Delivering Oral Arguments

Delivery is the most important part of a speech. The way you speak, your interaction with the audience, your posture, and your eye contact all affect your overall presentation. In short, a confident, controlled speaker will have a positive impact on an audience, while a speaker who fumbles with note cards, speaks in a shaky voice, or seems disorganized will lose credibility. To make sure that your listeners see you as a credible, reliable source of information, follow these guidelines:

  1. Accept nervousness. For most people, nervousness is part of the speech process. The trick is to convert this nervousness into energy that you can channel into your speech. The first step in dealing with nervousness is to make sure that you have rehearsed enough. If you have prepared adequately, you will probably be able to handle any problem you may encounter. If you make a mistake, you can correct it. If you forget something, you can fit it in later.

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    DEALING WITH NERVOUSNESS

    If nervousness is a problem, the following strategies can help you to relax:

    • Breathe deeply. Take a few deep breaths before you begin speaking. Research has shown that increased oxygen has a calming effect on the brain.

    • Use visualization. Imagine yourself delivering a successful speech, and fix this image in your mind. It can help dispel anxiety.

    • Empty your mind. Consciously try to eliminate all negative thoughts. Think of your mind as a room full of furniture. Imagine yourself removing each piece of furniture until the room is empty.

    • Drink water. Before you begin to speak, take a few sips of water. Doing so will eliminate the dry mouth that is a result of nervousness. Don’t, however, drink water during your speech.

    • Keep things in perspective. Remember, your speech is a minor event in your life. Nothing that you do or say will affect you significantly.

  2. Look at your audience. When you speak, look directly at the members of your audience. At the beginning of the speech, make eye contact with a few audience members who seem to be responding positively. As your speech progresses, look directly at as many audience members as you can. Try to sweep the entire room. Don’t focus excessively on a single person or on a single section of your audience.

  3. Speak naturally. Your presentation should sound like a conversation, not a performance. This is not to suggest that your presentation should include slang, ungrammatical constructions, or colloquialisms; it should conform to the rules of standard English. The trick is to maintain the appearance of a conversation while following the conventions of public speaking. Achieving this balance takes practice, but it is a goal worth pursuing.

  4. Speak slowly. When you give a presentation, you should speak more slowly than you do in normal conversation. This strategy gives listeners time to process what they hear—and gives you time to think about what you are saying.

  5. Speak clearly and correctly. As you deliver your presentation, speak clearly. Do not drop endings, and be careful to pronounce words correctly. Look up the pronunciation of unfamiliar words in a dictionary, or ask your instructor for help. If you go though an entire speech pronouncing a key term or a name incorrectly, your listeners will question your competence.

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  6. Move purposefully. As you deliver your speech, don’t pace, move your hands erratically, or play with your note cards. Try to stand in one spot, with both feet flat on the floor. Move only when necessary—for example, to point to a visual or to display an object. If you intend to distribute printed material to your listeners, do so only when you are going to discuss it. (Try to arrange in advance for someone else to give out your handouts.) If you are not going to refer to the material in your presentation, wait until you have finished your speech before you distribute it. Depending on the level of formality of your presentation and the size of your audience, you may want to stand directly in front of your audience or behind a podium.

  7. Be prepared for the unexpected. Don’t get flustered if things don’t go exactly as you planned. If you forget material, work it in later. If you make a mistake, correct it without apologizing. Most of the time, listeners will not realize that something has gone wrong unless you call attention to it. If someone in the audience looks bored, don’t worry. You might consider changing your pace or your volume, but keep in mind that the person’s reaction might have nothing to do with your presentation. He or she might be tired, preoccupied, or just a poor listener.

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    Remember to project confidence and control as you speak.
    © Wavebreak Media/Agefotostock

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  8. Leave time for questions. End your presentation by asking if your listeners have any questions. As you answer questions, keep in mind the following advice:

    • Be prepared. Make sure you have anticipated the obvious counterarguments to your position, and be prepared to address them. In addition, prepare a list of websites or other resources that you can refer your audience to for more information.

    • Repeat a question before you answer it. This technique enables everyone in the audience to hear the question, and it also gives you time to think of an answer.

    • Keep control of interchanges. If a questioner repeatedly challenges your answer or monopolizes the conversation, say that you will be glad to discuss the matter with him or her after your presentation is finished.

    • Be honest. Answer questions honestly and forthrightly. If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. Tell the questioner you will locate the information that he or she wants and send it by email. Above all, do not volunteer information that you are not sure is correct.

    • Use the last question to summarize. When you get to the last question, end your answer by restating the main point of your argument.