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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

169 Five-Minute Topics for a Killer Speech or Presentation

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

There are pros and cons to giving a 5-minute presentation. One good thing is the length. Long presentations can easily become boring, and you have a much better chance of keeping your audience engaged from beginning to end than with a 5-minute speech.

In this article:

Food & Drink

Relationships, social media, supernatural, list of topics for a 5-minute speech or presentation.

Choosing a topic is extremely important. To help you getting started, here is a list of some killer topics for 5-minute speech or presentation.

• Why it’s better to adopt a pet from a shelter
• Choosing the perfect leash for your dog
• What is the best food for your pet?
• How much exercise does your pet need?
• The horror of puppy mills
• Bringing back endangered species
• How long are giraffes in labor
• Domestication of horses
• Picking the right vet
• Sleeping with your dog
• Why should you get goats in pairs
• Ethics of zoos
• The domestication of dogs
• How to keep a goldfish alive for a long time
• How to choose the right pet
• Why cats are so independent
• When to get a dog
• What kind of dog is best for a household with children
• Why therapy animals work
• How to find the money to go to college
• How much control should the federal government have over curriculum design?
• How to choose a college
• Ideas for narrowing down a career choice
• When to declare a major
• Benefits of charter schools
• Why charter schools are bad
• Negative effects of school vouchers
• Attracting the right people to the teaching profession
• Discipline in the classroom
• Memory tricks that work
• Why homework is bad
• Should students still have to use the books in the library?
• Why cursive should still be taught in schools
• Textbooks vs. tablets
• Benefits of going to a trade school
• Are there positives to taking a gap year?
• The problem with low teacher pay
• Social media in the classroom
• Benefits of integrating apps into the classroom
• The importance of attachment
• How to compromise on names for your kids
• What is the ideal age to start a family
• How important are grandparents
• Traveling with children
• Strategies for potty training
• How to help a child with nightmares
• Middle child syndrome
• How many kids should you have?
• How to recognize a gifted child
• When your child doesn’t like to eat
• How to encourage good eating habits
• When to intervene with a bully
• Being active in your child’s school
• The benefits of aunts and uncles
• When family falls apart
• The first days with a new baby
• When to call the doctor
• Caring for an ailing parent
• Balancing home and career
• When to start saving for retirement
• IRA vs. Roth IRA
• When should you start saving for your children’s college education?
• Crowdfunded loans vs. the bank
• How Kickstarter changed everything
• Using your HSA
• How to apply for a mortgage
• Improving your credit score
• How to negotiate a raise
• Renting vs. buying
• How does compound interest work?
• How to ask for a promotion
• When is it time to get a new job?
• What to do when you find out a coworker makes more than you
• How much of a down payment on a house do you really need?
• Living on minimum wage
• Is it better to lease or buy a new car?
• How to budget for a new car
• What to do when you lose your job
• Using credit cards responsibly
• Is rare meat safe?
• Vegan vs. vegetarian
• Microbrews vs. standard brewing
• How to make your own wine
• What are hops?
• Best plants for a backyard garden
• When to transplant sprouts
• Bananas and plantains
• How to make a brine for pickling
• Where did brunch begin?
• Why pineapple belongs on a pizza
• When to order in
• Planning a menu
• Meal planning and grocery lists
• Is free range really better?
• The perfect macaroni and cheese
• Growing your own herbs
• How to make your own pasta
• How to make cookies that are softer
• Benefits of drinking black coffee
• Benefits of a gluten-free diet
• Is the paleo diet accurate?
• Effects of not getting enough sleep
• Are meal subscription services worth it?
• Downsides to Crossfit
• Benefits of yoga
• How to meditate
• Can therapy change the way your mind works?
• Are GMOs really dangerous?
• The truth about diet soda
• Importance of hydration
• Why cleanses don’t work
• Best juice diet
• Most effective exercise for burning calories
• Do essential oils really work?
• The history of television
• When the railway was king
• Thwarted assassination attempts
• The first Olympics
• Media during World War II
• Military advancements between World War I and World War II
• War photographers
• Things you didn’t learn in history class
• Historical lies
• The early Internet
• Why podcasts are great
• Most unbiased news channel
• When do people tune into the news most
• How relevant are women’s magazines?
• Cable vs. Netflix
• How worried should you be about your browsing history?
• How to limit screen time
• Why it’s bad to use your smartphone right before bed
• Apple vs. Android
• The best age to get married
• How to get an amicable divorce
• Finding a roommate
• Splitting financial responsibilities evenly among the household
• How to have a happy marriage
• Choosing your family
• How to fight effectively
• Signs of an abusive relationship
• What to look for in a spouse
• When to let it go
• How to overcome self-doubt
• Faking confidence
• Becoming comfortable with yourself
• How to say no
• Relaxation techniques
• Controlling anxiety
• Qualities of a leader
• The importance of self-care
• Identifying triggers
• How to eliminate negativity
• Making new habits
• Ethics of posting pictures of your children on social media
• How Internet ads are tailored to you
• How to advertise your business on Facebook
• Privacy and social media
• How to protect your personal information
• When to allow your kids to get their own social media accounts
• Why you shouldn’t post your location on social media
• How to use a hashtag
• Uncovering Twitter Bots
• Snapchat etiquette
• Proof that aliens exist
• Debunking crop circles
• Is Bigfoot real?
• Proof that ghosts exist

Good 2-Minute Speech Topics for Students

13 All-Time Best TED Talks

23 thoughts on “169 Five-Minute Topics for a Killer Speech or Presentation”

Ideal Teacher

is life really a blessing?

This has helped me so much for my English class thank you!

Why personal (private) rules are helpful

I got an A!!!!!

Risks of abortion Wage gap How social media impacts education/mental health Why it’s important to have a good stable mental health Do teenagers really spend all their time on their phones Gsce requirements unfair or reasonable

Here is a kind of a dense topic, domestic abuse. Why does it happen? What are some ways to identify a abusive relationship? How does it affect families? Why is the abuser abusive?

We have presentation next week. I can’t think about the topic. Please help me!

i want a topic that involves supernatural: HELP

Is water wet?

death, what if the earth loses air entirely for five minutes, what is the most common death.

I have presentation next two day concerning with my classroom. I must choose five topics but i can’t think how to choose these topics. Please! help me

Tanks for giving me an A in drama

so helpful thank you

thanks this helped with my speach at school

i need a best topic to present on that is educational to consumer science and food nutrition students. can i please be assisted

what if the earth stopped spinning pros and cons of being an artist how Gen Z affected slang why people are afraid of the dark why knowing how to play an instrument is beneficial/not needed

Here’s a controversial one: are trans, intersex and non-binary people getting the same right as every else?

I have a presentation this week I don’t understand how to find a good title please help me I’m a diploma student the speech must have more than 10 minutes

How do create presentation for famous place in Sri Lanka

i need something for my oral communication class. it must be attention grabbing and not an argument. please help

I need ideas on a slide show presentation, a kid appropiate topic.

Pls I need more ideas on self help

hi lol i like these topics but i need a trendy one like something new or like a natural phenomene or someth like that… 🙂

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© 2024 My Speech Class

200 Topics for 5-Minute Presentations

As a presenter, having a variety of brief yet captivating topics is key to engaging your audience effectively. Explore these 200 topics for 5-Minute Presentations to ensure your next speaking engagement is both dynamic and memorable!

• The Importance of Time Management Skills
• The Impact of Social Media on Society
• The Benefits of Reading Daily
• How to Cultivate Healthy Eating Habits
• The Significance of Renewable Energy
• The Psychology behind Procrastination
• The Role of Technology in Education
• The Art of Public Speaking
• The History of the Internet
• The Effects of Globalization
• The Power of Positive Thinking
• Climate Change and Its Consequences
• The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence
• Overcoming the Fear of Failure
• The Basics of Personal Finance
• The Importance of Work-Life Balance
• The Future of Telecommunication
• The Rise of Veganism
• The Significance of Cultural Diversity
• Understanding Body Language
• The Influence of Music on Mood
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering
• The Growth of E-commerce
• The Benefits of Yoga and Meditation
• The Impact of Tourism on Local Communities
• The Role of Women in History
• The Dangers of Texting and Driving
• The Process of Goal Setting
• The Value of Teamwork
• The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle
• The Science behind Sleep
• The Truth about Multitasking
• Self-Defense Basics Everyone Should Know
• The Power of Gratitude
• The Effects of Stress on Health
• The Principles of Minimalism
• The History of Olympic Games
• The Importance of Conserving Water
• The Theory of Multiple Intelligences
• The Impact of Fast Fashion
• The Role of Parents in Child Development
• The Rising Trend of Digital Detox
• The Significance of the Rosetta Stone
• The Process of Making Coffee
• The Intergenerational Gap in Technology Use
• The Fascinating World of Bees
• The Essentials of Cybersecurity
• The Benefits of Learning a Second Language
• The Mysteries of the Deep Sea
• The Pros and Cons of Freelancing
• The Contributions of Leonardo da Vinci
• The Importance of Civic Engagement
• The History of Comic Books
• The Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
• The Basics of Origami
• The Psychological Effects of Social Isolation
• The Influence of Cartoons on Children
• The Basics of Investing in Stocks
• The Beauty of Haiku Poetry
• The Science of Happiness
• The Environmental Impact of Plastic Bags
• The Advantages of Remote Work
• The Tradition of Afternoon Tea
• The Potential of 3D Printing
• The History of Morse Code
• The Foundations of Democracy
• The Cultural Significance of Tattoos
• The Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
• The Impact of Drones on Privacy and Security
• The Art of Japanese Garden Design
• The Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance
• The Wonders of the Aurora Borealis
• The History of Chess
• The Basics of Calligraphy
• The Role of Antibodies in Immunity
• The Phenomenon of Urban Exploration
• The Value of Good Listening Skills
• The Implications of Virtual Reality
• The Benefits of Community Gardens
• The Life and Legacy of Nelson Mandela
• The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright
• The History of the English Language
• The Mystery of Dark Matter
• The Significance of the Great Wall of China
• The Rise of Subscription Box Services
• The Future of Drones in Delivery Services
• The Evolution of Video Games
• The Ethical Dilemmas of Autonomous Vehicles
• The Healing Power of Pets
• The Origins of Common Superstitions
• The Significance of the Human Genome Project
• The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
• The Controversy Surrounding Designer Babies
• The Importance of Bees in Pollination
• The Future of Space Exploration
• The Role of Microbes in Human Health
• The Art and Science of Photography
• The Phenomenon of Tidal Waves and Tsunamis
• The Importance of Coral Reefs
• The History of Halloween
• The Future of Smart Homes
• The Legacy of Ancient Rome
• The Science of Forensic Analysis
• The Impact of Overfishing on Marine Life
• The Benefits and Challenges of Solar Energy
• The Key to Effective Communication
• The Importance of Biodiversity
• The Ethics of Animal Testing
• The Influence of Advertising on Consumer Behavior
• The Legacy of Steve Jobs and Apple
• The Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners
• The Relevance of the United Nations Today
• The Rise of Augmented Reality
• The Fascination with True Crime Stories
• The Basics of Gardening
• The Psychological Impact of Color
• The Architecture of Antoni Gaudi
• The Changing Landscape of News Media
• The Value of Historical Fiction
• The Potential of Hydroponic Farming
• The Principles of Sustainable Living
• The Role of Coding in Modern Education
• The Benefits of Green Spaces in Urban Areas
• The Significance of the Silk Road
• The Art of Making Sourdough Bread
• The Contributions of Sir Isaac Newton
• The Rise of Influencer Marketing
• The Impact of Noise Pollution
• The Power of Mindfulness
• The Secrets of Memory Champions
• The History of Sudoku
• The Cause and Effect of Urban Sprawl
• The Ethics of Cloning
• The Phenomenon of Bioluminescence
• The Science Behind Fireworks
• The Role of Blockchain in Cybersecurity
• The Influence of Greek Mythology on Modern Culture
• The Essentials of Conflict Resolution
• The Importance of Voting in Democracies
• The Decline of Bee Populations and Its Impact
• The Basics of Sustainable Fashion
• The Complications of Language Translation
• The History of Jazz Music
• The Use of Drones in Agriculture
• The Debate Over Genetically Modified Foods
• The Cultural Impact of Anime and Manga
• The Science of Body Language
• The Potential of Virtual Assistants
• The Importance of Aquifers
• The Practice of Mindful Eating
• The Basics of Creating an App
• The Significance of Dream Interpretation
• The Rise of Plant-Based Diets
• The Future of Nanotechnology
• The Ethics of Deepfake Technology
• The Legacy of the Wright Brothers
• The Power of Journaling for Mental Health
• The Hidden World of Caves
• The Value of Internships for Students
• The Beauty of Classical Music
• The Importance of Sun Protection
• The Science of Color Psychology
• The Influence of Fairy Tales on Childhood
• The Basics of Astrophotography
• The Evolution of Language
• The Challenge of Ocean Acidification
• The Power of Compound Interest
• The Importance of Digital Literacy
• The Life Cycle of Stars
• The Role of NGOs in Global Issues
• The Dangers of Concussions in Sports
• The Wonders of the Human Brain
• The History of Cryptography
• The World of Competitive Gaming (Esports)
• The Benefits of Walkable Cities
• The Basics of Wine Tasting
• The Cultural Significance of Fashion
• The Psychology behind Consumer Choices
• The Importance of Preserving Endangered Languages
• The Role of Exercise in Mental Health
• The Fight Against Deforestation
• The Significance of the Statue of Liberty
• The Science of Taste
• The Future of Biomedical Engineering
• The Exploration of Mars
• The Power of Peer Pressure
• The History of the Nobel Prize
• The Ethical Implications of AI
• The Basics of Birdwatching
• The Art of Storytelling in Film
• The Importance of Cross-Cultural Communication
• The Principles of Feng Shui
• The Health Effects of Air Pollution
• The Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
• The Rise of Mobile Payment Systems
• The Reliability of Eye Witness Testimony
• The Art of Japanese Tea Ceremony
• The Importance of Sleep Hygiene
• The Wonders of Quantum Physics
• The Significance of the Panama Canal

Related Posts:

How to Make a 5 Minute Presentation with 30 Topic Ideas in 2024

Leah Nguyen • 05 Apr 2024 • 9 min read

Are you looking for 5 minute presentation ideas? How to make a 5 minute presentation properly? What should I cram into my presentation? Is it okay if I cut this out? What information is valuable to the audience? 

The struggle is real, guys. The five-minute presentation, though intriguing to your audience (no one likes to sit through a one-hour-feels-like-a-decade kind of talk), is a nuisance when you have to decide what to cut and what to put in. It may seem like everything happens in a blink of an eye.  

The clock is ticking, but you can keep your panic attack at bay with our step-by-step guide with free topics and examples. Get the full lowdown on how make 5 minute presentation for a team meeting, college class, sales pitch, or wherever else you need it! So, let’s check out 5-minute presentation samples!

Table of Contents

• Present better with AhaSlides
• 5-Minute Presentation Topic List
• How to Make a 5-Minute Presentation
• 5 Common Mistakes

5-Minute Presentation Examples

Present better with ahaslides.

• Types of Presentation
• 10 20 30 Rule Presentations
• Top 10 Office games
• 95++ Fun questions to ask students
• 21+ Ice breaker games
• Better Engagement by Fun Brainstorm Tools like AhaSlides  Word Cloud
• Use Randomness to Decide your Fate by AhaSlides  Spinner Wheel

5 Minute Presentation Ideas

How to make a 5-Minute Presentation? What are the best topics for a 5-minute oral presentation? Ignite the sparkle in the eyes of the audience with this 5-minute presentation topics list.

• The danger of cyberbullying
• Freelancing under the gig economy
• Fast fashion and its environmental impacts
• How podcast has evolved
• Dystopian society in George Orwell’s literature
• Common health disorders you might have
• What is aphasia?
• Caffeine myths – are they real?
• The perks of having a personality test
• The rise and fall of Genghis Khan 
• What happens to the brain when you’re in long-distance relationships?
• Is it too late to care about the environment?
• The consequences of relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• The ways anxiety disorders disrupt our life
• 6 economic terms you need to know 
• Gods in Greek mythology versus Roman mythology
• Origins of Kungfu
• Ethics of genetic modification
• The supernatural strength of cockroaches
• Is social media detox necessary?
• The history of the Silk Road
• What is the world’s most dangerous disease in the 21st century?
• Reasons to do self-journaling everyday
• New trends in careers
• Five reasons to get some quality time for yourself
• The best food to cook when you’re in a hurry
• How to order the best Starbucks drink ever
• Ideas and practices that you follow and would like others to know about
• 5 ways to make a pancake
• Introduction to blockchain 

Start in seconds.

Get any of the above examples as templates. Sign up for free and take what you want from the template library!

Hope you’ve had abundant ideas for your 5-minute presentation topics. Before going way to deep of how to make a 5-minute presentation, together, let’s walk through tips for 10-minutes presentation one! With the clock starts running down, every single second counts, and you begin to sweat then how can you pull out a great 10 minutes presentation under that pressure?

In this video, we want to share with you how we overcome the challenge to create 10 minutes presentation structure. Hope you enjoy this video and find it helpful in preparing for your quick presentation! Let us know what you feel.

Bonus Video ▶ Going for 10 Minutes ?

If you feel like a 5-minute presentation would be too stifling, stretch it to 10! Here’s how to do that…

How to Make a 5-Minute Presentation?

Remember, less is more, except when it comes to ice cream. 

That’s why amid hundreds of methods to use, we’ve boiled it down into these four simple steps to make a killer 5-minute presentation.

Let’s jump right in!

#1 – Choose your topic  

How do you know if that topic is “the one” for you? For us, the right topic ticks everything on this checklist:

✅ Stick to one key point. It’s unlikely you’ll have time to address more than one topic, so limit yourself to one and don’t go over it! 

✅ Know your audience. You don’t want to waste time covering information they already know. Everyone knows 2 plus 2 is 4, so move on and never look back.

✅ Go with a simple topic. Again, explaining something that requires time should be off the checklist since you can’t cover it all.

✅ Don’t dwell on unfamiliar topics to minimise the time and effort you spend preparing the presentation. It should be something you already have on your mind.

Need some help finding the right topic for your short presentation? We’ve got 30 topics with different themes to captivate your audience.

#2 – Create your slides 

How many slides for a 5-minute presentation? Unlike the long presentation format in which you can have as many slides as you want, a five-minute presentation typically has significantly fewer slides. Because imagine each slide would take you roughly 40 seconds to 1 minute to go through, that’s already five slides in total. Not much to think about, eh? 

However, your slide count doesn’t matter more than the essence each slide contains. We know that it’s tempting to pack it full of text, but keep in mind that you should be the subject your audience focuses on, not a wall of text. 

Check these examples below.

Make the text bold to highlight important parts and use italics primarily to denote titles and the names of particular works or objects to allow that title or name to stand out from the surrounding sentence. The underlining text also helps draw attention to it, but it is most commonly used to represent a hyperlink on a webpage.

You obviously saw the second example and thought there’s no way you’re going to read through this on the big screen.

The point is this: keep slides straight, concise, and short, as you’ve got 5 minutes only. 99% of the info should come from your mouth.

When you’re keeping text minimal, don’t forget to befriend visuals , as they can be your best sidekicks. Startling statistics, infographics, short animations, pictures of whales, etc., all are great attention grabbers and help you sprinkle your unique trademark and personality on each slide. 

And how many words should be there in a 5-minute speech script? It mainly depends on the visuals or data you show in your slides and also your speech speed. However, a 5-minute speech is roughly 700 words long. 

Secret tip: Go the extra length by making your presentation interactive. You can add a live poll , Q&A section , or quiz that illustrates your points and leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

Get Interactive, Fast 🏃‍♀️

Make the most of your 5 minutes with a free interactive presentation tool!

#3 – Get the timing right

When you’re looking at this, we only have one thing to say: STOP PROCRASTINATING! For such a short presentation, there’s virtually no time for “ah”, “uh” or short pauses, because every moment counts. So, plan the timing of each section with military precision. 

How should it look? Check out the example below: 

• 30 seconds on the introduction . And no more. If you spend too much time on the intro, your main part will have to be sacrificed, which is a no-no.
• 1 minute on stating the problem . Tell the audience the problem you are trying to solve for them, i.e, what they are here for. 
• 3 minutes on the solution . This is where you deliver the most essential info to the audience. Tell them what they need to know, not what is “nice to have”. For example, if you’re presenting how to make a cake, list each item’s ingredients or measurement, as that’s all essential information. However, additional information like icing and presentation is not essential and can be cut.
• 30 seconds on the conclusion . This is where you reinforce your main points, wrap up and have a call to action.
• You can end with a small Q&A .  Since it isn’t technically a part of the 5-minute presentation, you can take as much time as you want to answer the questions. 

How many times should you practice a 5-minute speech? To nail these timings down, make sure you practice religiously. A 5-minute presentation requires more practice than a regular one, as you won’t have as much wiggle room or chance for improvisation.

Also, don’t forget to check your equipment to ensure everything runs smoothly. When you’ve only got 5 minutes, you don’t want to waste any time fixing the mic,  presentation, or other equipment.

#4 – Deliver your presentation 

Imagine you’re watching an exciting video but it keeps.lagging.every.10.seconds. You’d be super annoyed, right? Well, so would your audience if you keep confusing them with abrupt, unnatural speech. 

It’s normal to feel pressured to talk because you feel every minute is precious. But crafting the convo in a way that makes the crowd understand the assignment is so much more important. 

Our first tip for delivering a great presentation is to practice flowing . From the introduction to the conclusion, every part needs to connect and link with each other like glue.

Go between the sections repeatedly (remember to set the timer). If there’s any part in which you feel the urge to speed up, then consider trimming it down or articulating it differently.

Our second tip is for reeling in the audience from the first sentence .

There are countless ways to start a presentation . You can get factual with a shocking, on-topic fact or mention a humorous quote that gets your audience laughing and melting away their (and your) tension.

Secret tip: Don’t know if your 5-minute presentation makes an impact? Use a feedback tool to collect the audience’s sentiment right away. It takes minimal effort, and you avoid losing valuable feedback along the way.

5 Common Mistakes When Giving a 5-Minute Presentation

We overcome and adapt through trial and error, but it’s easier to avoid rookie mistakes if you know what they are👇

• Going way past your allotted time slot. Since the 15 or 30-minute presentation format has long dominated the scene, keeping it brief is difficult. But unlike the long format, which gives you a bit of flexibility on time, the audience knows exactly what 5 minutes feels like and, therefore will expect you to condense the information within the time limit.
• Having a decade-long introduction. Rookie mistake. Spending your precious time telling people who you are or what you’re going to do isn’t the best plan. As we said, we’ve got a bunch of beginning tips for you here . 
• Don’t dedicate enough time to prepare. Most people skip the practice part since they think it’s 5 minutes, and they can quickly fill that up, which is an issue. If in a 30-minute presentation, you can get away with “filler” content, the 5-minute presentation doesn’t even allow you to pause for more than 10 seconds.    
• Devote too much time explaining complicated concepts. A 5-minute presentation doesn’t have room for that. If one point you’re explaining needs to link to other points for further elaboration, it’s always a good idea to revise it and dig deeper into only one aspect of the topic.
• Putting too many complex elements. When making a 30-minute presentation, you might add different elements, such as storytelling and animation, to keep the audience engaged. In a much shorter form, everything needs to be straight to the point, so choose your words or the transition carefully.

To help you grasp how to make a 5-minute presentation, check these short presentation examples, to nail any message!

William Kamkwamba: ‘How I Harnessed the Wind’ 

This TED Talk video presents the story of William Kamkwamba, an inventor from Malawi who, as a kid experiencing poverty, built a windmill to pump water and generate electricity for his village. Kamkwamba’s natural and straightforward storytelling was able to captivate the audience, and his usage of short pauses for people to laugh is also another great technique.

Susan V. Fisk: ‘The Importance of Being Concise’

This training video offers helpful tips for scientists to structure their talk to fit the “5 Minute Rapid” presentation format, which is also explained in 5 minutes. If you plan to create a “How-to” quick presentation, look at this example.

Jonathan Bell: ‘How to Create a Great Brand Name’

As the title refers to itself, the speaker Jonathan Bell will give you a step-by-step guide on how to create a lasting brand name. He gets straight to the point with his topic and then breaks it down into smaller components. A good example to learn from.

PACE Invoice: ‘5 Min Pitch at Startupbootcamp’

This video shows how PACE Invoice , a start-up specialising in multi-currency payment processing, was able to pitch its ideas to the investors clearly and concisely.

Will Stephen: ‘How to Sound Smart in Your TEDx Talk’

Using a humorous and creative approach, Will Stephen’s TEDx Talk guides people through the general skills of public speaking. A must-watch to craft your presentation into a masterpiece.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why 5-minute presentation is important.

A 5-minute presentation shows ability to manage time, grab audience attention, clarification as it requires lots of practice to make it perfect! Besides, there are various suitable speech topics for 5 minutes that you can refer to and adapt to your own.

Who gave the best 5-Minute Presentation?

There are lots of impactful presenters overtimes, with the most famous man named Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk titled “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”, which has been viewed millions of times and has become one of the most-watched TED talks of all time. In the talk, Robinson delivers a humorous and engaging presentation on the importance of nurturing creativity in education and society.

Why is Ted Talks famous for presentation?

TED Talks is successful as it’s present in a short format, engaging speakers, diverse topics, high production value and it’s accessible everywhere!

Leah Nguyen

Words that convert, stories that stick. I turn complex ideas into engaging narratives - helping audiences learn, remember, and take action.

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Like what you're reading?

Need a good presentation topic? Here are hundreds of them.

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Anete Ezera November 04, 2022

If you’re looking for good topics for presentations, you’ve landed on the right page. In this article, you’ll find plenty of good presentation topics, tips on choosing the most suitable topic for you, and essential design elements to make your presentation a success. 

Many factors go into an excellent presentation. You need to have confident body language and engage your audience to hold their attention. You also need eye-catching visual aids like images, data visualizations, GIFs, and others (all of which you can find in Prezi ), not to mention a great opening to grab attention and a strong closing line to stay memorable. However, the most essential aspect of your presentation is the topic. It’s the core of your presentation, so it has to be strong, insightful, attention-grabbing, and appealing to yourself and your audience in order to evolve into a successful presentation everyone will love. 

How to choose a good presentation topic

There are millions of topics you could create a presentation on, but what defines a good topic? If you’re struggling to either come up with a good topic for a presentation or you can’t decide between multiple ones, here are a few questions you should ask yourself before choosing a topic. 

What’s the goal of your presentation? 

When you’re choosing a topic, consider the meaning behind it. Ask yourself what the purpose of talking about this topic is, and what you want to say about it. Whatever topic you choose to present, the conclusion needs to provide a takeaway or lesson you want to communicate to your audience. A meaningful goal will make your presentation more memorable.  

Are you interested in the topic?

If you’re not interested in the topic, others won’t be curious either. Interest, enthusiasm, and passion enrich your presentation and are noticeable when presenting. Interest shines through and inspires others to find the topic as fascinating as you do. Think about the last time you saw someone sharing something they were passionate about – their excitement drew people in to pay closer attention to what they were saying. 

When choosing a topic, you need to find it or a particular angle of it interesting for yourself. For example, perhaps you’re not a pop music enthusiast, but you’re passionate about studying cultural phenomena. In this case, you can talk about pop music’s influence on early 2000s youth culture. 

Will your audience find this topic relatable? 

While you have to find the topic you’re presenting interesting, you also have to think about your audience. When choosing a subject, consider your audience’s background in terms of demographics, interests, culture, and knowledge level about the topic. Think about what others will find fascinating and relevant, so they’re not bored or confused during your presentation.

Do you have prior experience or knowledge about this topic?

Personal experiences are always great to share in a presentation, providing your unique perspective for anyone listening. While you can easily prepare your presentation based on a quick Google search, it won’t make the same lasting impact on your audience. Choose a topic you have some prior knowledge about, or have an interesting opinion you can share with others. It’ll make your presentation more engaging and memorable.

Ideas for good presentation topics

It’s not easy to come up with a good presentation topic from scratch. It’s much easier to get inspired from other good presentation topics to build your topic on. Whether you’re looking for presentation ideas for work, about me presentation ideas, unique or easy presentation topics, you’ll find them all here.

Without further ado, here are some good presentation topics to choose from or get inspired by.

Presentation topics about social media

• The role of social media in portraying gender stereotypes
• How social media impacts our body image
• How social media shaped Gen Z 
• The most significant differences between the Facebook and TikTok generations
• The negative effects of social media
• The positive impacts of social media 
• The effects of social media on behavior 
• How social media impacts our physical (or mental) health
• How social media has shaped our understanding of mass media
• Should we teach about social media in schools?
• The rise of social media influencers
• How AR Instagram filters impact our self-image
• How to go viral on social media?
• The origins of social media echo chambers
• Social media as a news outlet

Author: Ish Verduzco

Presentation topics about movies

• How movies influence our understanding of good and evil
• Beauty standards represented in movies
• How female characters are depicted in Hollywood movies
• How horror movies and global fears have developed through time
• The adverse effects of romance movies
• How movies have changed our understanding of the Western culture
• Charlie Chaplin and the silent movie era
• The globalization of culture: Hollywood vs. Bollywood
• The psychology behind the music in films
• The ethics of using animals in movies
• Social media’s influence on the film industry
• The history of filmmaking
• The role of color in movies
• The cultural impact of romance movies
• How are gender stereotypes depicted in Hollywood movies?

Author: Cinto Marti

Presentation topics about music

• The impact of pop music on beauty standards
• Should digital music be free for everyone?
• The psychology behind the music in advertisements 
• The effectiveness of sound therapy
• Can music inspire criminal behavior?
• The psychological effects of metal music
• The origins of K-pop
• How does music influence our understanding of the world?
• Can music help in the learning process?
• The positive effects of classical music
• The history of hip hop
• Why is music education essential in schools?
• The psychological benefits of playing piano
• Can anyone become a famous musician?
• The role of music in fashion

Author: Prezi Editorial

Presentation topics about health

• The link between food and mental health
• Inequality in the healthcare system
• Myths about healthy practices
• Simple practices that help you stay healthy
• Health education in schools: Should it change?  
• Toxic positivity and mental health
• The impact of superfoods on our health
• The psychology behind unhealthy eating habits
• Sex education in schools: Why should we have it?
• How to trick yourself into getting better: The placebo effect
• How to strengthen your immune system
• How to tell if someone is depressed
• The health benefits of regular exercise
• The impact of junk food on mental health
• Stress-caused diseases

Author: Prezi Education Team

Presentation topics about human psychology

• What is social depression?
• What triggers panic attacks?
• The impact of testosterone on aggressive behavior
• How to overcome social anxiety
• Differences in the functioning of the brain of a child and adult
• The impact of violent video games on children’s brain development
• How does the use of social media influence our attention span?
• How to overcome childhood trauma
• The influence of marijuana on the human brain
• How does behavioral therapy work
• The psychology behind fame
• The causes of personality disorders
• The differences in brain functioning between men and women
• What happens in therapy sessions?
• The psychology of substance abuse 

Presentation topics about self-development

• The impact of exercise on productivity
• How to deal with stress
• How to deal with procrastination
• The positive effects of meditation
• Why new–year’s resolutions don’t work
• How to overcome bad habits
• The impact of negative thoughts
• The negative effects of self-criticism
• The role of creativity in self-development
• Benefits of journaling
• How to learn something fast
• How to be mindful
• The importance of curiosity 
• How to become more self-aware
• Why it’s essential to spend time with yourself

Author: Nir Eyal

Presentation topics about education

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of online education?
• The positive effects of a gap year
• Should university education be free?
• Inequality in education access
• How language learning benefits brain development
• Emerging gender issues in education
• The importance of socialization in school
• School bullying and student development
• The benefits of reading 
• Is the education system broken?
• What you don’t learn in college
• The link between education and brain development
• The history of schools
• The gender gap in STEM
• The connection between equality in education and economic growth

Presentation topics about culture

• Is graffiti a form of art or street vandalism? 
• Cultural diversity in the workplace
• The impact of culture on gender roles
• The issue with orientalism
• Are humans the only species that has culture?
• How do different cultures view death? 
• The ethical issues of pop culture
• The impact of culture on personal development
• Sexism in different cultures
• The impact of globalization on local cultures
• The viral spread of the #metoo movement
• The history of subcultures
• The problem with romanticizing toxic relationships in movies
• 90s pop-culture influence on fashion trends
• The evolution of cultural psychology 

Author: Devin Banerjee

Presentation ideas for work

• What it’s like to be a digital nomad?
• How to deal with workplace conflicts
• The secret to a productive day
• How to set achievable goals
• The importance of diversity in a workplace
• The positive effects of creative thinking at work
• How to give constructive feedback
• The characteristics of a valuable team member
• Inequality and the glass ceiling
• Racial discrimination in the workplace
• Work habits of different cultures
• How is work perceived in various countries?
• Technological development and the future of work
• The importance of a healthy work/life balance
• The rise of health problems in office work

Author: Charles Huang

Presentation topics about hybrid work

• The positive effects of hybrid work on work/life balance
• Is hybrid work the future work model? 
• How to stay connected in a hybrid work model
• The challenges of hybrid work nobody talks about
• How to stay productive when working from home
• The social effects of hybrid work
• The economic impacts of hybrid work
• Case study: Hybrid work model in [company]
• What causes Zoom fatigue?
• The problem with online meetings
• Is hybrid work better than remote work?
• How to develop a close relationship with colleagues in a hybrid work model
• What kind of company culture is best for a hybrid work model?
• Is hybrid work sustainable?
• Cybersecurity consideration for hybrid working

Author: Barbie Brewer

Presentation topics about public speaking

• The importance of body language in public speeches
• How to appear confident when you’re not
• How to become a better orator
• The use of eye contact in public speaking
• Breathing exercises that will calm you down before public speaking
• The benefits of public speaking
• Ways to improve public speaking skills
• How to leave a great first impression on stage
• How to engage your audience during a public speech
• How to best structure your public speech
• How to end your presentation speech
• Can anyone learn to be good at public speaking?
• How to prepare for a public speech
• What not to do right before a public speech
• How to address a controversial topic in a public speech  

Author: Prezi Team

Presentation topics about entrepreneurship and leadership

• The main principles of a good leader
• The impact of leadership skills on professional performance
• The mistake every entrepreneur makes
• How to successfully lead a cross-cultural team
• How to celebrate inclusivity in a diverse team
• What are the common personality traits of a successful entrepreneur?
• The impact of entrepreneurship on the global economy
• The characteristics of a leader
• The most common challenges of entrepreneurship
• Can anyone learn to become a successful leader? 
• What affects new venture growth?
• The psychology of leadership
• What is crowdsourcing? 
• The benefits of being an entrepreneur
• Common mistakes leaders make

Author: Jill Sinclair

Presentation topics about technology

• The rise of technological development
• Is technology addictive?
• Should we use drones for military and non-military purposes?
• The sustainability of electric cars
• What are deepfakes?
• Limitations of AI machines
• The future of programming
• Ethical issues of AI
• The future of AR in business
• How VR can be used in the medical field

Author: David Vandegrift

Sales presentation topics

• How to make a cold email intro
• What is sales enablement?
• How to build better relationships with customers
• The best way to improve pipeline management
• Coaching via verbal and written role-play
• How to plan cold calls
• What’s a deal-breaker for most customers? 
• All about personalized coaching
• How to manage objections
• How to close more deals
• How to keep your prospects engaged
• Effective sales communication strategies
• How to conduct a competitor analysis
• The most valuable sales skills
• What soft skills do you need to become a successful sales rep?

Author: Cindy McGovern

Easy presentation topics

• Benefits of daily exercise and how to incorporate it into your routine
• Simple and nutritious meal recipes
• Tips for improving time management and productivity
• The importance of recycling
• The history of a local landmark or festival
• Ways to reduce stress
• Exploring different types of renewable energy sources and their impact on the environment
• The basics of budgeting and saving money for future goals
• The benefits of social media for professional use
• Tips for overcoming stage fright
• How to start a meditation practice
• The impact of technology on modern society
• The basics of personal finance
• The health benefits of a plant-based diet
• The history of Earth Day

Good how to presentation topics

• How to create a successful social media marketing strategy
• How to give a persuasive presentation
• How to create effective and engaging content for your blog
• How to discover your strengths and weaknesses
• How to use project management tools to increase productivity
• How to make the most out of boring meetings
• How to build a personal brand
• How to conduct effective market research
• How to use data analytics to improve decision-making
• How to improve your decision-making process
• How to write a winning proposal
• How to create a visually stunning presentation
• How to manage stressful situations at work
• How to make friends as an adult
• How to network at work events

About me presentation ideas

• My journey to becoming who I am today
• My passion for [insert topic or activity]
• My career aspirations and goals
• My travels and adventures around the world
• My hobbies and interests outside of work/school
• My role models and influences
• My strengths and weaknesses
• My favorite books, movies, and TV shows
• My proudest achievements and accomplishments
• My favorite childhood memories
• My family and friends
• My education and academic background
• My volunteer and community service experience
• My personality traits and values
• My vision for the future and how I plan to achieve it

Author: Adam Grant

Student presentation ideas

• The history and evolution of video games
• The history and cultural impact of tattoos
• The impact of social media on body image and self-esteem
• The effects of globalization on local cultures and economies
• The role of education in promoting social justice and equity
• The ethical implications of autonomous weapons in warfare
• The impact of mass media on society and culture
• The causes and effects of deforestation on biodiversity and climate change
• The history and cultural significance of dance in different parts of the world
• The psychology of addiction and recovery
• The impact of the gig economy on labor rights and job security
• The history and impact of feminism on gender equality
• The benefits and drawbacks of renewable energy sources
• The impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures and identities
• The role of technology in promoting global connectivity and intercultural understanding

Author: Edward Quinn

How to create a good presentation 

If you know what you want to present on, it’s time to create an impactful presentation that grabs everyone’s attention. Presentation design plays a crucial role in how your presentation is received and remembered. To stand out and leave a memorable impact on your audience, create a Prezi presentation. Instead of a linear, slide-based presentation, offer an engaging and dynamic storytelling experience to your audience. Breathe life into your presentation with motion, zoom, and spatial relationships. When creating your presentation, consider the following three essential elements: 

Visuals play a significant part in presentation design. They evoke emotions, make a memorable impact, and give more context to the story. Not to mention, 65% of people are visual learners , so visual aids are helpful when explaining a complex topic. 

In your presentation, include different types of visuals, such as images, videos, GIFs, and stickers, all of which you can find in Prezi’s content library. When selecting your visuals, consider what’s relevant and brings additional value to the story. Only add what’s meaningful and necessary. A video or image at the right place and time will enrich the viewing experience and make your presentation more memorable. 

The layout of your presentation is the structure of your story. It’ll help you introduce the topic, intrigue your audience, and unfold the layers of your topic one by one until you disclose your main arguments and summarize the presentation. A good presentation layout has a hierarchical, chronological, or logical flow that leads the viewer from start to finish. 

If you’re creating a Prezi presentation, you can create a dynamic storytelling experience by experimenting with your layout. Instead of going from slide to slide, you can zoom in and out of topics and experiment with different shapes, animations, and effects that draw the viewer into your story world. Here’s an example of a Prezi presentation with a great storytelling layout:

Author: Lydia Antonatos

Data visualizations can elevate your presentation from being a good one to a great one. By providing data behind your arguments, you’ll appear more trustworthy and confident in your audience’s eyes. 

Add charts, graphs, interactive maps, and more to your presentations with Prezi Design. You can choose from a wide selection of charts and maps to illustrate your data. With interactive elements, you’ll be able to engage your audience and make a memorable impact. 

Engaging visuals, a well-structured layout, and relevant data visualizations will provide a great starting base to create a memorable presentation. Discover other tips and tricks that make your presentation effective and capture people’s attention. 

Choosing a topic for a presentation isn’t easy. When selecting a topic, think about the goal of your presentation, your interest and knowledge about the topic, and whether or not your audience will find it relevant and interesting for them. Also, get inspired by other topics that’ll help you figure out what you want to talk about. Lastly, when creating your presentation, consider the impact of visuals, layout, and data visualizations. To simplify the creation process, follow the step-by-step process of making a presentation with helpful tips and resources.

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120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

Updated: January 15, 2024

Published: August 09, 2023

Cooking is easy. The puzzle is figuring out what to eat. As soon as you know that, you can get started. The same holds for presentations. The sooner you can whip up a good, informative, and catchy topic, the easier the rest of the process becomes.

Pick a good topic that resonates with you and your audience to set a strong foundation. But select the wrong topic, and it becomes difficult to connect with your audience, find mutual interests, or hold their attention.

So, let’s learn how to develop thought-provoking and relevant topics for your presentations. You’ll also find some best practices to make your presentation memorable.

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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Great Presentation Topic in 5 Steps

120 presentation topic ideas, 5 presentation tips.

4. Choose an appropriate presentation style.

There are many ways to present a topic. Your personality, the topic at hand, and your audience’s personas will help you determine which style would best fit you and your audience.

Select a presentation style that will communicate the main idea clearly and have a lasting impact on your audience.

For instance, explore a freeform style presenter by Sir Ken Robinson.

5. Engage with your audience.

Work on your presentation skills to make a strong connection with your audience, get through to them and leave a mark.

Think of the presenter as the link between the topic and the audience. A strong or a weak presenter can make a difference between a presentation being a thriving success or a boring failure.

Hone your skills by engaging and interacting with your audience. Make them feel like a part of the presentation and not just spectators. 70% of marketers have found presentations with interactive content to be more effective than those without.

Here are a few ways you can make your presentation interactive:

• Start your speech with uncommon questions to your audience. Involve them from the get-go, like ask to raise their hands if X.
• Make eye contact to build credibility and show confidence. Don’t stare at your slides or notes. Smile occasionally and talk to the audience directly.
• Have an active and confident body language. Don’t stand in the same place the entire time. Move around the stage.
• Don’t be monotonous. Speak as you would to a colleague — with enthusiasm.
• Ask close-ended questions in between to keep the audience engaged without losing time. Address them using their names to keep things interesting.
• Share personal experiences and stories that your audience will find fascinating and relatable.
• Practice thoroughly before you present so you’re fluent with the material and delivery.
• Energy and excitement can be quite contagious. Make sure you exude enough to spread some to your audience.

Feeling Inspired Yet?

Now you have all the right ingredients for choosing amazing topics and a hundred ideas to drive inspiration from. So, go ahead and start cooking presentations that will blow your audience away.

Don’t forget to choose a super-relevant topic and add meaty information. Do it with excitement to make it enjoyable for you and your audience. Best of luck!

Don't forget to share this post!

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas How to Create a 5 Minutes Presentation

How to Create a 5 Minutes Presentation

Giving a 40-60-minute speech isn’t a synonym for success. Sticking to shorter presentation formats can increase the impact of large-format events. Among its many advantages, allowing multiple speakers to give their insights rises above everything. Still, presenters often struggle to be concise, as they aim to disclose as much content as possible, ending up overdoing the allotted time or delivering rushed-up presentations.

In this article, we’ll share our experience on how to master the art of 3-5 minute presentations, keeping your speech concise while using powerful graphics to connect with the audience.

Table of Contents

What is a 5 Minutes Presentation?

What are the requirements of 5 minutes presentations, how many slides for a 5 minute presentation, 5 minute presentation ideas, how to make a 5 minute presentation, common mistakes to avoid in 5-minute presentations, recommended templates for 5 minute presentations, final words.

A 5-minute presentation is a short talk designed to convey a specific message, idea, information, or argument within a limited timeframe, between three to five minutes – the latter being the average duration. Due to the brevity, these presentations require careful planning and preparation to ensure the content is concise, focused, and impactful. 

We can define a five-minute presentation’s must-have(s) in seven different categories.

Objective Definition

The purpose of your talk has to be clear from the presentation planning phase. This implies acknowledging whether you intend to inform, persuade, inspire, or instruct your audience on a given topic.

On this behalf, we made a list of frameworks to help you pinpoint the core objective of your presentation:

• SPIN (Situation, Problem, Implication, Need-payoff): Intended for sales strategy or customer-driven presentations. The focus is set on understanding the audience’s situation, presenting the problems, implications, and potential benefits of a proposed solution.
• AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action): The AIDA framework is extremely popular in marketing campaigns and sales presentations. You can learn more about this approach for engaging presentations by checking our guide on the AIDA model .
• SCQA (Situation, Complication, Question, Answer): Intended for problem-solving meetings and business presentations. The SCQA framework establishes a context and its challenges, raises a question, and provides solutions for it.
• Minto Pyramid Principle: This unconventional approach is used for business presentations and reports, and was developed by Barbara Minto at McKinsey & Company in the 1970s . We start by stating the conclusion or core recommendation, then organize the information that supports your statement in a logical flow. By implementing this approach, you inspire the audience to think critically about the presented scenario, while discussing complex ideas in an easier-to-digest format due to its hierarchical organization of ideas.
• Monroe’s Motivated Sequence: A framework with a focus on persuasive presentations. It is structured by five pillars recognized by its author, Alan H. Monroe : Attention, Need, Satisfaction, Visualization, and Action. 

Concise Content

“How many words in a 5-minute speech” is a commonly asked question by beginner presenters. The average range for seasoned speakers is 130-150 words per minute in a fluent speech, and depending on the topic, that can go slower (technical-based presentations) or faster (motivational presentations, like the ones delivered by Tony Robbins ). 

Therefore, for a 5-minute speech, you might aim for:

• At 130 words per minute: 130×5=650 words
• At 150 words per minute: 150×5=750 words

That calculation can help you curate the script for your speech. In general lines, our expertise tells us that selecting a topic that can be covered within 5 minutes is roughly 60% of the job. After effectively selecting a topic, you must restrict the content to 2-3 main points to remain within the time limit and end your presentation in style. 

Presentation Structure

In more laid-back scenarios, presentations can lean toward a conversational mode rather than a strict agenda. Still, we ought to ensure the presentation structure contains an Introduction, a Body, and a Conclusion. 

The Introduction helps us familiarize the audience with what’s expected out of your presentation. Additionally, it is our chance to make a good first impression . Knowing how to start your presentation guarantees audience engagement from the initial moments of your delivery.

Moving to the Body, this is where facts are laid out and backed up using evidence or examples to support your view. Visual aids can contribute to minimizing the need for lengthy text walls. 

Finally, the Conclusion summarizes the key takeaways and, when applicable, brings a call to action in the format of thought-provoking statements, data shared, an irresistible offer, and plenty of other scenarios.

Audience Engagement

Connecting with the audience is vital, especially in short formats like Pecha Kucha presentations . Your speech pace and body language are significant factors that contribute to how the audience perceives your interest in their time. 

Aim for a relaxed but confident attitude, as if you were passionately talking about a topic with a group of acquaintances. This reinforces your authority in the topic you deliver, as being anxious or rushing through the presentation only speaks of a lack of interest.

Apply professional presentation techniques like storytelling for presentations or harnessing the power of visual communication strategies to make your message memorable. 

Audience Acknowledgement

Tailoring your presentation for the audience’s interest is the first step every presenter must take to guarantee success, especially if we’re another speaker in large-scale events. In some niches, like academic presentations, it is vital as some of the audience may not feel connected with your research topic. 

Based on information gathered from our customer’s feedback, a good recipe to connect with your audience is to work with a sales approach in mind and create your “ideal audience persona.” This would be your attendee who’s 100% connected with what you intend to share. Compare and contrast demographics with the public you know will attend, and find the common points and where you need to adjust your expectations to meet the audience’s interest.

If the event format allows for it, be ready to present questions at the end of your presentation that may drive the interest of a Q&A session.

Visual Aids

Slides featuring infographics , dashboards , or storytelling-based illustrations help to attract the spectator’s interest and increase the retention rate, as research proves it’s easier to recall pictures than words . As previously mentioned, leveraging graphics helps us reduce our slides’ word count.

Other presentation aids , like videos, audio, and even sensory elements such as smells, can drive a broad range of emotional responses within the audience. It’s worth exploiting this route if your presentation aims to persuade or motivate the spectators. 

Time Management

Last but not least, time management is an etiquette rule of respect for fellow presenters. Your content has to fit within the 5-minute limit, including transition times and variations in your delivery speed.

A good presenter is an adaptable one. Be ready to adjust your speech on the fly if you find yourself running short or long on time or if the audience’s interest drives the conversation briefly away from your intended destination.

Defining how many slides is a 5 minute presentation isn’t an automatic task. Some topics can be quickly resolved following the premises of the 1-2-3 rule for presentations, applying:

• One main message: Your presentation should center around a single, clear main message or idea. This ensures focus and helps your audience grasp the core of your presentation without getting lost in details. 
• Two supporting points: Support your main message with two strong, relevant points or arguments. This structure helps provide depth to your presentation without overwhelming your audience with too much information. 
• Three examples or pieces of evidence: For each supporting point, provide three examples, pieces of evidence, or data points to substantiate your arguments. This reinforces your message and helps in making your case more convincing.

In short, implementing this practice can result in a range between 5 and 10 slides in your 5-minute presentation. More complex topics, like medical presentations or scientific conferences, cannot be summarized easily, as graphs require one full slide for accurate data visualization. In this case, weigh the critical points your presentation must cover, assign a maximum of 3 slides per crucial point, and avoid filler content.

Googling around you can come across lists with 200, 60, 40, and plenty other title combinations referring to 5 minute presentation ideas. Despite it being a good starter to brainstorm potential topics or angles for your presentation, we shall introduce our method to implement AI tools to come up with 5 minute presentation topics. The following instructions apply to ChatGPT , Gemini (Bard) or Bing.

• Consider the niche in which you want to deliver a 5 minute presentation. 
• Gather the main keywords around the topic you intend to present. For example, if you want to deliver a presentation about artificial intelligence, the following keywords may suit your needs as well: AI, artificial intelligence chatbot, types of artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence solutions, what is artificial intelligence.
• Open your AI tool of preference and write the following prompt: “Give me a list of 20 5-minute presentation ideas in the IT niche that fit these keywords: AI, artificial intelligence chatbot, types of artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence solutions, what is artificial intelligence.”

And this is the list generated by ChatGPT-4

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Basics of AI, its history, and evolution.
• Exploring AI Technologies: A dive into machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning.
• Types of Artificial Intelligence: From narrow (or weak) AI to general (or strong) AI, and superintelligence.
• AI Chatbots: Revolutionizing Customer Service: How chatbots are changing the customer service landscape across industries.
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Discussing AI solutions for diagnostics, treatment recommendations, and patient care.
• The Role of AI in Autonomous Vehicles: Examining how AI technologies power self-driving cars.
• Ethical Considerations in AI: The moral implications of AI in decision-making and privacy concerns.
• AI in Cybersecurity: Using artificial intelligence to predict, detect, and respond to cyber threats.
• The Impact of AI on Job Markets: How AI is reshaping employment opportunities and the workforce.
• Machine Learning Algorithms Explained: An overview of popular algorithms and their applications in AI.
• AI and Big Data: How AI algorithms process and analyze large datasets to extract meaningful insights.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) in AI: Understanding how AI interprets, understands, and generates human language.
• AI in Finance: The use of artificial intelligence in fraud detection, algorithmic trading, and personalized banking.
• Artificial Intelligence for Environmental Sustainability: Exploring AI solutions for climate change, conservation, and sustainable energy.
• AI and Robotics: How AI is applied in robotics for automation, exploration, and manufacturing.
• Deep Learning and Neural Networks: An introduction to the architecture of neural networks and their significance in AI.
• Implementing AI Solutions in Small Businesses: Practical AI applications for improving efficiency and productivity in SMEs.
• The Future of AI: Predictions and emerging trends in artificial intelligence technologies.
• AI in Education: Personalized learning, automated grading, and AI’s role in educational institutions.
• Ethics and Bias in AI: Addressing the challenges of bias in AI algorithms and ensuring ethical AI development.

In this section, we will apply the explained suggestions earlier, approaching a real use case of a motivational speaker addressing an audience of marketing professionals. The speaker has to deliver a 5 minute presentation for a large onsite event.

Defining the Objective & Core Message

Our presenter is faced with the challenge of highlighting the importance of data analysis in marketing these days, and why marketing professionals should be adaptable to the latest trends. Therefore, using Minto’s Pyramid Principle, the presenter who already knows the answer – that hunch-based decisions need to be turned into data-driven decisions – plans how to convey the importance of that statement into the presentation’s flow.

Then, a powerful hook comes to mind on how to start this presentation: “Today, I want to share why embracing change isn’t just necessary; it’s our most powerful tool for growth in the marketing world.” Since that statement can sound somewhat vague, the presenter opts for a quote to impact the audience. A definition of what Social Listening is, indicating the connection between data and consumer behavior analysis.

Concise Content Tailored for the Audience

Research or inquire about the audience’s background in marketing. Are they novices or seasoned professionals? What challenges are they facing? Use this information to shape your presentation content.

In our presenter’s case, the event’s organizer gave some basic information about the demographics and audience’s background. Returning to the “ideal audience persona” concept, this presenter’s audience consists of mid-level marketing professionals facing rapid industry changes. Some already have experience working with data analytics but couldn’t extract the full potential. Therefore, rather than losing time with basics, the presenter prepares a compelling dashboard slide showing metrics of how working with data helped a client grow its revenue rate by 19% in three months.

The time limit for this presentation is 6 minutes in total, as a 1-minute Q&A session is contemplated. Therefore, using our word-per-minute calculation, the presenter opts for a 5 minute speech word count of 600 words, as it’s best to impact with powerful visuals and data storytelling rather than to rush the speech. As the recommended slide deck length for this presentation format is between 5 and 10 slides, the presenter opts for 3 extra slides, totaling 13 slides, since the two main points require 2-3 slides each.

The Introduction for this presentation is a powerful statement, as we mentioned above, taking one full minute to deliver the phrase and share the information that backs up such a statement.

The Body will take 3 minutes to be presented, and it shall cover a three-tier structure with the following premises:

• Challenge: “The digital marketing landscape is evolving faster than ever before, leaving many behind.”
• Strategy: “Yet, some marketers are thriving by adopting agile methodologies and data-driven strategies.”
• Success Story: “Take, for example, a small business that doubled its online engagement and grew its revenue rate by 19% in three months just by simply listening to its audience through social media analytics.”

The Conclusion takes another minute, using a powerful slide to leave a lasting thought that the audience can dwell on.

As the format is brief, the presenter will use powerful graphics to boost audience engagement. Additionally, there’s a short exercise at the beginning of the presentation where the speaker promptly says: “Turn to the person next to you and share one change you’ve embraced in your marketing strategy this year that made a difference.” This is a fine example of how to implement interactive presentation techniques to boost audience engagement.

Leveraging this kind of strategy helps the audience to connect with the importance of making changes in the marketing strategy of their work environments, but not just any change, something that’s measurable and has a significant impact. The presenter expects that not many members can successfully relate to change with results due to their inexperience in marketing data analytics – a piece of information disclosed by the event’s organizer – so the remaining of the presentation consists of ‘wowing’ the audience on the importance of data and how to measure that impact to stay tuned with the latest trends.

Although it seems an easy-to-adapt format, presenters working under 5-minute presentation can face some challenges that affect the overall outcome of their presentation delivery. Most of these presentation mistakes apply to any kind of presentation. In particular, we consider the following list as beginner mistakes we can easily prevent.

• Using Jargon or Complex Language: This can alienate your audience. Use clear, accessible language.
• Reading from Slides: This is literally “death by PowerPoint.” Use slides as a visual aid, not a script.
• Overuse of Animations or Transitions: While they can be engaging, too many can be distracting and appear unprofessional.

Check the following slide decks and PPT templates to maximize your performance in 3-5 minute presentations.

1. 5 Minute Business Marketing Presentation Template

Create eye-catching marketing presentations by using this best PPT template with a clean layout and wavy backgrounds. The information can be structured around the included icons, maximizing the retention rate by giving an area to focus on just the core information to be disclosed.

Use This Template

2. Business Executive 5-Minute Presentation Template

Geared toward business presentations, this slide deck layout contains cutting-edge graphics that grab your audience’s interest. It can be easily customized to speak about your company’s growth process, reach out to potential investors, or even for non-business topics.

3. Modern Hexagon 5-Minute Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template

Another clean layout template with vivid colors to highlight the information shared. This professional PPT slide deck helps us discuss data or compare features between competitor products in the blink of an eye. The color palette uses gradients to transition between sections smoothly.

4. Kaleidoscope 5-Minute Company Profile PowerPoint Template

Although it is intended for company profiles or company overview presentations, this highly visual PPT template can be repurposed for many niches. Due to its limited-space placeholder text areas, the 5 minute speech word count can be significantly reduced, aiming for concise content.

5. Academic 5-Minute Presentation Template

An ideal template for presenting thesis dissertations, this slide deck features designs to introduce the scope of our research, problem statement, methodology used, outcomes, and their significance while preserving a cohesive aesthetic.

As we can see, concise presentation formats like the 5 minute presentation have their own challenges when we strive for quality. Consider rehearsing your presentation multiple times, opting for the slideshow mode , to spot any areas where you can trim the speech or change text for graphics. 

Speak reasonably, and remember it’s best to fall short some seconds and allow for a Q&A session rather than rushing and not giving a proper closure to your speech.

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Presentation Approaches, Presentation Ideas Filed under Presentation Ideas

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30 Creative 5 Minute Presentation Topics in 2023

A 5-minute presentation is a perfect way to quickly share information with an audience without overloading them with too much information. It’s an important skill to have in the professional world, and it’s a great way to make a lasting impression on your audience. But, how do you craft a successful 5-minute presentation? This blog post will provide 30 creative ideas for crafting a 5 minute presentation topics , along with tips, best practices, and examples.

What is a 5-minute presentation topics?

A 5-minute presentation is a short presentation that is typically given to an audience in order to quickly present information. It’s a great way to quickly engage an audience and get them interested in the topic at hand. The key to a successful 5-minute presentation is to be organized, succinct, and engaging.

Benefits of 5-minute presentations topics

There are many benefits to giving a 5-minute presentation. For starters, it’s quick and to the point. This means that your audience won’t become overwhelmed with too much information. Additionally, it’s a great way to practice your public speaking skills and build confidence. Finally, it’s a great opportunity to make a lasting impression on your audience.

The benefits of 5-minute presentations include: 

-Brevity creates excitement: Keeping a presentation short and concise can help to keep your audience engaged and interested. 

-Combine with a poster presentation: Pairing your 5-minute talk with a poster presentation can be a great way to advertise your work and make a lasting impression. 

-Enhance communication skills: The 5-minute presentation format encourages students to communicate clearly and effectively to both specialists and non-specialists. 

-Practice: Practicing and timing your presentation to take no more than 4 minutes gives you a buffer and a chance to be prepared for any potential surprises on the day. 

-Focus: A 5-minute presentation provides the opportunity to focus on the most important facts, ideas, or concepts. 

-Concise: Short presentations are a great way to present information in a limited amount of time. 

-Engaging: 5-minute presentations are more engaging than traditional 60-minute talks. 

-Limited: Having a limited time frame forces you to be concise and selective in your presentation, which can make it more impactful.

Tips for creating a 5-minute presentation

Before you start creating your 5-minute presentation, there are a few tips to keep in mind. First, choose a topic that is interesting and relevant to your audience. Second, create an outline that includes the main points you’ll be covering. This will help you stay organized and on track. Third, create visuals that will help illustrate your points. Fourth, practice your presentation ahead of time so that you can make sure you stay within the time limit. And finally, make sure to have a call to action at the end of your presentation.

Brainstorming ideas

When it comes to creating a 5-minute presentation, brainstorming ideas is a great way to get started. Start by jotting down your main points and any related topics that come to mind. You can also do some research to get ideas from other presentations. Once you have a list of ideas, narrow it down to the topics that you think will be the most engaging and interesting to your audience.

Tips for creating a 5-minute presentation include: 

-Start with a strong introduction: Make sure to grab the audience’s attention right away with a compelling and creative opener. 

-Use clear and concise language: Get to the point quickly and don’t use more words than necessary. 

-Limit each slide to one idea or point: Don’t overload your slides with too much information. 

-Use visuals to support your points: Visuals can help make your point more clear and memorable.

-Memorize your opening and closing: Memorizing your opening and closing can help you stay on track and within the time limit. 

-Pause: Pausing during your presentation can help emphasize key points and keep your audience engaged. 

-Stick to one or two main points: Cover the most important information and limit yourself to one or two main points. 

-Use humor: Humor can help engage your audience, but make sure it is appropriate for the occasion. 

-Be prepared: Make sure to practice your presentation and be prepared for any unexpected questions.

30 Creative 5 minute presentation topics

Now that you’ve brainstormed some ideas, it’s time to start crafting your 5-minute presentation. Here are 30 creative ideas for crafting a successful 5-minute presentation:

• Introduce yourself and your topic
• Give an overview of the current state of the topic
• Discuss the history of the topic
• Explain the importance of the topic
• Share your own experience with the topic
• Highlight key facts and figures
• Share success stories
• Explain the science behind the topic
• Discuss a current event related to the topic
• Explain how the topic is relevant to your audience
• Outline the steps to achieving success with the topic
• Share expert advice on the topic
• Introduce new technologies related to the topic
• Share an inspiring quote related to the topic
• Explain the future of the topic
• Discuss the pros and cons of the topic
• Share a personal anecdote about the topic
• Discuss the ethical considerations of the topic
• Explain how to troubleshoot common issues related to the topic
• Share best practices for working with the topic
• Discuss the importance of collaboration in the topic
• Explain how to stay up-to-date with the topic
• Discuss the benefits of the topic
• Share success tips for working with the topic
• Introduce new resources related to the topic
• Explain how to leverage the power of the topic
• Discuss the potential risks associated with the topic
• Explain the impact of the topic on society
• Discuss how to measure success with the topic
• Share tips for staying motivated with the topic

Creative presentation tools

Once you’ve decided on your 5-minute presentation topics, it’s time to start creating your presentation. There are many creative presentation tools available that can help you create a professional and engaging presentation. Here are a few popular presentation tools:

• Google Slides
• Adobe Spark

Each of these tools has different features and tools that will help you create a successful presentation. What are you waiting for? Explore yourself!

You may also like to read Lifelong learning secrets

Best Practices for Delivering a Successful Presentation

Now that you have your 5-minute presentation topics and materials ready to go, it’s time to practice your presentation and get ready for the big day. You need to be calm and composed but most importantly, you have to relax. There is nothing bad about making mistakes, you can always improve and succeed. Here are a few best practices for delivering a successful presentation:

• Speak confidently and clearly
• Pay attention to body language
• Use visuals to illustrate your points
• Make eye contact with your audience
• Speak at a moderate pace
• Use pauses to emphasize important points
• Use humor and stories to engage your audience
• Be prepared to answer questions
• End with a call-to-action or summary

5 Minute Presentation Examples

If you’re still feeling unsure of how to craft a successful 5-minute presentation, looking at examples can help. Here are a few great 5-minute presentation examples to get you started:

• A 5-minute presentation on the importance of storytelling
• A 5-minute presentation on the power of networking
• A 5-minute presentation on the importance of self-care
• A 5-minute presentation on the power of gratitude
• A 5-minute presentation on the benefits of meditation

Crafting a successful 5-minute presentation can be a daunting task, but with the right tips and creative ideas, it can be a great way to quickly engage an audience and make a lasting impression. Hopefully, this blog post has provided you with some creative ideas for crafting a 5-minute presentation, along with tips, best practices, and examples. Before you start creating your 5-minute presentation, make sure to brainstorm ideas, create visuals, and practice ahead of time. Good luck crafting your 5-minute presentation! For learning you can check our office productivity courses .

When it comes to crafting a successful 5-minute presentation, there are many creative ideas to choose from. Whether you’re looking to introduce yourself and your topic, discuss the history of the topic, explain the importance of the topic, or share success stories, there is an idea for every presentation. Additionally, there are many creative presentation tools available that can help you create a professional and engaging presentation. 

Finally, when it comes to delivering a successful presentation, it’s important to speak confidently, pay attention to body language, use visuals to illustrate your points, make eye contact, and end with a call-to-action or summary. With the right creative ideas and best practices, you can craft a successful 5-minute presentation that will make a lasting impression on your audience.

Creating & Delivering A 5 Minute Presentation

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation , Public Speaking , Speech Topics

The daunting task of sitting down to work on a presentation that needs to be effective enough to get your point across as quickly and efficiently as possible, might want you to curl up deeper inside your blanket.

Here’s the good part: You can read this article on your phone from your comfy hideout.

As much as people picture presentations to be a difficult task, I personally, enjoy it!

To find the right colour scheme or infographic, or when the text and picture align perfectly, it is a fun experience clicking F5 and just watching your creation seamlessly spill out facts after facts while looking so minimalistic and neat!

Now that you know what I dream about at 2:00 PM in the afternoon, let’s get to work on creating and delivering a well curated, killer presentation which is short and effective, regardless if you have presentation daydreams or not!

What is a Short Presentation?

It would be a really awkward start if you were trying to hit a bullseye without the target board.

I present to you the simplest explanation of a short presentation from my caffeine induced writing:

Short presentations are for no longer than 5 minutes that gives an idea about what the topic is.

It is sort of an overview of your topic and really makes you prioritise what content you need to add in your presentation. We’ll get to this shortly, keep scrolling!

Before we begin working on our presentation, we need an outline or sort of checklist that will help us create our 5 minute presentation.

This will give us an idea of what our presentation will look like.

Essentially for a 5 minute presentation we’re looking at covering 5 topics that will bring your presentation to a complete circle. Let’s get cracking!

1. Introduction

Every presentation needs an introduction, even with a time crunch, this is a very important step in a presentation.

This gives your audience time to form their own opinions on the topic and build a connection with the speaker (that’s you!)

A killer opening might just make those first impressions all positive! Check out this video to work on your introductions:

Now that you have an idea about what exactly you do in an introduction, let’s make one thing clear, for a 5 minute presentation, your introduction needs to be extremely short. Again. For the people in the back: 5 minute presentation introductions need to be EXTREMELY SHORT.

Before you make assumptions and finish your introduction in two lines, let’s give you a time frame: 15 – 40 seconds, based on your topic. This would give you enough time to make an impression and add relevant content as well.

Pro Tip: If you are struggling to shorten your introduction, try avoiding introducing yourself because firstly, the emcee would do that and second, you can always add a little bit about you in your cover slide or your 1st title slide. Another thing that can help you save time throughout your presentation is making sure your title is extremely short. A long title would just become too many words by the time you finish your presentation and after saying it once, they don’t really add any value.

2. Problem Statement / Details of what you are addressing

This slide is like knowing the problem, knowing the answer and just talking about it.

Usually a 5 minute presentation just has one topic or a major focus, you can either explain a problem that your topic solves like how Electric Vehicles solve the whole gas pricing increasing, long term savings issue and of course sustainability and global warming.

Once you find an angle, your answer essentially becomes your topic.

PS. I wouldn’t take more than a slide to address the problem. Using too many slides in just 5 minutes will only distract your audience.

3. Solution

We have the question and the answer and just like every math solution site ever, in the previous slide we haven’t shown them the work, the way to get to the answer.

We’re better than that aren’t we? Let’s build solutions, show them the work. If we are talking about EVs being cheaper in the long run, do the math, show them how much they invest and how it makes a difference.

This section is the most content heavy part of your presentation, you can talk about your ideas, innovation, theories and play around with games and tricks during your presentation because this is where you audience will begin to dose off or get excited but creating the excitement is up to you.

If your presentation is more research based than on your personal work, using a lot of verbal stats might be your go to, but remember numbers everywhere will confuse your audience.

A good trick would be to add most of your statistics on your slides and highlight / mention the most impactful ones.

4. Limitations

In most theories or even hard facts there are always gaps and cracks, even Marvel came out with a “What if” series!

It is always good to address these cracks once you give your solutions, maybe even fuse the two together to keep things interesting.

This helps the audience go “Oh, that is wicked” or just get them thinking, talking about the topic.

Pro Tip: If you have too many things to talk about in this section you can use some facts or “believe it or not” type theories as interjections to catch the audience off guard or maybe even turn them into jokes!

5. Conclusion

This is the most crucial, yet flexible part of your presentation. Remember that it is only for 5 minutes so you really have a time crunch by now. You can’t really sum up everything.

The good thing is you don’t need to! One perk of 5 minute presentations is that it is very direct and short. This means that pretty much most of your content is still fresh in your audience’s mind.

All you need to do now is work on a killer ending. Here’s a video that can help!

Content and Delivery

Now that we know what the final presentation might look like, let’s work on building it by going into detail about it.

Let’s work on this the way Toastmasters International evaluates our speeches. Divide it into Content and Delivery.

On the content front, we will be covering everything from the colours, fonts, animation topics, prioritising content, the type of words we can use, and a few other things that happen before you step on the stage.

For delivery, we’ll be working on the show-person inside you, from everything about how and where you can stand to what you can do apart from the presentation to grab the audience’s attention and more!

I understand some of you might be a little curious about the “Toastmasters International” thing. It is a public speaking forum. Since I know some of us here are visual learners while others prefer to read, if you are interested in exploring it, you can check out our article: All About Toastmasters – What Is It, My Journey And Why You Should Try It or check out this video:

We will be going chronologically because just like presentations, in articles too, we can’t eat the cake until after we bake it! Let’s get going!

Put on your creative hat and let’s get cracking.

1. Prioritise

Being an expert in a topic is usually a good thing but sometimes, experts know too much when compared to a complete beginner. There are three ways this situation can play out.

• You skim over some extremely important yet insignificant looking foundational topics because you’ve chosen to prioritise a complex topic.
• You dumb down things waaaay too much and you end up adding not much value for your audience or to your presentation
• You do it just right, the right content and explanation, because either you have a knack for teaching or are a teacher, or just remember the days when you were a beginner perfectly.

Here is the catch, how do you know that your audience is a beginner crowd? This is one of the most important factors while prioritising your content.

Understanding your audience

Once you know your audience it becomes so much more easier to gauge the type of content that would add value and be useful to them.

You can use it to understand what type of topics you can cover, for beginners they might be looking at careers and building their foundation while the experts would rather enjoy a more technical and “in the news” take on the topic.

Pro Tip: Never! Never use complex jargons with your audience and if you have to, make sure to explain it on your slide or in your speech. With experts and people who know the field, you can use jargons but preferably use the least you can while not making it sound like you are dumbing it down for your audience.

Check out our video to gain a better understanding on how to analyse your audience!

2. Colours, fonts, layout and more!

We need to make your presentation look direct, concise and cute (this is the adjective I am going with, feel free to add your own!)

Colours, fonts and layouts and infographics and all of the other tools are something that gives your presentation a personality, and I believe it is best to find a colour scheme that reflects your personality.

For example, if you are a person who love minimalistic artefacts and aesthetics, a more softer, mellow, and essentially beige colour scheme is what would bounce off your personality on the stage.

If you are confused about what say “you” the best, the quickest way to define yourself with an adjective and go to Pinterest and search that word with maybe these keywords:

• Bedroom Ideas
• Office Décor
• Outfit ideas

And pick the theme that you like the most!

Now listen here. I need your complete and undivided attention. Just because you need to define yourself with an adjective doesn’t mean you go into a downward philosophical spiral about your existence.

If you are finding it hard to define yourself, try figuring out how you want to come across in your presentation, do you want to appear organised – minimalist is the adjective for it. If you are looking to be intelligent or futuristic – techy / tech savvy could be an option.

Another way to figure out the colours, fonts and layouts and all the other tools of a presentation is to go by topic. Find out what your topic talks about and build your presentation personality from there!

2.1. Templates

This is another quick and easy way to work on efficient presentations. Use readymade templates! There is no hard and fast rule that says you need to create your presentation from scratch. If it makes your life easy, why not!

With using templates comes this additional benefit of not needing to hunt for infographics or images or a neat layout, it is all handed out to you in a platter. They even have topic specific layouts created and ready to use! How cool is that?!?

There are so many sites out there for exactly this, some are listed below! 1. Canva 2. Slidego 3. Slides Carnival 4. Visme

The length of your presentation, here, the number of slides you have, should be in the range of 5-7.

Remember you are preparing for a presentation that will last for about 5 minutes and changing more than 1-2 slides a minute is time consuming and the audience would not be able to decide whether they should be focusing on what you are saying or showing.

I understand that wanting to speak about so many cool things within 5 minutes is not enough, I have been there!

Here is an easy way to refine your presentations to be as direct and crisp as possible:

Step 1: Data Dump

Do the data dump first. All the things you’ve prioritised and decided that you want to keep in your presentation, dump it all into your slides topic wise.

Step 2: Organise

Once you have all your data, move the slides around, find an order that goes from level 0 to level X – you decide the number of levels based on your topic!

Build a flow of information that is easy to grasp and understand and doesn’t jump back and forth as much.

Step 3: Edit

Now that you know what goes where and what comes after what, you can now choose to scrap topics (yes again, the more you refine the more you can get the perfect well rounded finish on your presentation) and combine them.

Step 4: Make pretty!

If you are combining topics in your presentation, doesn’t mean you make it crowded and too much information for the audience to consume, they would end up reading the slide instead of paying any attention to you and we do not want that, no matter what your stage fright tells you.

You presentation needs to look neat, appealing to the eye, not hard to read and simple.

If it is getting too much, I would suggest going to one of the template sites mentioned above and just check out the various templates available to get a grasp on what I am talking about. It is extremely simple and easy. You got this!

Here is another article you can check out to see what other tools you can use to make your presentation better! 5 Presentations Tools To Use With Multimedia Presentations

4. Other effects

Things like animation, slide transitions and other effects have a huge advantage in making your presentation look pleasing to the eye, but is it very easy to overdo it.

Here is a hack that I use to make sure that I never make my presentation “too much.”

One word: Consistency.

If you are using a slide transition, make sure to apply it to all your slides. This creates a form of flow (try saying that 5 times quickly!) in your delivery.

Also, given that you do not have many slides, it doesn’t make sense for you to waste time on transitions both while creating and delivering your presentation.

The same goes for animations, there are so many options available, you can even make them come on clicks and use it as a “step-wise” explanation technique.

There are so many things you can do to have a killer delivery, but the fact is that to bask in your limelight for those 5 minutes, you need to prepare fairly in advance.

Let’s check out a few things that you can do to help rock your delivery!

1. Use the right pronouns

I am a proud ally and one way I can effect change is though what I do.

Here’s my tip to you, try asking for any person’s pronouns before you address them with one. If you are uncomfortable asking, instead of using an assumptive pronoun, use they/them. It is gender neutral and puts forth a more formal and no-conflict tone.

It is important to announce your pronouns as well for people to know how they are supposed to address you.

Here is a helpful article I found about gender pronouns if you are interested in learning more about it! What To Know About Gender Pronouns

This won’t require you to explore Pinterest but it would help if you check out the room you are going to be speaking in.

Make sure to wear well contrasting colours with the background and the presentation so that you stand out and make it easy for your audience to spot you and refocus when they dose off or aren’t attentive.

Let’s say that you’ve got a well lit room, your outfit does not blend in with the background and your presentation is both interactive and informative. You stand in one place and begin. You are doing everything right and yet, the audience seems distracted.

One possible explanation would be that you are stagnant and in being so, for the audience, you may not have blended into the background but you have become a part of it!

Moving around when you give a presentation is effective, but you need to gauge when to do it. An easy hack to this is: Speak-Stay, Transition-Transportation.

It essentially means that when you are speaking or delivering an important point, stay in one place, the only thing the audience should need to focus on is your content, but when you move from one topic or segment to another, you move, it shows the audience that they are moving on from topic to another and helps smoothen your transitions.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, there might be situations where you can not move, less stage area, the mic is attached to the podium, it is an online platform or physical limitations. Do not fret. It is okay and you can use your voice by changing tones or effect transitions instead or you can come up with your own creative technique!

Pro Tip: Make sure that when you do move, do not hide your presentation slide and try to speak from either ends of the screen.

4. Make things relevant

Is your presentation about palaeontology or space travel?

It can be anything under the sun, but one of the best ways to keep the audience alert and interested is by connecting it to the present.

Basic Human Psychology. Talk or mention something that they possibly would’ve heard about and their ears will prick up, or ask them a simple question like “Have you heard about XYZ?” and wait for their response, react, connect that to your content and move on.

This will make the audience feel that they know something about the topic and will keep them interested.

Wait. How do you know what the audience knows? Current Affairs.

There is always some news which is trending or controversial or simply too important that it is all people talk about, use that to your benefit, read up on your current affairs and decide what suits your content the best and work on segue to bring it up enough to hold your audience’s attention but not too detailed that you deviate from the topic. 

There are various other ways to keep your audience engaged, check out this TedTalk to learn more about it!

Examples of 5 Minute Presentations

Here are some examples to help you understand different ways you can build your presentation!

Topic Ideas

Now that you have an easy guide to creating and delivering a killer short presentation, here are a few topic ideas that you might like to use!

• Adopting a pet
• Endangered Species
• Therapy Animals
• Financing for College
• How to choose your major
• Coffee – Good / Bad Habit
• Body Shaming
• Social Media and its importance
• Outer space
• Stereotypes and superstitions (like using the number 13!)

Final Thoughts

Short presentations are fairly easy to give and are fun. If you find it difficult, that is normal too. Just take it one step at a time and prioritise your content FIRST, trust me. A mammoth of your work will be done.

Deep breaths and steps at your own pace, you’ll get there. 🙂

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Past Papers

5-Minute Presentation Topics: Tips Informative Presentations

In today’s fast-paced world, 5-Minute Presentation Topics, effectively communicating ideas concisely and engagingly is a valuable skill. This is where 5-minute presentations come into play.

These short presentations allow you to convey your message quickly and efficiently, capturing your audience’s attention and leaving a lasting impact. Whether pitching an idea, delivering a sales pitch, or presenting in a classroom setting, mastering the art of 5-minute presentations is essential for success.

Table of Contents

Choosing the Right Topic for a 5-Minute Presentation

The first step in delivering a compelling 5-minute presentation is choosing the right topic. Selecting a topic that is interesting and relevant to your audience is essential. Consider the demographics, interests, and knowledge level of your listeners.

Are they college students? Professionals? Or a mix of both? Tailoring your topic to their needs and preferences will ensure your presentation resonates with them.

To brainstorm potential topics, list subjects you are passionate about or knowledgeable about. Then, narrow down your options by considering the time constraints of a 5-minute presentation.

Tips for Engaging Your Audience in a Short Presentation

Engaging your audience in a short presentation requires careful planning and execution. Here are some tips to help you captivate your listeners:

Start with a compelling opening: Begin your presentation with a strong hook that grabs your audience’s attention. You can use a thought-provoking question, a surprising statistic, or an engaging anecdote to pique their curiosity.

Use visual aids: Visual aids, such as slides or props, can enhance your presentation and make it more memorable. Keep your visuals simple, concise, and relevant to your topic. Avoid cluttering your slides with too much text or overwhelming graphics.

Incorporate storytelling: Humans are wired to connect with stories. Weaving a narrative into your presentation can make it more relatable and engaging. Use personal anecdotes, case studies, or real-life examples to illustrate your points and create an emotional connection with your audience.

Encourage audience participation: Engage your audience by asking questions, conducting polls, or facilitating brief discussions. This keeps them actively involved and allows you to gauge their understanding and address any concerns or misconceptions.

End with a firm conclusion: Wrap up your presentation with a clear summary of your key points and a compelling call to action. Leave your audience with a memorable takeaway or a thought-provoking question to encourage further reflection.

Structuring Your 5-Minute Presentation Effectively

A well-structured presentation ensures a clear flow of ideas and helps your audience follow along easily. Consider the following structure for your 5-minute presentation :

Introduction: Begin by introducing yourself and briefly stating the purpose of your presentation. Grab your audience’s attention with a captivating opening.

Main points: Break down your topic into three key points or subtopics. Dedicate roughly one minute to each end, ensuring a balanced time distribution.

Supporting evidence: Provide supporting evidence, examples, or data to reinforce your main points. Keep your explanations concise and to the end.

Transition smoothly: Use transitional phrases or visual cues to guide your audience through each point and create a seamless flow between ideas.

Techniques for Delivering an Informative Presentation in Just 5 Minutes

Delivering an informative presentation in just 5 minutes requires a balance between brevity and clarity. Here are some techniques to help you effectively convey information within a limited time frame:

Focus on essential information: Identify the most crucial aspects of your topic and prioritize them. Avoid going into unnecessary details or tangents that may distract from your main message.

Use visuals strategically: Visual aids can help condense complex information into easily digestible formats. Utilize charts, diagrams, or infographics to present data or processes efficiently.

Be concise and precise: Choose your words carefully and avoid unnecessary jargon or technical terms. Aim for clarity and simplicity in your language to ensure your audience understands your message.

Use storytelling to illustrate concepts: Instead of relying solely on facts and figures, use storytelling techniques to explain abstract or complex ideas. This can make your presentation more relatable and memorable.

Practice timing: Time yourself during practice runs to ensure that you are within the 5-minute limit. Adjust your pace and content accordingly to fit within the allotted time frame.

Examples of Popular 5-Minute Presentation Topics for College Students

For college students, 5-minute presentations offer an opportunity to showcase their knowledge and communication skills. Here are some popular topics that can be explored in a short presentation:

• The impact of social media on mental health
• The benefits of mindfulness and meditation
• The importance of financial literacy for college students
• The role of technology in education
• Strategies for effective time management
• The benefits of volunteering and community service
• The impact of climate change on the environment
• The benefits of a healthy lifestyle and exercise
• The history and significance of a particular cultural festival
• The pros and cons of studying abroad

Creating a List of 5-minute Presentation Topics for Various Occasions

5-minute presentations are not limited to college classrooms; they can be utilized in various professional and social settings. Here’s a list of 5-minute presentation topics for different occasions:

• Practical communication skills for workplace success
• The art of public speaking and presentation skills
• Sustainable practices for a greener future
• The importance of mental health in the workplace
• Strategies for effective conflict resolution
• The benefits of remote work and flexible schedules
• Tips for successful networking and building professional relationships
• The impact of automation on the job market
• The art of negotiation and persuasion
• Strategies for personal financial management

Resources for Finding Interesting and Unique 5-Minute Presentation Topics

If you’re struggling to develop exciting and unique 5-minute presentation topics, don’t fret. There are several resources available to help you find inspiration:

Online platforms: Websites like TED Talks, YouTube, and SlideShare offer a vast collection of short presentations on various topics. Browse these platforms to discover ideas and gain insights from experts in different fields.

News and current events: Stay updated with the latest news and developments in your area of interest. Timely topics can make your presentation more relevant and engaging.

Books and magazines: Explore books, magazines, and journals related to your field or areas of interest. These resources can provide valuable information and spark ideas for your presentation.

Conversations and interviews: Engage with experts, professionals, or individuals with unique perspectives. Their insights and experiences can inspire you to explore new and exciting presentation topics.

Brainstorming sessions: Sit down with peers or colleagues and brainstorm ideas together. Sharing perspectives and bouncing ideas off each other can lead to innovative and exciting presentation topics.

Practice and Preparation Tips for Mastering 5-Minute Presentations

To master the art of 5-minute presentations, practice, and preparation are key. Here are some tips to help you hone your skills:

Time yourself: Practice your presentation multiple times and time yourself to ensure that you stay within the 5-minute limit. Adjust your content and delivery as needed to fit the allotted time.

Rehearse in front of a mirror or camera: Practicing in front of a mirror or recording yourself on camera allows you to observe your body language, gestures, and facial expressions. Note any areas that need improvement and work on refining your delivery.

Seek feedback: Ask a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor to provide constructive feedback on your presentation. Their insights can help you identify areas for improvement and polish your delivery.

Incorporate visuals and props: If appropriate, include visuals or props in your practice sessions. This will help you become comfortable with incorporating them seamlessly into your presentation.

Anticipate questions: Prepare for potential questions your audience may have and formulate concise and informative responses. This will help you feel more confident and prepared during the Q&A session.

Mastering the art of 5-minute presentations is a valuable skill that can open doors to countless opportunities. You can deliver impactful presentations in a limited time by choosing the right topic, engaging your audience, structuring your presentation effectively, delivering informative content, and practicing diligently.

Embrace the challenge of condensing your ideas into a concise and engaging format, and remember that every minute counts. Whether you are presenting in a classroom, boardroom, or social gathering, the ability to captivate your audience and convey your message effectively is a skill that will set you apart.

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200 Best 5 Minute Speech Topic Ideas

Sourav Mahahjan

Love it or hate it, speeches and presentations are bound to come your way in school and college days. They are given as assignments or included in extracurricular events. The intention is to develop public speaking skills in students and provide them a platform to showcase their talent. If you have been assigned the task to deliver 5 minute presentations then the first question will obviously be “what topic should I choose?”

Selecting a good topic is the most tricky part as it forms the backbone of your presentation. If you are jiggling your brain for an interesting topic for speech, you’ve landed on the right page. Here we’ve compiled 200+ intriguing and easy topics for presentation. Scroll through the topic ideas and jot down the ones that spike your interest. Then brainstorm and pick the most suitable one and half of your battle will be won!

List of 5 Minute Speech Topics.

Here’s a comprehensive list of 5 minutes presentation topics across 16 categories:

Speech Topic Ideas Related To Science and Technology

• Is AI creating or destroying jobs?
• Will artificial intelligence overpower human intelligence?
• Explaining Genetic modification 
• India’s space missions -lessons we’ve learned
• How to use Chat GPT correctly?
• Breakthrough inventions of 21st century
• Biological Warfare and Its Consequences
• Steps for cybersafety
• Intelligent Irrigation techniques in middle eastern countries
• Techniques and Benefits of rainwater harvesting
• Technological unemployment
• The future of 3D Printing
• Electrical vehicles in India - Present and future

Speech Topics on Politics and Current Affairs

• Is democracy only a myth in present times?
• Vote bank politics in India
• How to prepare for civil services examinations?
• Student Politics- boon or bane
• Increasing influence of social media in elections
• LGBTQA+ Laws in India 
• Evolving international relations of India
• De-dollarization
• India’s G20 Presidency 2023 -reflections
• Rising cyber warfare
• Impact of Russia-Ukraine crisis on India
• Electronic voting - is it trustworthy?
• Crisis management lessons the world needs to learn after Covid 19

Business Related Speech Ideas

• Is a 4-day work week feasible?
• Decoding startup wave in India
• Benefits of moonlighting
• Passive income ideas
• Evolution of HR policies after Covid 19
• Strategies for building inclusive workspaces
• Benefits and risks of investing in cryptocurrency
• The rise of gig economy
• Market research - a crucial requirement for success
• 5 best marketing strategies of all time
• Should unpaid internships be banned?
• How to avoid layoffs?

Speech Ideas Related To Literature

• Reapplying Benjamin’s ‘Work of Art in the Age of Technological Reproducibility’ in present times
• Portrayal of illness in literary works
• Neo orientalism
• Literary Journalism
• The rising craze of fan fiction
• Nihilism in post covid texts
• Eco-feminism
• LGBTQA+ Literature in India
• Exploring Kafkaesque style
• Relation between painting and literature
• Disability literature
• Is third world literature an unethical concept?

Social Sciences Speech Topics

• Language Politics in India
• Importance of protecting minority cultures in India
• Taboos in modern society
• Weird festivals around the world
• Socialism vs Communism
• Is capitalism declining?
• Internationalism
• Busting myths around Hippie cultures
• The need to expand the concept of gender equality -LGBTQA+ perspective
• How to address the problem of Generation gap?
• Art influences of Mughal dynasty in India
• The changing nature of terrorism in modern times

Speech Topics on Sports

• Can digital games be included in sports?
• Reviewing the success of Khelo India Youth Games
• Does India need a caste based quota in cricket?
• Ethical issues in gender testing for athletes
• Mental health of sportsmen - how to take care?
• Challenges of women in sports in India?
• Should animal sports be banned?
• Reviewing the impact player rule in cricket
• Consequences of intervention of politics in sports?
• 5 lessons you’ve learned from your favourite sports personality
• How do sports help build character in children?
• Fan etiquettes - necessary or loss of freedom?
• Should betting be made illegal worldwide?

Speech Ideas on Health

• Alzheimer’s disease: Causes, Precaution, Cure
• The truth about protein powders
• Good home workout exercises
• Yoga for women
• Tips to maintain consistency in exercises
• Importance of knowing basic nutrition
• Will Functional Medicine revolutionize healthcare
• Pros and Cons of intermittent fasting
• Busting diet and exercise myths
• Different types of diets
• Managing mental health in the age of social media
• 10 ways to improve mental health

Art and Design Speech Topics Ideas

• Influence of different cultures on Indian art
• Can digital creations be considered as art?
• Therapeutic effects of doing mandala arts
• History of highly popular mandala arts
• Arts born out of fusion of different art forms
• 5 good apps for editing photos
• Unique arts around the world
• Graffiti - vandalism or art?
• Controversies around mental health of artists
• Free art vs controlled art - which do you support?
• Fine arts as occupation in India
• Has social media contributed to reviving arts?

Psychology Speech Topics

• Fascinating facts about human brain
• How does music affect the brain?
• Types of anxiety disorders
• Effects of violent video games on children’s minds
• Surviving through ADHD - Case study discussion
• Psychologist vs Psychiatrist vs Counsellor
• Why should psychology not turn into hard science?
• Psychological impacts in Covid 19 patients
• Pros and cons of digital tools in assessment and treatment of psychological disorders
• Fetishes in teens
• Role of psychology in marketing
• Symptoms of bipolar disorder
• Understanding multiple personality disorder

Films and Media Speech Titles

• Bollywood is collapsing - myth or reality?
• Negative consequences of actors endorsing harmful products
• How did film award functions lose their credibility and relevance?
• Have news channels turned into entertainment channels?
• Should tv debates be banned?
• Fake nature of reality shows
• Rising interference of politics in movies
• The role of daily soaps in strengthening stereotypes on women
• Ethical questions in documentaries
• Reviewing the impacts of lack of film certification laws in OTTs
• 5 all-time favourite ads
• Lowered news media standards and its undesirable effects

Speech Topic Ideas on Social Media

• Is text messaging affecting teen literacy?
• Necessity strict laws to curb the spread of fake news on social media?
• Twitter vs Instagram 
• How to reduce the use of social media by children?
• Tips to tackle social media addiction
• Can social influencer be seen as a full-time professional job?
• New exciting career options in social media
• How to do social media marketing effectively?
• Decoding metaverse
• How has social media influenced politics
• Social media and stalking
• Ethical issues behind posting animals’ and baby pictures’ and videos on social accounts
• Social media activism

Educational Speech Topics Ideas

• Is the Indian Education system creating only workers and no entrepreneurs?
• Explaining NEP
• Effectiveness of teachers’ training programmes
• Importance of education field visits
• The use of AI in teaching - pros and cons
• Why are standardized tests not relevant?
• Should differently abled children be taught in the same schools as other students?
• Importance of sex education
• Viewing sports as an integral part of education
• Should online degrees be banned?
• Bullying - consequences and how to reduce it?
• Reviewing ‘Beti bachao beti padhao’ scheme

Speech Topics on Environment

• Endangered species on Earth
• Decoding climate change
• Light pollution
• E-waste management 
• The dangerous effects of bush burning and its alternatives
• Explaining 7 Rs of sustainability
• Animal rights - success or failure
• Role of UN in protecting environment
• Acidification of ocean
• Rainwater harvesting techniques that can be implemented in every household
• Plastic roads - the road ahead to recycle plastic
• Decoding rising sea levels as an effect of global warming

Lifestyle and Fashion Speech Topic Ideas

• Monsoon skin care routine
• How to style for summers
• Tips to choose the best gifts
• Books to help you deal with changes in life
• Self care tips
• Books for beginner readers
• Habits of successful people
• Winter clothing and accessories trends
• Pop vs pastel colours - what to opt for and when?
• Benefits of having a hobby
• Unknown traditional fashion styles around the world
• Tips to practise mindfulness

Food Related Speech Topics

• Exploring cultures through food
• Famous ancient dishes of India
• History of French fries
• Steps to avoid food wastage
• Healthy fast food - myth or reality
• Decoding non veganism
• Ill-effects of a vegan diet
• Weird dishes around the world
• Culinary arts in children’s food
• Easy ways to go gluten-free
• Daily inflammatory foods you should avoid
• Popular restaurants in your city

Life Skills Speech Ideas

• Digital literacy in senior citizens
• Emotional intelligence
• Time management techniques
• Tips for Stress management
• Interpersonal skills
• Critical thinking vs creative thinking
• Strategies to maintain work-life balance
• 7 simple ways to improve mental well-being
• Reading food labels for healthy choices
• How to inculcate self discipline?
• Setting SMART goals
• Benefits of SWOT Analysis

We hope that you might have got some interesting topics for presentation from the above list. These thoughtful yet easy presentation topics will surely hook your audience and earn you pats on your back. You can also reserve some good ideas for future speeches or suggest topics to your friends.

If you require further help for writing your speech you can reach out to our experts for assistance. We have some of the best writers in the industry who are highly qualified and experienced in academic writing. We at The Assignment Ninjas specialize in crafting customized essays in a short time and ensure a smooth experience for our clients. Get top quality speech at your fingertips and be ready to rock the presentation and secure high grades!

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50 Topic Ideas for a 5-Minute Presentation

If you are asked to prepare for a 5-minute presentation, the first thing that comes to your mind is ‘Topic’. Well, most of us may think that justifying any topic in just 5 minutes or 300 seconds is impossible. But this is where you can create a difference. Anyone can easily present his/her point in 15, 20, 30 minutes or more time but smart people are those who can make the best use of even the 5 minutes. Those 5 minutes are enough to create a lasting impression on your audience’s mind. Also, those who know how to value 5 minutes time are the ones who can climb the success ladder easily in any field. So, do you want to be one of those? If yes, then use the 5 minutes wisely. How?

Well, this starts with choosing the right topic that strikes the right chord with your audience in the given 5 minutes. A wide range of topic choices can pose to be a real challenge and may call for a lot of time for the selection process. So, the key is to choose a topic that you are passionate about and are thoroughly interested in. If you have thorough understanding of the topic, then you can easily present your points to your audience through your  presentation . Also, you need to ensure that the topic that you choose can be easily presented through pictures and supported by facts and graphs. This will help you to ensure that your message gets across your audience in minimum time.

In a nutshell, for a 5-minute presentation, topic selection is the major task and this can make or mar your success chances. So, do spend a considerable time in selecting the right topic.

5-Minute Presentation Topics List

To ease this task for you, we list some interesting 50 topics that can be chosen for a 5-minute presentation:

• Time is money
• Intelligence v/s wisdom
• Importance of 5 minutes
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
• Be the change you wish to see in the world
• Honesty is the best policy
• 5 tips for increasing your wealth
• 5 things you can do with your savings
• How to be self-motivated?
• Cleanliness is next to godliness
• How to lead a stress-free life?
• The art of saying no?
• 5 ways to build an influential personality
• Rules are meant to be broken?
• Importance of silence
• Poverty is the state of mind
• Are we a free nation?
• Are we politically literate?
• Superstitions prevailing in the society
• 5 important parenting tips
• How to teach moral values to your child?
• Effect of television on children
• The impact of social media on young generation
• The side effects of using mobile phones
• The need for cyber security
• 5 latest technology trends
• The best discoveries of all times
• The famous Indian inventors
• The latest fashion trends
• 5 beauty mistakes that are ageing you
• The growing fast food industry in India
• New-age career options
• 5 tips for cracking the job interview
• How to dress for office?
• Striking a balance between personal and professional life
• How to maintain a healthy work-diet?
• How to stay fit naturally?
• Health is wealth
• How I failed in life and rose again?
• How to master the art of public speaking?
• My favourite teacher
• Travel is the best teacher
• 5 offbeat tourist destinations of India
• Tips for budget travel
• How to save the environment?
• How to overcome suicidal tendencies?
• How to cope up from a recent break-up
• Online dating: Good or bad?
• Tips for your first date
• Live life king size

Hopefully, some of the above-listed topics were any help for you. If you are still confused and need further assistance in selecting the best topic for your 5-minute presentation and preparing and designing the PowerPoint slides for the same, then fret not! Help is at your hand. Just knock the doors of presentation consulting services and design firms like INK PPT and ask them to help you deliver an impactful 5-minute presentation.

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350+ Presentation Topics That Will Appeal to Any Audience

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Published Date : December 4, 2020

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A presentation can be nerve-wracking, may it be for first-timers or pros, as you must turn a critical issue into a dynamic, persuasive, and informative one. Before you enhance your oratory skills and overcome your fear of public speaking , you must brainstorm excellent, fun topics for your presentation.

When doing a presentation, you cannot start a thing without coming up with a presentation topic . It is harder to find the best subject than prepare the lecture, as you need to be specific about the topic you want to present.

Besides oratory skills and PowerPoint mastery, you need to have informative and fun topics for presentations that can influence the audience. Watch this and get more ideas about informative topics:

One of the best ways to nail a presentation is to choose the best presentation topics that fit your expertise and target audience.

How to Choose a Good Topic

Choosing the best one out of informative presentation topics can be daunting and confusing if you want to create an informative speech or lecture. Here are some considerations that you must know.

• Purpose. Deciding your goal determines what your audience will bring after your talk, especially for persuasive presentation topics. Here is a video on various topics about persuasion:

• Audience. Consider your audience’s demographic profiles and common ground when choosing presentation topics and connect them with their interests, beliefs, and social and cultural backgrounds.
• Interests. Determine what presentation topic ideas you are most passionate about and what you know the most. Interesting topics for presentation give a head start upon your research phase, ensuring a well-received discussion for the audience. Get useful guides on how to keep your audience interested in this video:

• Credibility. To convince your audience about the pieces of information that you will discuss, choosing a credible and well-backed lecture is another plus.
• Conciseness . From 12 seconds in 2000, humans’ average attention span decreased to eight seconds in 2017. Thus, being concise is another essential factor in choosing presentation topics, as having a wordy title can confuse or intimidate your potential audience.

Tips on Turning a Boring Topic into an Engaging Presentation

You might have been feeling dejected as you had to prepare for a talk with no fun topics for presentation. It is hard to turn psychology discussions into engaging ones, knowing that this field has jargon and cases that can make your lecture dull.

However, instead of blaming your subject for being boring, avoid being dull instead. Here are some tips on turning a boring topic into an interactive one.

What are the Good Topics to Present in a Speech?

Now that you have skimmed through the tips and ways to choose fun topics for a presentation, making a speech on time needs a good presentation topic. Out of random presentation topics, here are some prominent ones that might give you some ideas.

Interesting Presentation Topics

• Ancient Greek Heroes Modern Interpretation
• Antidepressants and Their Effects on the Human Brain
• How Bad Nutrition Affects a Person’s Appearance
• Traces of Romanticism in Well-known English Literature
• Influences of Music on Mental Health
• How Religion and Politics Blend Within a State
• Most Famous and Nerve-wracking Novels, Books, and Plays
• How Traditional Herbs Get Approved
• Effects of Being a Polyglot
• Being Productive During Pandemic

Good Presentation Topics

• Disney Films’ Most Famous Actresses
• How Media Affects Gender Stereotypes Portrayal
• How Beauty Contests Affects Women’s Self-esteem
• Differences Between Religion and Cult
• Gambling Effects on Human’s Mental Health
• Most Authoritative Politicians and Political Parties
• Ways to Improve the Health Systems
• Preparation and Prevention Against Natural Disasters
• Ways to Alleviate Insomnia
• How to Build Good Relationships Between Children and Pets

5-Minute Presentation Topics

• Best Apps to Improve Academic Performance
• Airport First-timers: Step-by-step Instructions
• Easy-to-make Breakfast Recipes
• How to Avoid Procrastination
• Making Money During Holidays
• How Social Media Lowers Self-esteem
• Working Remotely: Pros and Cons
• Best Online Business and Professions
• Why Trust Your Intuition
• Reasons to Learn Foreign Languages

Fun Topics for Presentation

• How Rock ‘n Roll Started
• Rare and Expensive Coffee Types
• Best Self-development Books for Teens
• Choosing a Specialty in College
• Secrets of a Healthy Relationship
• Benefits of Art Therapy
• How do Journalists and Bloggers Differ From Each Other?
• The Origin of Languages
• Evolution of Artificial Intelligence
• Makeup Life Hacks and Tips

Safety Presentation Topics

• Common Mistakes in General Safety
• Dealing with Ergonomic and Workplace Stress
• Coronavirus Precautionary Measures
• How to Deal with Violence
• Fire and Electrical Safety
• Reportage, Prevention, and Liabilities in Workplace Accidents
• Safety Precautions Against Heat Exhaustion
• Common Workplace Injuries
• Communication Issues and Safety
• Emergency Response Efficiency

Easy Presentation Topics

• Adverse Effects of GMOs on Health and Life
• Effective Ways to Improve Old People’s Health System
• Most Iconic Censorship on Social Media
• Most Prominent Female Political Leaders of All Time
• How to Avoid Being Late
• Globalization and Its Effects on World Population
• Smiling Therapy Positive Effects on Mental Health
• Advancement of 3D Printing and Its Benefits
• How Music Helps in Learning New Languages
• Dealing with Child Prodigies

Controversial Speech Topics

Controversies are all around us, especially online resources. Finding a controversial topic must fit your passion and knowledge; otherwise, it might negatively impact your discussion.

Controversial Leadership Topics for Presentation

• LGBTQ Rights
• Abortion: Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life
• Benefits of Multiculturalism in a Society
• Security and Privacy Concerns about Electronic Voting
• Gun Control Laws and Limits
• Journalism Ethics and Corruption
• Euthanasia Vs. Right to Live
• Death Penalty Pros and Cons
• How Mandatory Minimum Penalties Impact Federal Sentencing
• Torture as an Interrogation Tactic
• Electoral College Abolishment
• Is World Peace Possible?
• Same-sex union
• Lowering Criminal Liability Age
• Banning Animal Experimentation
• High Taxation Rates
• Freedom of Speech and Its Restrictions
• Embargo and Censorship: What to be Publicize
• Insanity Plea as an Excuse
• Tobacco Regulation

Controversial Topics for Teenagers

• Hookup Culture and Its Impact on Teens
• Bullying and Cyberbullying
• Banning Pornography in E-libraries
• Causes of Depression and Other Mental Illness in Teens
• Teen Suicide Liability
• Prohibition of Gambling for Teens
• How to Educate Teens About Drugs
• Dealing with Eating Disorders in Teens
• When Should Teens Start to Vote
• How Parents Should Deal with Teens’ Romantic Relationship
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Education
• Health Impacts of Fast Food for Teens
• How Being a Fan Impacts Teens
• Possibility of Living on Mars
• Why Media Literacy Important for Teenagers
• How Teenagers Can Fight Top Environmental Problems
• Dealing with Diversity in School
• Military Recruitment on Campus
• Pros and Cons of School Uniforms and Dress Code
• Plan B Contraception Access for Minors

What are Some Presentation Ideas for School?

For school purposes, you must find informative but fun topics for presentation as students have a lesser attention span than adults. Here are the presentation topics for academic and educational causes.

Science Topics for Presentation

Science presentation topics are among the most in-demand discussions for students and teachers in technical educational institutions. Here are some ideas to help you out.

Physics Topics for Presentation

• Is Physics Based on Theory or Practice
• Why We Need to Study Physics
• Newton’s Third Law as the Universal Formula
• Why Every Student Needs to Learn Physical Formula
• Is Physics Dependent on Math and Science or Vice Versa
• Why Physics Necessary for Knowledge Testing
• How to Deal with Difficulties in Physics Lesson
• Most Important Topics in Physics

Chemistry Topics for Presentation

• Why Alchemists Seeks Philosopher’s Stone
• Chemists Who Are Nobel Prize Awardees
• How Chemical Weapons Become Main Threat for War
• How to Choose Quality Water
• Making a Kid Interested in Chemistry
• Hair Biochemistry and Its Process
• Effects of Lack of Chemical Elements in a Human Body
• Safety Precautions for Chemical Products

Biology Topics for Presentation

• How the Future Lies in Crossroads of Biological Sciences
• How to Avoid Harmful GMO Foods
• Secrets of Centenarians
• Allergic Reactions Caused by Dust
• Can a Person Survive Without Clean Drinking Water
• How Sports and Nutrition Determine Human Health
• Vaccination and Its Effect on Genotype
• Best Houseplants for Air Purification

Geology Topics for Presentation

• Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions as Causes of Dynamic Geology
• Geomorphology: Intersection of Geography and Geology
• Space Geology in the Field of Cosmology and Planetology
• Geological Timeline from Solid Formation to the Holocene Era
• Geological Events Absolute and Relative Age
• Methods and Principles of Geology
• Geodynamics: The Relationship of the Earth’s Core and Crust Processes  
• Microstructural Geology: Micro-Level Rock Deformation

Astronomy Topics for Presentation

• Differences Between Astronomy and Astrology
• The Possibility of Life on Mars
• History and Discovery of the Milky Way Galaxy
• Does Astronomy Only Study Stars?
• Astronomy as a Separate Subject in School
• Reasons Why Fewer Entrants ChoAstronomynomy
• What Happens If the Sun Died?
• Why Our Future Depends on Astronomical Studies

Technological Science Topics for Presentation

• How Technology Improves Living Standards
• Technology and Its Effect on Cancer Treatment
• How Cybercriminals Use Technology
• Benefits and Threats of Artificial Intelligence
• Saving Time on Internet Technology Usage
• Technological Evolution from the Middle Ages to the Present
• Diffusion Rate of Technology in Developing Countries
• Taking a Break from the Internet

Multimedia Science Topics for Presentation

• Multimedia Features and Classification
• Creating a Multimedia Presentation
• Features of Online Multimedia
• Benefits of Multimedia in Business
• Usage of Multimedia in Computer Games
• How to Create Training Courses Using Multimedia
• Becoming a Multimedia Specialist
• Multimedia and Its Relation to Science

Cultural and Social Presentation Topic Ideas

This aspect mostly concerns psychology and sociology students. Here are some fun topics for presentations that you can check out.

• Culture and Traditions of Native Americans
• How History Connects with Culture
• How Cultural Knowledge Increases Chances of Success
• Identifying Emigrants by Cultural Characteristics
• Why Students Need to Learn About Culture
• Importance of Cultural Appreciation
• Pros and Cons of Diversified Culture
• Best Sociology Books for Starters
• Sociology and Its Express Research
• Empirical Research
• Causes of Social Phenomena
• Mathematical Methods in Sociology
• Social Trends Analysis and Development Patterns
• How to Collect Sociological Information
• Becoming a School President
• Why a President Needs Leadership Skills
• Ways to Raise a Child as a Leader
• Is Leadership an Innate Skill or a Result of Experiences?
• Responsibilities of a Leader
• How Family Relationships Affect One’s Leadership Skills
• Winning a Leadership Scholarship
• How Individual Differs from Social Ethics?
• Politics and International Relations Ethical Principles
• Ethical Communication Rules in Social Media
• Business Ethics and Relationships
• Why Learn Etiquette Knowledge
• Ethical Issues on Famous Artworks
• Knowing About Corporate Ethics

What are Some Presentation Ideas for Healthcare?

There are many physical and mental health topics for school and other conferences , but having fun topics for presentations is essential to make your lecture less complicated. Here are some of the presentation topics that might suit your interest.

Psychology Topics for Presentation

• The Need for Psychologists in Kindergarten
• Best Universities for Psychology
• Choosing a Suitable Psychologist
• Outcasts Children: Psychology Victim
• Psychological State and Its Effects on Productivity
• When Do You Need a Psychologist
• Can a Person with a Mental Disorder Become a Psychologist?

Mental Health Topics for Presentation

• Mental Fatigue: Causes of Failure
• Impacts of Social Media on Mental Health
• Recognizing and Avoiding the Onset of Depression
• Causes of Mental Health Disorders
• How Physical Affects Mental Health and Vice Versa
• Dealing With Mental Breakdowns
• How Music Improves Mental Health

Health Topics for Presentation

• Why Do Pharmacies Sell Over-the-counter Medicines?
• How Allergic Reaction Works
• Sports that Can Improve Health in a Month
• Signs of Bad Immunity System
• Legalization of Marijuana
• Centenarians’ Secret to Good Health
• Healthy Habits Before Exams

Nutrition Topics for Presentation

• The Necessity of Reading a Product’s Composition
• Nutrition Effects on Skin Condition
• Determining Necessary Ratio of Proteins, Fats, and Carbohydrates
• Tips for Restrictive Eating Disorders
• How Sports Nutrition Can Be Dangerous
• Why Being a Nutritionist a Good Career Choice
• Why Quality Nutrition Determines One’s Success

Nursing Presentations

• Nursing Career and Its Growth
• Critical Moments on Painkiller Usage
• Patient Safety During Nursing
• Patient safety during nursing
• Career Growth in Nursing
• The use of painkillers: critical moments
• Health Assessment: What to Check
• Features of caring for patients with mental disorders
• Postoperative patient care
• Features internships and practices for nurses

Dental Presentations Ideas

• Teeth Processes for Babies
• Molar Extraction Process
• Wisdom Tooth: Necessary or Not?
• How Chewing Gum Affects Tooth Enamel
• Causes and Treatment for Oral Cancer
• Diet for Braces

Medical Presentations

• How to Call an Ambulance
• Dealing With Addiction
• Highly Addictive Medical Drugs that You Don’t Realize
• Primary Stab Wound Treatment
• When Surgery Becomes Necessary
• Traditional, Alternative, and Modern Medicines
• Preventing Sport Injuries
• Insomnia Treatment With No Pills
• Anti-aging Pills: When to Avoid It
• Why Go or Reject Posthumous Donation
• Euthanasia and Its Effect on Suicide Rate
• How to Avoid Child Obesity
• Pros and Cons of GMOs
• Diverse Ways to Improve Healthcare
• The Need for Legal Framework on Plastic Surgery Regulations

What are Some Presentation Ideas for Business and Management?

Finding business presentation topics is more difficult as you must show in-depth knowledge of your chosen idea. Here are some of the presentation topics that you can check out.

How a Good Topic Helps on Public Speaking (SECS Elements)

Having the right choice of presentation topics can help meet the Sincerity, Enthusiasm, Confidence , and Simplicity (SECS) public speaking elements due to these reasons:

• A good topic can make you sincere in communicating with your audience.
• Fun topics for presentations can also increase the audience’s enthusiasm.
• Fun topics for presentations also give you confidence as it lessens awkwardness.
• The right topic makes your presentation concise, straightforward, and informative at the same time.

What does a perfect day with the family look like?

Imagine a day filled with laughter, shared meals, and playful adventures. Waking up refreshed, a family connects over breakfast, sharing dreams and creating plans. They explore together, be it a museum visit or a quiet picnic, finding joy in nature, or friendly competition. As the sun sets, reflections filled with gratitude paint the evening, solidifying the love and connection that makes the day perfect, not for its grandeur but for the simple treasures of being together.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” children explore a world of possibilities. Each child has unique dreams, from doctors to astronauts, artists to veterinarians. Their dreams may change as they grow, but nurturing their curiosity helps them find their true calling.

What’s one habit you want to eliminate and one you want to keep?

Aiming for personal growth, I’ll axe the time-sucking social media scroll and double down on the mood-boosting, energy-zinging exercise routine. Recognizing habits are key, I’ll actively fight for a more balanced and fulfilling life, one mindful step at a time.

Presentation topics are the key to a successful lecture, bringing more opportunities for your career. Choosing among tons of ideas out there can get confusing , but give it a serious thought as your topic impacts your overall presentation.

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Best Topics For 5 Minute Presentation in 2023

This post provides best topics for 5 Minute presentation. You can select an appropriate and interesting topic to make your presentation more powerful. Here you can find hundreds of best 5-minute topics for presentation. These recently updated topics are useful for seminars, classroom presentations, conferences, short speeches, & essay competitions.

Latest Topics for 5 Min Presentation

• The World after COVID-19 event
• ChatGPT – Boon or bane
• 5G in India
• 5 lessons from Sri Lanka’s Economic crisis
• E-learning – Boon or Bane?
• The Top 5 Metaverse Trends

Technology Topics for 5 Minute Presentation

• Mobile Phone Addiction
• Android Vs Apple
• Effects of the Internet on Children
• Driverless Car
• 5 Technology trends you must be aware of
• Side effects of social media
• Data Privacy: Concerns & Dangers!
• Online Dating: How Good, How Bad!
• Digital Addiction
• Social Media Vs. Real Life

5 Minute Presentation Ideas About Life & Self-Growth

• Secrets of Success
• What is real intelligence?
• Importance of 5 Minutes
• Attitude is everything
• Journey From Monkey to Men
• Love Vs. Attachment
• Importance of discipline
• The art of saying NO
• Power of Silence
• How to develop a growth mindset:
• 5 Easy Ways to Stress-Free Life
• 5 Tips: Mastering the public speaking
• The benefits of a healthy lifestyle
• Beauty is subjective!
• Secrets of Happiness
• The impact of social media on mental health
• Tips for effective time management:
• The art of storytelling
• The art of negotiation
• The power of positive thinking
• Overcoming procrastination
• An Ideal Mother
• Life After Marriage
• Work & Life Balance

Science Related Topics for 5 Minute PPT Presentation

• The best discoveries of all time
• The science of colour combinations
• Greatest scientific discoveries

Business & Money Topics

• Ways to increase money
• Importance of financial literacy
• Social Media Etiquette
• 5 Ways to passive income
• Renting Vs. Buying
• Essential Qualities of a Team Leader

Health and Fitness

• Value of Health in Life
• Health is wealth
• Power of yoga
• The importance of self-care
• Benefits of Yoga & Meditation
• Vegan Vs. Vegetarian Vs. Non-Vegetarian
• Ways to Meditate
• Cleanliness is next to godliness
• Swachch Bharat Abhiyan : Importance of Cleanliness

Education & Career

• Job Vs. Business
• How to choose the best career
• How to choose a school or college?
• Work-life balance

Environmental Topics for 5 Minute Presentation

• Smart Cities for a better life
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
• Impact of deforestation
• 5 Simple ways to overcome environmental issues
• Overpopulation: Boon or Bane?
• Easy way to grow herbs

Miscellaneous Topics

• The role of media
• Freedom of Press
• I love my nation!
• Does alien exists?
• Choosing the right pet
• Most popular myths
• Biggest Historical Lies
• My favorite teacher

This is all about Topics for 5 Minute Paper presentation, poster presentation, or PowerPoint Presentation. You may also like to check the latest topics for presentation .

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Cornell University --> Graduate School

Careers beyond academia, tips for a memorable 5-minute research presentation.

“If you get the first 5 minutes down, you are going to be golden for the rest of your presentation.” These were the words Susi Varvayanis, Executive Director of Careers Beyond Academia, stated at the start of Tips for a Memorable 5-Minute Research Presentation.

To help alleviate the stress and worries of making a good presentation, please review a summary of some amazing tips. There are three parts of a presentation that can influence the outcome of the presentation.

• You, the speaker
• Your presentation slides
• The audience

How do you as the speaker prepare yourself for the best presentation?

• Be aware of your body language – gestures are important, and they underscore the importance of the message we pass across. Add a smile! Be enthusiastic and make eye contact with the audience. These contribute to the appearance of confidence as you present.
• Practice voice modulations – the way you speak can convey a lot about the information you are passing. Avoid going too fast. Add pauses as you speak, slow your speech, and emphasize key words.
• Avoid jargon and acronyms – According to the dictionary, jargon is defined as special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or groups and is difficult for others to understand. So, avoid them! Especially since some words can convey different connotations for different audiences. So, if I don’t use jargon, what should I use? How do I still convey my point? Try a different word, or use an analogy.

What makes for good presentation slides?

• Good illustrations – make use of simplified images that pass across the information that you are presenting. Simple cartoon illustrations make it easy for the audience, regardless of background, to understand and follow the meanings.
• Data presentation – avoid using excel defaults. Replace topics and labels with easier to understand headings that communicate your main point. Also, simplify images by removing unnecessary sections that do not apply to your audience. Most importantly, lead the audience through your work with all its ups and downs.

How does the audience affect your presentation?

The audience that you have dictates how you present your information. To prepare for your presentation, evaluate your audience. Understand the hook and make them care. Find unifying interests or commonality among the audience. Understand the goals and issues that challenge the audience. Do your images intrigue the audience?

Here is what makes your 5-minute pitch memorable:

• It is passionate – This comes with understanding what inspires your work. Passion for research leads you to excel, even when you suffer setbacks.
• It tells a good story – when you have a flow with compelling images, it helps tell a story, saves explanation, and hooks the audience.
• It gives a ‘why’ – from your presentation, the audience should know why they should care about your work, the implications of your results and how they can apply this information.

Here are some resources that you can explore to help you with a great presentation:

• Tool to check for jargon: De-Jargonizer (scienceandpublic.com)
• The difference between ‘what’ and your ‘why’: Know Your Why | Michael Jr. – YouTube
• Practice your skills: join ComSciCon-NY – in early June; Three-Minute Thesis or business case competitions
• A guide with many exercises to improve your research communication – Finding Your Research Voice – Cornell University Library Catalog

We would love to hear your own opinions and tips on what you feel gives a good presentation!

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?

The environmental protection agency says “forever chemicals” must be removed from tap water. but they lurk in much more of what we eat, drink and use..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily.”

[THEME MUSIC]

This month for the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency began to regulate a class of synthetic chemicals, known as forever chemicals, in America’s drinking water. But the chemicals, which have been linked to liver disease and other serious health problems, are in far more than just our water supply. Today, my colleague Kim Tingley explains.

It’s Wednesday, April 17.

So Kim, any time the EPA announces a regulation, I think we all sort of take notice because implicit in it is this idea that we have been exposed to something — something bad, potentially, lead or asbestos. And recently, the EPA is regulating a type of chemical known as PFAS So for those who don’t know, what are PFAS chemicals

Yeah, so PFAS stands for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They’re often called forever chemicals just because they persist so long in the environment and they don’t easily break down. And for that reason, we also use them in a ton of consumer products. They’re in makeup. They’re in carpet. They’re in nonstick cookware. They’re in food packaging, all sorts of things.

Yeah, I feel like I’ve been hearing about these chemicals actually for a very long time. I mean, nonstick pans, Teflon — that’s the thing that’s in my mind when I think PFAS.

Absolutely. Yeah, this class of chemicals has been around for decades. And what’s really important about this is that the EPA has decided, for the first time, to regulate them in drinking water. And that’s a ruling that stands to affect tens of millions of people.

So, help me understand where these things came from and how it’s taken so long to get to the point where we’re actually regulating them.

So, they really actually came about a long time ago. In 1938, DuPont, the people who eventually got us to Teflon, they were actually looking for a more stable kind of refrigerant. And they came upon this kind of chemical, PFAS. The thing that all PFAS chemicals have is a really strong bond between carbon atoms and fluorine atoms. This particular pairing is super strong and super durable.

They have water repellent properties. They’re stain resistant. They’re grease resistant. And they found a lot of uses for them initially in World War II. They were using them as part of their uranium enrichment process to do all these kinds of things. And then —

Well, good thing it’s Teflon.

In the 1950s is when they really started to come out as commercial products.

Even burned food won’t stick to Teflon. So it’s always easy to clean.

So, DuPont started using it in Teflon pans.

Cookware never needs scouring if it has DuPont Teflon.

And then another company, 3M also started using a kind of PFAS —

Scotchgard fabric protector. It keeps ordinary spills from becoming extraordinary stains.

— in one of their big products, Scotchgard. So you probably remember spraying that on your shoes if you want to make your shoes waterproof.

Use Scotchgard fabric protector and let your cup runneth over.

Right — miracle product, Scotchgard, Teflon. But of course, we’re talking about these chemicals because they’ve been found to pose health threats. When does that risk start to surface?

Yeah, so it’s pretty early on that DuPont and 3M start finding effects in animals in studies that they’re running in house.

Around the mid ‘60s, they start seeing that PFAS has an effect on rats. It’s increasing the liver and kidney weights of the rats. And so that seems problematic. And they keep running tests over the next decade and a half. And they try different things with different animals.

In one study, they gave monkeys really, really high levels of PFAS. And those monkeys died. And so they have a pretty strong sense that these chemicals could be dangerous. And then in 1979, they start to see that the workers that are in the plants manufacturing, working with these chemicals, that they’re starting to have higher rates of abnormal liver function. And in a Teflon plant, they had some pregnant workers that were working with these chemicals. And one of those workers in 1981 gave birth to a child who had some pretty severe birth defects.

And then by the mid 1980s, DuPont figures out that it’s not just their workers who are being exposed to these chemicals, but communities that are living in areas surrounding their Teflon plant, particularly the one in Parkersburg, West Virginia, that those communities have PFAS in their tap water.

Wow, so based on its own studies, DuPont knows its chemicals are making animals sick. They seem to be making workers sick. And now they found out that the chemicals have made their way into the water supply. What do they do with that information?

As far as we know, they didn’t do much. They certainly didn’t tell the residents of Parkersburg who were drinking that water that there was anything that they needed to be worried about.

How is that possible? I mean, setting aside the fact that DuPont is the one actually studying the health effects of its own chemicals, presumably to make sure they’re safe, we’ve seen these big, regulating agencies like the EPA and the FDA that exist in order to watch out for something exactly like this, a company that is producing something that may be harming Americans. Why weren’t they keeping a closer watch?

Yeah, so it goes kind of back to the way that we regulate chemicals in the US. It goes through an act called the Toxic Substances Control Act that’s administered by the EPA. And basically, it gives companies a lot of room to regulate themselves, in a sense. Under this act they have a responsibility to report to the EPA if they find these kinds of potential issues with a chemical. They have a responsibility to do their due diligence when they’re putting a chemical out into the environment.

But there’s really not a ton of oversight. The enforcement mechanism is that the EPA can find them. But this kind of thing can happen pretty easily where DuPont keeps going with something that they think might really be a problem and then the fine, by the time it plays out, is just a tiny fraction of what DuPont has earned from producing these chemicals. And so really, the incentive is for them to take the punishment at the end, rather than pull it out early.

So it seems like it’s just self-reporting, which is basically self-regulation in a way.

Yeah, I think that is the way a lot of advocacy groups and experts have characterized it to me, is that chemical companies are essentially regulating themselves.

So how did this danger eventually come to light? I mean, if this is in some kind of DuPont vault, what happened?

Well, there’s a couple different things that started to happen in the late ‘90s.

The community around Parkersburg, West Virginia, people had reported seeing really strange symptoms in their animals. Cows were losing their hair. They had lesions. They were behaving strangely. Some of their calves were dying. And a lot of people in the community felt like they were having health problems that just didn’t really have a good answer, mysterious sicknesses, and some cases of cancers.

And so they initiate a class action lawsuit against DuPont. As part of that class action lawsuit, DuPont, at a certain point, is forced to turn over all of their internal documentation. And so what was in the files was all of that research that we mentioned all of the studies about — animals, and workers, the birth defects. It was really the first time that the public saw what DuPont and 3M had already seen, which is the potential health harms of these chemicals.

So that seems pretty damning. I mean, what happened to the company?

So, DuPont and 3M are still able to say these were just a few workers. And they were working with high levels of the chemicals, more than a person would get drinking it in the water. And so there’s still an opportunity for this to be kind of correlation, but not causation. There’s not really a way to use that data to prove for sure that it was PFAS that caused these health problems.

In other words, the company is arguing, look, yes, these two things exist at the same time. But it doesn’t mean that one caused the other.

Exactly. And so one of the things that this class action lawsuit demands in the settlement that they eventually reach with DuPont is they want DuPont to fund a formal independent health study of the communities that are affected by this PFAS in their drinking water. And so they want DuPont to pay to figure out for sure, using the best available science, how many of these health problems are potentially related to their chemicals.

And so they ask them to pay for it. And they get together an independent group of researchers to undertake this study. And it ends up being the first — and it still might be the biggest — epidemiological study of PFAS in a community. They’ve got about 69,000 participants in this study.

Wow, that’s big.

It’s big, yeah. And what they ended up deciding was that they could confidently say that there was what they ended up calling a probable link. And so they were really confident that the chemical exposure that the study participants had experienced was linked to high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, and pregnancy induced hypertension.

And so those were the conditions that they were able to say, with a good degree of certainty, were related to their chemical exposure. There were others that they just didn’t have the evidence to reach a strong conclusion.

So overall, pretty substantial health effects, and kind of vindicates the communities in West Virginia that were claiming that these chemicals were really affecting their health.

Absolutely. And as the years have gone on, that was sort of just the beginning of researchers starting to understand all the different kinds of health problems that these chemicals could potentially be causing. And so since the big DuPont class action study, there’s really just been like this building and building and building of different researchers coming out with these different pieces of evidence that have accumulated to a pretty alarming picture of what some of the potential health outcomes could be.

OK, so that really kind of brings us to the present moment, when, at last, it seems the EPA is saying enough is enough. We need to regulate these things.

Yeah, it seems like the EPA has been watching this preponderance of evidence accumulate. And they’re sort of deciding that it’s a real health problem, potentially, that they need to regulate.

So the EPA has identified six of these PFAS chemicals that it’s going to regulate. But the concern that I think a lot of experts have is that this particular regulation is not going to keep PFAS out of our bodies.

We’ll be right back.

So, Kim, you just said that these regulations probably won’t keep PFAS chemicals out of our bodies. What did you mean?

Well, the EPA is talking about regulating these six kinds of PFAS. But there are actually more than 10,000 different kinds of PFAS that are already being produced and out there in the environment.

And why those six, exactly? I mean, is it because those are the ones responsible for most of the harm?

Those are the ones that the EPA has seen enough evidence about that they are confident that they are probably causing harm. But it doesn’t mean that the other ones are not also doing something similar. It’s just sort of impossible for researchers to be able to test each individual chemical compound and try to link it to a health outcome.

I talked to a lot of researchers who were involved in this area and they said that they haven’t really seen a PFAS that doesn’t have a harm, but they just don’t have information on the vast majority of these compounds.

So in other words, we just haven’t studied the rest of them enough yet to even know how harmful they actually are, which is kind of alarming.

Yeah, that’s right. And there’s just new ones coming out all the time.

Right. OK, so of the six that the EPA is actually intending to regulate, though, are those new regulations strict enough to keep these chemicals out of our bodies?

So the regulations for those six chemicals really only cover getting them out of the drinking water. And drinking water only really accounts for about 20 percent of a person’s overall PFAS exposure.

So only a fifth of the total exposure.

Yeah. There are lots of other ways that you can come into contact with PFAS. We eat PFAS, we inhale PFAS. We rub it on our skin. It’s in so many different products. And sometimes those products are not ones that you would necessarily think of. They’re in carpets. They’re in furniture. They’re in dental floss, raincoats, vinyl flooring, artificial turf. All kinds of products that you want to be either waterproof or stain resistant or both have these chemicals in them.

So, the cities and towns are going to have to figure out how to test for and monitor for these six kinds of PFAS. And then they’re also going to have to figure out how to filter them out of the water supply. I think a lot of people are concerned that this is going to be just a really expensive endeavor, and it’s also not really going to take care of the entire problem.

Right. And if you step back and really look at the bigger problem, the companies are still making these things, right? I mean, we’re running around trying to regulate this stuff at the end stage. But these things are still being dumped into the environment.

Yeah. I think it’s a huge criticism of our regulatory policy. There’s a lot of onus put on the EPA to prove that a harm has happened once the chemicals are already out there and then to regulate the chemicals. And I think that there’s a criticism that we should do things the other way around, so tougher regulations on the front end before it goes out into the environment.

And that’s what the European Union has been doing. The European Chemicals Agency puts more of the burden on companies to prove that their products and their chemicals are safe. And the European Chemicals Agency is also, right now, considering just a ban on all PFAS products.

So is that a kind of model, perhaps, of what a tough regulation could look like in the US?

There’s two sides to that question. And the first side is that a lot of people feel like it would be better if these chemical companies had to meet a higher standard of proof in terms of demonstrating that their products or their chemicals are going to be safe once they’ve been put out in the environment.

The other side is that doing that kind of upfront research can be really expensive and could potentially limit companies who are trying to innovate in that space. In terms of PFAS, specifically, this is a really important chemical for us. And a lot of the things that we use it in, there’s not necessarily a great placement at the ready that we can just swap in. And so it’s used in all sorts of really important medical devices or renewable energy industries or firefighting foam.

And in some cases, there are alternatives that might be safer that companies can use. But in other cases, they just don’t have that yet. And so PFAS is still really important to our daily lives.

Right. And that kind of leaves us in a pickle because we know these things might be harming us. Yet, we’re kind of stuck with them, at least for now. So, let me just ask you this question, Kim, which I’ve been wanting to ask you since the beginning of this episode, which is, if you’re a person who is concerned about your exposure to PFAS, what do you do?

Yeah. So this is really tricky and I asked everybody this question who I talked to. And everybody has a little bit of a different answer based on their circumstance. For me what I ended up doing was getting rid of the things that I could sort of spot and get rid of. And so I got rid of some carpeting and I checked, when I was buying my son a raincoat, that it was made by a company that didn’t use PFAS.

It’s also expensive. And so if you can afford to get a raincoat from a place that doesn’t manufacture PFAS, it’s going to cost more than if you buy the budget raincoat. And so it’s kind of unfair to put the onus on consumers in that way. And it’s also just not necessarily clear where exactly your exposure is coming from.

So I talk to people who said, well, it’s in dust, so I vacuum a lot. Or it’s in my cleaning products, so I use natural cleaning products. And so I think it’s really sort of a scattershot approach that consumers can take. But I don’t think that there is a magic approach that gets you a PFAS-free life.

So Kim, this is pretty dark, I have to say. And I think what’s frustrating is that it feels like we have these government agencies that are supposed to be protecting our health. But when you drill down here, the guidance is really more like you’re on your own. I mean, it’s hard not to just throw up your hands and say, I give up.

Yeah. I think it’s really tricky to try to know what you do with all of this information as an individual. As much as you can, you can try to limit your individual exposure. But it seems to me as though it’s at a regulatory level that meaningful change would happen, and not so much throwing out your pots and pans and getting new ones.

One thing about PFAS is just that we’re in this stage still of trying to understand exactly what it’s doing inside of us. And so there’s a certain amount of research that has to happen in order to both convince people that there’s a real problem that needs to be solved, and clean up what we’ve put out there. And so I think that we’re sort of in the middle of that arc. And I think that that’s the point at which people start looking for solutions.

Kim, thank you.

Here’s what else you should know today. On Tuesday, in day two of jury selection for the historic hush money case against Donald Trump, lawyers succeeded in selecting 7 jurors out of the 12 that are required for the criminal trial after failing to pick a single juror on Monday.

Lawyers for Trump repeatedly sought to remove potential jurors whom they argued were biased against the president. Among the reasons they cited were social media posts expressing negative views of the former President and, in one case, a video posted by a potential juror of New Yorkers celebrating Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. Once a full jury is seated, which could come as early as Friday, the criminal trial is expected to last about six weeks.

Today’s episode was produced by Clare Toeniskoetter, Shannon Lin, Summer Thomad, Stella Tan, and Jessica Cheung, with help from Sydney Harper. It was edited by Devon Taylor, fact checked by Susan Lee, contains original music by Dan Powell, Elisheba Ittoop, and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for The Daily. I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

• April 18, 2024   •   30:07 The Opening Days of Trump’s First Criminal Trial
• April 17, 2024   •   24:52 Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?
• April 16, 2024   •   29:29 A.I.’s Original Sin
• April 15, 2024   •   24:07 Iran’s Unprecedented Attack on Israel
• April 14, 2024   •   46:17 The Sunday Read: ‘What I Saw Working at The National Enquirer During Donald Trump’s Rise’
• April 12, 2024   •   34:23 How One Family Lost $900,000 in a Timeshare Scam
• April 11, 2024   •   28:39 The Staggering Success of Trump’s Trial Delay Tactics
• April 10, 2024   •   22:49 Trump’s Abortion Dilemma
• April 9, 2024   •   30:48 How Tesla Planted the Seeds for Its Own Potential Downfall
• April 8, 2024   •   30:28 The Eclipse Chaser
• April 7, 2024 The Sunday Read: ‘What Deathbed Visions Teach Us About Living’
• April 5, 2024   •   29:11 An Engineering Experiment to Cool the Earth

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Kim Tingley

Produced by Clare Toeniskoetter ,  Shannon M. Lin ,  Summer Thomad ,  Stella Tan and Jessica Cheung

With Sydney Harper

Edited by Devon Taylor

Original music by Dan Powell ,  Elisheba Ittoop and Marion Lozano

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

The Environmental Protection Agency has begun for the first time to regulate a class of synthetic chemicals known as “forever chemicals” in America’s drinking water.

Kim Tingley, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, explains how these chemicals, which have been linked to liver disease and other serious health problems, came to be in the water supply — and in many more places.

On today’s episode

Kim Tingley , a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine.

Background reading

“Forever chemicals” are everywhere. What are they doing to us?

The E.P.A. issued its rule about “forever chemicals” last week.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Fact-checking by Susan Lee .

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

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