Handouts are particularly useful when your audience benefits from specific information shared in or related to your presentation at a future point. For example, if you’re seeking to persuade your classmates to utilize your campus career services office, you might have a single-page handout with pertinent information, like the Web address, office hours, contact information, services, upcoming events, and so on.

In a face-to-face class, be sure to distribute your handouts at an appropriate time. You do not want to create any unnecessary distractions with noise from shuffling papers! Unless you want your audience to follow along during some part of your speech, it’s often best to distribute your handouts at the end of your speech, but check to see if your instructor has any preferences.