1 - Introduction ~5 mins
Today you shape how a talk opens, runs through three points and ends on one clear message, and turn long notes into short cue words.
By the end of this lesson you will:
- Open with a hook that earns attention
- Signpost three points and close on one message or ask
- Use cue-word notes and hide a spare slide
Warm-up
What did a speaker do in the first seconds that grabbed you?
2 - Key Concepts ~5 mins
| Concept | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hook: opening question, fact or tiny story | Grabs the room in seconds | "Why do most visitors miss the best Wild Atlantic Way stretch?" |
| Signposts: first, second, finally | Keeps listeners with you | "Second: free stops beat paid ones" |
| Cue-word notes: short prompts, not a script | Eyes up, natural talk | Weather first, under 80 km, pack layers |
| Hide, do not delete: skip a spare in the show | Detail stays if someone asks | Hide "Ferry times for the islands" until needed |
3 - Step-by-step Task: Shape a Sample Talk ~15 mins
Build a short Wild Atlantic Way sample in slides: hook, three signposts, ending, cue words and one hidden spare. Your own outline later uses this same shape on a one-page Word for the web or Google Docs text file.
Slide titles to type
- Slide 1 (hook): Why do most visitors miss the best kilometre of the Wild Atlantic Way?
- Slide 2: First: the route is not one road
- Slide 3: Second: the free stops beat the paid ones
- Slide 4: Finally: you only need one good day
- Slide 5 (ending): Choose one stretch near you and go this month.
- Slide 6 (spare): Ferry times for the islands
Notes work (Point 1 and Point 2)
Script for Point 1 notes: When you plan a day on the way, start with the weather forecast for the coast, pick a stretch under eighty kilometres so you are not rushed, pack layers because the wind changes fast, and leave time to stop whenever a view opens up rather than racing the whole loop.
Cue words for Point 1: Weather first, under 80 km, pack layers, stop for views, no racing
Worked cue cut: "The free lookout points often beat the paid visitor centres on a tight budget." becomes Free lookouts, beat paid centres, tight budget.
Your turn (Point 2 notes): Pack a flask and a windproof layer because coastal weather flips in minutes.
4 - Common Issues ~3 mins
Common Issues
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| I cannot see the notes pane | {{menu:View -> Notes}} in PowerPoint for the web, or {{menu:View -> Show speaker notes}} in Google Slides |
| Hidden slide still shows while I edit | Normal: it only skips in the slide show |
| Cue words are still full sentences | Cut each line to three or four prompt words |
| Wrong app for the outline | Word for the web or Google Docs in {{code:Digital_Presentations}}, not slides |
5 - Portfolio Build: Talk Outline ~15 mins
Independent Practice
Use the same topic as your {{code:02_talk_deck}} title slide. If you have no topic yet, pick a TY topic (a class trip fundraiser, your sports club, a subject project) and note it at the top.
Type these labels and fill each line with a short phrase:
Hook:
First:
Second:
Finally:
Ending or ask:
This is five plain lines on a text page. Stuck on the hook? Start with a question, a surprising fact, or one tiny story.
Quick example (different topic): Hook "What if one tray of brownies funded the class trip?"; First "Costs are lower than you think"; Ending "Sign up before Friday."
- {{code:05_talk_outline}} has a hook, three signposts and an ending or ask on one page
- The outline is your own talk, not the sample
- The file is saved in {{code:Digital_Presentations}}
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