Believe in your topic and develop a comprehensive understanding of it. Research links between your topic and the audience, such as past efforts of the audience to support the topic or past problems the audience faced as a result of the topic. Use the research you do for the topic as a confidence-building technique, as speakers who speak on topics they understand and appreciate are more natural and convincing.
Prepare to engage the audience using the three primary rhetorical concerns. Prepare a logical argument for the support of the topic, citing specific information, statistics or quotations, providing credibility to your argument. Write an ethical appeal for the topic by describing an ethical standard, upheld by the affirmation of the topic, providing credibility to the audience’s desire to agree with the topic. Prepare an emotional appeal by describing your personal connection to the topic, and explaining why the topic is so significant, providing credibility to yourself and your connection to the topic.
Prepare for your speech, rehearsing it thoroughly. Get used to the sound of your own public speaking voice, while you get used to the speech itself. Practice until you are able to spend the majority of the speaking time looking into the mirror and not at your notes. Use this technique to build confidence in your speaking ability and in your ability to give the speech.
Practice using a clear speaking voice, enunciating correctly and speaking with confidence. Record yourself as you practice the speech in the mirror, and listen to the recording, noting any areas where your voice trails off or sounds muttered. Rerecord the speech after correcting these errors to ensure you addressed the problem successfully.
Write a series of possible questions, regarding your topic, and prepare educated and insightful answers to each. Note a few important points you expect to come up as questions from the audience. Practice answering them in the mirror. Use this to prepare for the question-and-answer period following the speech, helping you remain confident and keep a prepared appearance.