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Oral Presentations - Must Dos and Don'ts : Part 1
Learn how to be successful in high school English while actually enjoying yourself!
Video sourced from Lisa's Study Guides
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Researching your topic really well will help with your preparation. When you know your topic well you will be prepared for questions and have extra confidence while you are speaking. Make sure you practice your speech in front of a mirror, in front of family or friends. You could also time yourself. Practice makes perfect!
The opening sentence of your presentation is important. Try and think of a way to captivate your audience's attention, try an interesting question or a thought provoking quote. Sometimes humour is a great way to start, a funny phrase or joke can be a great way to start your speech.
Expect questions at the end of your presentation, this is a great sign and shows your audience has been listening. Being prepared and knowing your topic is key to answering questions but if you aren't sure or don't know how to answer one, open the topic up to the floor and let others answer or contribute.
Cue cards or notes are a great way to keep your speech on track and show your audience you know your topic. Reading to your audience is far less appealing and interesting than having a conversation with the audience. Try to just glance at your notes or dot points to keep your audience engaged.
Don't be afraid to make eye contact with everyone! By casting your eyes around the room and engaging the audience you are talking to the whole room. This also gives the audience confidence in your knowlege. Looking up from your notes is key to a great oral presentation.
Your speech may have an attention-grabbing introduction, solid research and convincing arguments, but your conclusion can make or break whether your audience walks away affected by your message. A strong speech conclusion provides closure by revisiting and reinforcing the main points and emphasizing the significance of your topic.
