Question your thinking to communicate more clearly

When you create a presentation, you start with the content. But how do you know if your content is clear and logical? Here are some questions you can ask yourself. This information is from a booklet, “Critical Thinking Concepts & Tools,” put out by the Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.

Purpose

Ask yourself what your goal is. For example, sometimes people convince themselves they are only trying to inform, when they are really trying to persuade.

Concepts

What is the main idea you’re talking about? How can you explain that idea clearly to the audience?

Questions

What questions are you bringing up — and trying to answer? Are they appropriate for the audience and situation?

Information

What information or data are you using to get to your conclusion? Do you need more information to truly answer the questions? Do you have experience that helps you answer those questions?

Conclusions

How did you reach your conclusion? Could you interpret the information differently to arrive at a different conclusion?

Assumptions

What are you taking for granted? What assumptions or point of view did you use to come to your conclusion? Does the audience share those assumptions? Or do they have a different point of view?

Consequences

What are the implications of your conclusions? What actions are suggested from your conclusions? Will the audience take those actions?

Asking yourself these questions will help you make your presentation more precise and more relevant to your audience. Can you think of other questions to ask yourself while working on your presentation content?