Module 3/4 30 min
Building the story and delivering it
Step 1 / 3·The three-act structure
0/3 steps done
Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Build a presentation on the three-act structure
- Present numbers so the audience can feel them
- Handle the three kinds of difficult question
Learn ~12 min
The three-act structure
Have one reusable frame.
Three acts and their timing in a 20-minute slot
| Act | Time | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Context — what is true | 3 min | Restate what everyone already agrees on, to establish common ground before the surprise |
| Conflict — what is not as expected | 9 min | The main finding, the evidence, and why it matters. This is the heaviest part |
| Resolution — what to decide | 8 min | The proposal, the options considered, the cost, and the question the room must answer |
Act 1 is short but cannot be skipped
Going straight to a surprising finding without common ground makes the room respond by doubting the numbers instead of thinking about consequences. Three minutes of context avoids twenty minutes of argument.