1. 12 Tips For Public Speaking

2. #1 Visualize yourself giving your speech
As you prepare, imagine yourself speaking out loud
Picture yourself in the room where you will speak
Think of yourself as confident

3. #2 Realize that your audience is on your side
The audience wants you to be interesting, informative, and entertaining
The audience begins your presentation expecting you to do well

4. #3 Don’t apologize
If you are nervous don’t let on that you feel that way, the audience may never know
If something goes wrong, play it off like that was what was supposed to happen

5. #4 Concentrate on the message—not on your project
Focus on your audience
When you make eye contact with people in the audience and focus your attention on them, they will receive your information more readily
Project a loud voice to the audience
Know what you are going to talk about: -

6. #5 Gain experience
Your speech should represent you as an authority on the subject
Know your information

7. #6 Know your material
Instead of reading your material from a paper or power point slides, know what you need to say
-Title & author
- project choice
- part of the story it tells about
- why you chose this project

8. #7 Practice. Practice. Practice
Rehearse out loud with all of the equipment you will be using to make sure you are comfortable and that it works
Give your speech to your family and friends
Practice out loud in front of a mirror

9. #8 Know the audience Think about who will be listening to your speech
Know what might be important to them
Anticipate any questions they might have

10. #9 Know the room
Before you give your speech, make sure you have familiarized yourself with your surroundings
How will you show your project?
Where will you stand?

11. #10 Relax Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm
Smile and count to three before saying anything
Take a deep breath if you get nervous

12. #11 Organize your presentation
Make sure to have a beginning, middle, and end
Start with a quick introduction and/or overview
Explain the book’s title, author and genre
The middle of your speech should be like the body of an essay
A quick explanation of the book
The project you chose and what it shows about the book
Why you chose this project type
At the end of your speech, wrap things up
What did you enjoy about this project, or learn from doing this project?

13. #12 Don’t be your own distraction
Make sure there is nothing about your appearance, mannerisms, presentation that distracts the audience
Are you attired appropriately?
Chewing gum?
Repeating “ummm” over and over?