do's and dont's on oral presentations

[jheszika]

i wish i met you guys a few months ago lol! d*mn i did so bad on my speech i just wanted to cry .. but thnx guys! now i know what to do (even if i didnt start this topic lol)

[ms_perfectionista]

Really the best thing to do is to practice your lines infront of the mirror. Practice like you're really doing it infront of class with your hand gestures, props, and all. If you feel good about saying your lines, the rest will follow.

[sapphiretwilight]

PRACTICE!!!

don't pause if you mess up....or make it obvious that you've messed up...just barrel on and pretend you know what you're talking about...it always works for me half the time the audience doesnt even know you've messed up

[hothotHEARTS]

-practice always makes perfect
-make eye contact
- try to visualize the audience you're speeking to. When you present your presentation, try to choose the right words. Like for example if you're presenting to 1st graders then you wouldn't use big words. But when you're presenting to the rest of your class and teachers, you want ot sound intelligent and professional
- don't fidget or sway form side to side when you're suppoed to be standing still. But don't just stand stick still when you're supposed to walk around. Act natural.
- don't lean on the black board
- speak clearly and loudly so that even people in the back can hear you.
- try presenting in front of your friends, to see their reaction. Friends will always be honest with you whether your presentation was bad or good.
- if you're feeling very nervous, try to put some humor into it to lighten up your, and the audiences' mood.

i hope htis helps!! and good luck with whatever you're presenting!

[sapphiretwilight]

eye contact IS important...but be sure you don't just look at the teacher or at people in the middle...get people at the sides too...this is a huge problem and it happens a lot...if the oral presentation is graded then be sure to include everyone....=)

like got_rice said, don't fidget or walk around too much...relax...it helps if you stretch or something before your presentation...if you walk or sway too much then the audience gets really dizzy...don't shift your weight too much either

don't lean on the podium if there is one...the podium is there for your paper. not for you to lean on...stand up straight and hold your shoulders back

[Blakwater89]

practice before some friends or family members. Find a "center" to focus on if you're really nervous. while it isn't good to fidget, it's not goos to stand like a rock either. you should look as comfortable as you can. That way it looks like you're condident about your presentation and have no worries. of course, this is for an open presentation If you're reading behind a podium, that's different. good posture and stance is a must.

clarity in your voice is key. you have to learn when to accent words to make an effect and when to soften to allow smooth transition. If it's from the heart, you'll never mess up.

[emptypools2]

make fake eye contact by either looking above their heads or between their eyes. i remember my friend adviced me to pretend that the audience is in their underwear...did not work well lol. i started cracking up in front of everyone >.<

[Blakwater89]

oh.. don't read too much! it's goos to have some notecards to keep you in track but improvise as well. try to break the ice between you and the audience. if there's a connection, people will remember what you're saying. don't drone.. people don't like sitting through someone who's boring

[montdben]

DO: make some kind of eye contact like just looking around the room, showing that you're not like looking exactly at your report.
DO: have a clear voice
DO: know what you're talking about, so study and practice A LOT about w/e you're oral presenting about

DONT: Studder<< that's the worst thing to do
DONT: Talk to fast<< usually all teachers will look at you weird and it's like kinda obvious from there what you're gonna get

[crossofmadness]

As alot of people have said on here, you definatly want to make eye contact. Speak LOUD, if you speak too softly it has a negative effect, and can ruin the presentation. You might also want to forego practicing, and just know your material. Instead of having a long speech that no one understands, it's best to treat a presentation like your talking to your friend. Make hand gestures, it's key.