“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” - Dale Carnegie
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When faced with a presentation, most people will, of course, focus on how they are going to deal with the actual presentation. However, what a lot of people tend to forget is that research is what often underlays a successful presentation. After all, it will be a very short presentation if you don't know what you are going to say!
So, how do you research for your presentation?
First, know what you are going to be talking about. Sometimes you will be assigned a topic, as in some classes. Other times it will be your choice. In either case, knowing your topic will be the first step to a successful presentation.
How do you research?
First, you look at how long your presentation is, and what your topic is. If you only have 5 minutes to speak, the topic should not be something like "The History of France from 1000 to 1500." That is too large of a topic to research and speak on in 5 minutes. Instead, pick a topic that is easy to research and short enough to fit your time. Try, for instance, "A day in the life of Louis the XI" instead of 500 years of French history.
Second, once you have gotten your topic to a size that will fit in your time limits, decide what sources you are going to use. Some will be mandated by your instructor (for instance, primary sources, or a mix of books and journals), others you can choose on your own. You might be tempted to just go to Wikipedia, but beware! Wikipedia might give you a broad overview, but it probably doesn't give all the details you need.
Third, once you have your sources, pull from them as needed to give flavour to your presentation. You should nott be just reading from books, but using the information to back up your points, just like in a paper. Remember to, if you quote from a source, say who it's from.
Fourth, Practice, Practice Practice!
“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” - Dale Carnegie
Developing an organized presentation starts with your introduction. The introduction opens your speech. The common way in which many presenters start their talks — "My name is . . ." or "Today I'm going to talk to you about . . ." — is not much of an introduction.
The purpose of a good introduction in a formal presentation is to achieve three goals:
Remember: The key point is that if you don't grab your group's attention up front, you may not have it for the rest of your presentation.
Here are some useful techniques for opening your presentation:
Presenting / Speaking
Tips for Successful Speeches:
https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/public-speaking-tips/successful-speeches
Preparing Speeches:
https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/public-speaking-tips/preparing-a-speech
Public Speaking Tips:
https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/public-speaking-tips
More Tips:
https://ocdalecarnegie.com/five-tips-for-better-public-speaking/