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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43503
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43503
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

When I taught Presentations in Tech Writing, one of my biggest tools was "ROPES" - review/rapport, overview/objective, present, exercise, summary.

In more social settings, you're using the comedy opening to establish rapport with the audience. Here, you want to instead connect with them by explaining your _connection_ to the memorialized people and to those attending. It doesn't need to be fancy.

Overview/Objective - this is where you can directly state the "thesis statement" - _why_ this memorial is here. Perhaps also point out the distinctness - what makes this group of memorialized people significant/different from the ones represented in existing memorials.

Present - this is the "body" of the talk - any specific details you want to point out, anything about the creation of the memorial, any of those elements.

Exercise - in a strictly educational/informative setting, you'd alternate a Point Presented and an Exercise or Interaction. For a memorial, you may want to give a moment now and then asking the audience to _reflect_ - maybe on what they'd say to the deceased, maybe on how they would represent these concepts in their own designs. No need for you to fill all the time. Allow some silences.

(Feel free to also remind people of any other interactions - if there's a guestbook to sign, or if others can speak if they want to.)

Summary - this is just a quick restatement of any key things you want people to walk away with -- people tend to remember the starts & ends of things.

I hope this structuring tool is useful.

Original score: 3