The average attention span of an audience is about 5 minutes. Then we drift into daydreaming if a normal “show and tell” is given.
Humor (see other posts) is a vital tool. The other critical one is Storytelling. In a 45 minute academic presentation at least 10-15 short stories can be used to embed the core aspects given.
Great local examples are the budget speeches by Trevor Manual and Brain Gilbertson's presentations using the Cello as a metaphor. Using physical metaphors always have a great surprising impact.
The beginning is what matters and can be self effacing humor, (Steve Jobs at Stanford:" this is the closest to graduation I ever been"), others can be, a question, a factoid, Retrospective/prospective: Forward and backward, Anecdote, quote, Aphorism: familiar saying or an Analogy
Endings are even more critical. Leave them wondering, a smile and a tear, an inspiration.
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