Overview

The solution below is a structure loosely based on negotiation theory and RADPAC. This is something I grew up practicing actively in presentation-based academic environments, and it followed me all the way to college to pursue a Communications degree.

I ended up developing this basic framework for myself when I kept finding myself in three-member groups. Figured it might be useful for those considering a team event this year. This is meant to be a jumping-off point, so adapt it to fit your situation.

Common Mistakes In Presentation Planning

To start, let's review some common mistakes students make when planning a presentation:

• They're concerned about "fairness" when splitting up slides/concepts, aiming for everyone to have the same amount of slides
• Not thinking about the psychology of props usage (they trade off on every slide/concept, leading to a disconnect when a topic is discussed by more than one person)
• Use either single-purpose visuals or pass up the opportunity to reference frameworks used throughout their presentation

What Is RAT? (Rational, Actionable, Theatrical)

RAT, or Rational, Actionable, and Theatrical, is a framework for groups with three members. Much like how Smart Cop/Suave Cop assigns roles to two-member groups to establish familiarity, RAT uses a three-role system:

Rational

Actionable

Theatrical

How RAT Looks In Roleplays

RAT, or Rational, Actionable, and Theatrical, is a framework for groups with three members. Much like how Smart Cop/Suave Cop assigns roles to two-member groups to establish familiarity, RAT uses a three-role system:

Step 1: Introduction

Step 2: The "What"