presentationwhat

Presentationwhat is a term that has appeared in informal educational and design discourse to describe a content-first approach to presenting information. It is not a widely recognized or formal concept, and its definition varies by author.

The central idea is to articulate the essential what—the core proposition, data point, object, or conclusion—at the outset. The rest of the presentation then supports, elaborates, or situates that what within context, significance, or method.

In practice, the method may guide slide structure and rhetoric: start with a clear statement of the what, then provide evidence, examples, implications, and any necessary steps (how), followed by justification or rationale (why). It is related to the inverted pyramid and front-loading principles, and is often associated with aims of clarity and efficient communication.

Applications include education to teach clarity, corporate settings to align stakeholders on a primary message, and content design for dashboards or reports. It often pairs with minimalist design and audience-centered storytelling, emphasizing early consensus on the main point.

Critiques note that a strict what-first approach can neglect process, limitations, or audience needs, and that the term itself lacks a standard definition. As such, presenters may adopt presentationwhat selectively, borrowing elements from other frameworks such as executive briefs, problem-solution structures, or concise summaries. See also: clear communication, inverted pyramid, executive summary.