Helpful Public Speaking Tips

To become a better public speaker, it's crucial to learn how to use your
body and words effectively. This guide will help you to understand the
basics of body language, connecting words, and how to start and finish
a presentation in a strong and memorable way.

**Body Language:**

1. **Eye Contact**: Maintain eye contact with the audience to

establish a connection and show confidence.
2. **Posture**: Stand or sit up straight with your shoulders back to
appear confident and engaged.
3. **Gestures**: Use natural hand gestures to emphasize points and
express yourself.
4. **Facial Expressions**: Show enthusiasm and convey the
appropriate emotions through facial expressions.
5. **Movement**: Move purposefully, but not excessively, to keep the
audience engaged.
6. **Voice Projection**: Speak clearly and project your voice to ensure
everyone can hear.
7. **Vocal Variety**: Vary your tone, pitch, and pace to maintain
audience interest.
8. **Smile**: A warm smile can help you connect with the audience
and appear approachable.

**Transition Words and Phrases:**

1. **To begin with**: Use this phrase to signal the start of a new topic
or point.
2. **Furthermore**: Use to add information or provide additional
evidence.
3. **In addition**: Indicates that you're adding another point to your
argument.
4. **On the other hand**: Use when presenting a contrasting idea or
viewpoint.
5. **Moreover**: Emphasizes the importance of the point being made.
6. **However**: Use when introducing a contrasting idea or obstacle.
7. **In conclusion**: Signals the end of a section or the entire
presentation.
8. **Additionally**: Another way to add more information.
9. **Likewise**: Shows similarity between two points or ideas.
10. **Therefore**: Indicates a logical consequence or conclusion.

**Opening Sentences:**

1. **A Hook**: Start with a captivating story, question, or quote that

grabs the audience's attention.
2. **Introduce Yourself**: Begin by introducing yourself, including your
name and your role or reason for presenting.
3. **State the Topic**: Clearly state the main topic or purpose of your
presentation.
4. **Highlight the Importance**: Explain why the topic is important or
relevant to the audience.
5. **Outline Your Talk**: Provide a brief overview of what you will
cover during the presentation.

**Closing Sentences:**

1. **Summary**: Summarize the key points or takeaways from your

presentation.
2. **Reiterate the Main Message**: Emphasize the main message or
the call to action.
3. **End with a Call to Action**: Encourage the audience to take a
specific action or think about a particular idea.
4. **Thank the Audience**: Express gratitude for their attention and
participation.
5. **Leave a Thought-Provoking Question**: End with a question that
leaves the audience thinking.
6. **Close the Loop**: Refer to the opening statement or story to
provide closure.
7. **Use a Memorable Quote**: End with a powerful quote related to
your topic.

Encourage students to practice these elements to improve their

presentation skills. Remind them that practice, preparation, and
confidence are key to delivering a successful presentation.