Often you’ll do reading or research to gather more information. Jot notes on specific topics that seem important. Starting with the assignment and your goals, brainstorm your topic. Step 2: Plan, Research, and Organize Your Content Your goals guide everything in the presentation: what you say, how much you say, what order you say it in, what visual aids you use, whether you use humor or personal examples, and so forth. Are you primarily presenting new information or arguing for a position? Are you giving an overview or a detailed report? Review the assignment and talk with the instructor if you’re unsure. Thinking about your audience will help you find ways to get their attention and keep them interested.īe sure you are clear about the goals for the presentation. If your topic involves anything controversial or may provoke emotion, consider your audience’s attitudes and choose your words carefully. Consider how much explanation or examples will be needed for your audience to grasp your points. New terms and concepts may become familiar to you while doing your research and preparation, but remember to define and explain them to other students. It may be important, however, to show how your specific topic fits in with subjects that have been discussed already in class, especially in the beginning of your presentation, but be sure to focus on your new topic. If your topic relates to subject matter in class lectures and readings, consider what background information they already have and be careful not to give a boring recap of things they already know. But you still need to think about what they already know, and don’t know, about your topic. Who will see and hear your presentation-and why? Obviously, other students and the instructor. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become. You’re not going to forget what you want to say. As you prepare, you will make notes you can refer to during the presentation. The same can work with public speaking if you focus on the ideas themselves. Think, for example, of how easily you share your ideas with a friend or family member, as you naturally speak your mind. Don’t obsess about speaking, but focus on the content of your presentation. Keep in mind that you have ideas to share, and this is what your classmates and instructors are interested in. Focus on what you’re saying, not how you’re saying it.The more fully you prepare and the more often you have practice, the more your anxiety will go away. The next section discusses the preparation process in more detail. Reduce anxiety by preparing and practicing.Other students and your instructors are on your side, not your enemy. They’re not looking for faults or hoping you’ll fail. Understand that your audience actually wants you to succeed.Anxiety is usually worst just before you begin and but eases up once you’ve begun. Accept this aspect of the process and work to overcome it. A little anxiety can help motivate you to prepare and do your best. Since stage fright is normal, don’t try to deny that you’re feeling anxious. The following are proven strategies for overcoming anxiety when speaking in public: Take comfort from knowing that almost everyone else is dreading giving class presentations the same as you are! But you can learn to overcome your anxiety and prepare in a way that not only safely gets you through the experience but also leads to success in your presentation. We feel like everyone is staring at us and seeing our every flaw, and we’re sure we’ll forget what we want to say or mess up. You also have time outside of class to prepare your presentation, allowing you to plan it carefully-and, for many, giving more time to worry about it and experience even more anxiety!Īlthough a few people seem to be natural public speakers, most of us feel some stage fright or anxiety about having to speak to a group, at least at first. You stand in front of the class to speak, rather than from your usual seat-and for most students, that changes the psychology of the situation. In other ways, however, public speaking is very different. Public speaking is like participating in class-sharing your thoughts, ideas, and questions with others in the group. It’s important to develop skills for this form of communication. You will likely be asked to give a presentation in one of your classes at some point, and your future career may also involve public speaking. Public speaking-giving an oral presentation before a class or another group of people-is a special form of interaction common in education. Work with a group to successfully plan and deliver a class presentation.Create effective visual aids for use in class presentations.Effectively use the six-step process to prepare for and deliver a class presentation.
Know how to overcome nervousness and anxiety associated with public speaking and giving class presentations.