The talk roadmap
The talk roadmap helps you think of possible stops or destinations you want to take your audience to. First, we’ll look at how other speakers have used different types of “roadmap stops” in their TED Talks. Then, you will come up with your own “roadmap stops” to help identify content that could be included in your talk. Remember, you are leading your audience on a journey and channeling your inner tour guide — we don’t want anyone getting lost along the way!

How can I persuade my audience to come with me on a journey and listen to my talk?

The challenge: A good idea is often a response to a difficult problem or issue. Is there a problem or issue your idea addresses?

The solution: What does your idea provide for people? What is the gift you give them?

Imagine your audience and think about how you can guide them on the journey of your idea. Remember, they likely don’t know as much about your idea as you do.

Audience knowledge gaps: What words or concepts might the audience not know? What biases or assumptions might the audience have? Take time to identify what the audience might not know about, so that you can start *where the audience is*, and ensure they follow you the whole time.

Impact: How can you show the audience the impact your idea could have? One way to persuade your audience is to show your idea in action and demonstrate its potential impact. You can build credibility by showing you have tried something and sharing the results.

Think how you can help your audience really understand your idea.

Why the idea is important to the audience now: If we want the audience to receive our gift and apply it to their lives, or to join our call to action, we need to explain why our idea is something we care about right now, and how it can have an impact.

Analogies/metaphors: Can you compare parts of your idea to anything you know the audience has experience with? Especially when an idea is new for an audience, drawing comparisons can be VERY helpful.

Questions for the audience: What’s a question that will grab the audience’s attention? Or help the audience identify the problem?

Appeal to your audience’s logic and emotion.

Credibility and research: What is the supporting evidence for your idea? What have experts said? What statistics, quotes, historical events or findings enhance your argument?

Story: Stories are a powerful learning tool. How can you share a story that connects with the audience and explains more about your idea?

Demonstration: Is there something you want to show your audience? Do you want to do a demonstration to help them understand? We often need to show the audience what we mean rather than just telling them what we mean.

Your talk roadmap
Create your own roadmap stops by imagining your audience and considering how you can guide them on a journey through your idea. What are the most effective things you can use to back up your idea? Will you include a story, a statistic, an image, a quote from an author? Will you share what a critic’s counterargument to your idea might be and your response to that counterargument?

Lesson vocabulary
Exploring – carefully looking into or thinking about something new or unfamiliar
“If you rush through many different topics without exploring them deeply, your points won't land with any force.”
Tackle – to try to solve or deal with a difficult problem or task
“Exploring how to use your voice and body on stage will help you tackle the most important piece of giving a powerful talk.”
Powerful – strong or having a big effect
“Exploring how to use your voice and body on stage will help you tackle the most important piece of giving a powerful talk.”
Connecting – making a relationship or bond with someone or something
“Exploring how to use your voice and body on stage will help you tackle the most important piece of giving a powerful talk: connecting with your audience.”
Traits – characteristics or features of someone or something.
“They're social creatures with all kinds of unique traits.”
Trusting – believing that someone is honest or reliable
“Your first job as a speaker is to build a trusting human bond with your audience.”
Vulnerability – the state of being open about your feelings or showing your true self
"One of the best ways to disarm an audience is to first reveal your own vulnerability.”
Reveal – to show something that was hidden or not known
“One of the best ways to disarm an audience is to first reveal your own vulnerability.”
Perspective – a way of thinking about or understanding something
“Ethan’s willingness to open up about something vulnerable helps the audience open up as well, allowing them to see him, and perhaps the world, from a new perspective.”
Uncomfortable – feeling awkward, uneasy, or not at ease
“It is possible to share too much personal information in a talk, in a way that makes the audience feel uncomfortable.”
Appropriate – right or suitable for a certain time, place, or situation
“If you’re not sure whether or a vulnerable moment is appropriate, try your talk out on an honest friend.”
Concentrating – focusing your attention on something
“Concentrating on a talk can be hard work for an audience.”
Caution – care taken to avoid danger or problems
“However, take caution. Spending a lot of time on funny stories, while still delivering a meaningful message, is difficult.”
Ego – a person’s sense of self-importance or pride
“Park your ego. Would you want to listen to someone who seems completely full of themselves?”
Arrogant – thinking you are better than others; full of yourself
“The one exception to that is if you are arrogant and self-centered, then you should definitely pretend to be someone else.”
Boasting – Talking with too much pride about yourself or your achievements.
Achievements – things you have done successfully, especially with effort
“Ego can show up in a lot of ways the speaker may not even be aware of, such as: Name-dropping, telling stories only to show off, boasting about your achievements, or making the talk all about you.”
Honest – telling the truth; not lying or hiding facts
“Every leader needs someone she can count on for honest feedback.”
Feedback – helpful information or advice about how to improve.
“Every leader needs someone she can count on for honest feedback.”
Empathy – the ability to understand and share someone else's feelings
“They create interest, empathy, emotion, and a sense of mystery.”
Mystery – something that is unknown or hard to explain
“They create interest, empathy, emotion, and a sense of mystery.”
Authentic – real and true; not fake or copied
“The stories you tell must be authentic to you.”
Awkwardness – a feeling of being uncomfortable or unsure in a situation
Disaster – a very bad event or failure
“Tales of failure, awkwardness, bad luck, danger or disaster… when told honestly, can really hook an audience."

The TED-Ed Student Talks program provides free, customizable activities for educators to support their students in identifying, developing and sharing their ideas with each other and the world. Learn more at the Student Talks page.