Prepare properly for your oral presentation, which can make the difference between successfully conveying your thoughts and confusing your audience. Consider who will be listening to your speech when sitting down to prepare the presentation. The content of your talk must be understandable for those who are not well-versed in the subject you are presenting while also providing enough interesting insight for those who are experts in the subject. Divide your speech into three parts: the forecast, the body and the summary. Incorporate clearly defined talking points into the forecast; these are the points you will talk about in your speech. Use the forecast to summarize your speech while focusing the body on specifics and details.
Develop your presentation with two rhetorical goals in mind; give a presentation that makes your point of view clear and leave the audience wanting to know more. Ideally, your presentation will spark discussions and questions afterward. If you are presenting on a research paper you wrote, for instance, don't simply repeat everything you wrote in your paper. Instead, present a solid overview with some details and highlights from your paper. Touching on key aspects of your research will create audience interest by eliciting questions and piquing their curiosity.
Don't wait to prepare your speech until the night before you are to present. Give yourself at least two weeks to develop the speech and practice it. This is enough time to get familiar with the content and with the flow of the speech, and the extra time allows you to make adjustments if needed. Recite the speech first in front of a mirror a few times and try out the speech on your roommate or some friends. Ensure you can deliver your speech within the time allotted.
Stay relaxed when the time comes to present in front of your class and trust in all the preparation and practice you did beforehand. Speak slowly and stay focused on the main ideas you are trying to get across. If you tend to tighten up physically when presenting, keep a slight bend at your knees to help you relax. Look up every so often if you are reading from a paper or note cards. Looking out at your audience lets them know you are engaged in your presentation and are confident in what you are saying. If possible, invite your audience to ask questions after you're done presenting.