from this topic]
💬 Speaker Notes ### Teaching strategy - **Open with a question:** "[Engaging question for the audience]?" - Take 2–3 responses - "Good thinking. Here's how this actually works..." ### Core explanation (3–5 min) - Start with the definition/concept - Walk through step by step - Use a real-world example: "[Specific scenario]" ### Common misconceptions - **What people think:** [Misconception] - **What's actually true:** [Reality] - **How to address it:** [Reframe] ### Transition - "Now that we understand [concept], let's look at how it applies to..."
--- ### [Topic 2 title] [Context and explanation] **Comparison of approaches:** | Approach | Best for | Tradeoffs | | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | | [Option A] | [Scenario] | [Pro/con] | | [Option B] | [Scenario] | [Pro/con] | | [Option C] | [Scenario] | [Pro/con] | ```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: [Short title for this diagram] accDescr: [One sentence describing what the diagram shows] step1[⚙️ Step one] --> step2[🔍 Step two] --> step3[✅ Step three] ``` [Explanation of what the diagram shows and why it matters]
💬 Speaker Notes ### Walk through each option (5–6 min) **Option A:** - "Used when [scenario]" - "Advantage: [benefit]" - "Disadvantage: [drawback]" **Option B:** - "Used when [scenario]" - "Advantage: [benefit]" - "Disadvantage: [drawback]" ### Decision-making exercise - Ask: "Given [scenario], which would you choose?" - Take responses, discuss reasoning - "In practice, professionals choose based on [criteria]" ### Real-world example - "[Company/project] chose Option B because [reasoning]" - "The result was [outcome]" - "This matters because [relevance to audience]"[^1]
--- ### [Topic 3 title] [Context and explanation] **Process:** 1. [First step with explanation] 2. [Second step with explanation] 3. [Third step with explanation] > ⚠️ **Common pitfall:** [What goes wrong and how to avoid it] [Deeper explanation, examples, or data supporting the topic]
💬 Speaker Notes ### Interactive element - Pause at step 2: "What happens next?" - Take guesses before revealing step 3 - "Why does this matter? Because [stakes]" ### If audience is advanced - Skip the basics, jump to: "[Advanced angle]" - Challenge question: "What if [scenario changed]?" ### If audience is struggling - Slow down, repeat the analogy - "Think of it like [simple comparison]" - Offer to cover more in Q&A ### Timing - This should take about [N] minutes - If running long, compress the [specific part]
--- ## ✍️ Action items ### Next steps | Action | Owner | Due | | ---------------------- | ------------- | ------ | | [Specific action item] | [Person/team] | [Date] | | [Specific action item] | [Person/team] | [Date] | | [Specific action item] | [Person/team] | [Date] | ### Key takeaways 1. **[Takeaway 1]** — [one sentence summary] 2. **[Takeaway 2]** — [one sentence summary] 3. **[Takeaway 3]** — [one sentence summary]
💬 Speaker Notes - Walk through each action item explicitly - "Who owns this? When is it due?" - "Questions about any of these?" - Revisit the objectives: "Did we hit all three?" - "Thank you for your time. I'm available for follow-up at [contact]."
--- ## 🔗 References ### Sources cited _All footnote references from the presentation are collected here:_ [^1]: [Author/Org]. ([Year]). "[Title]." _[Publication]_. ### Further reading - [Resource title](https://example.com) — Why this is useful - [Resource title](https://example.com) — What it provides ### Tools mentioned - [Tool name](https://example.com) — Purpose and how to access
💬 Speaker Notes - "These resources are available in the shared document" - "Start with [specific resource] — it's the most practical" - "If you want to go deeper, [specific resource] covers the advanced topics"
--- _Last updated: [Date]_