Mr. Carter 7 th Grade Created by Mr. Carter

Sports psychologists know that proper breathing calms heart rate and enables athlete to focus. Public speakers are performance athletes. The breathing exercise on the following slide will allow you to reduce stress before you speak, thus allowing you to focus better on the task at hand.

Preferably standing with your shoulders straight, take a very deep breath through your nose. Hold for ten seconds and then release it with force through the mouth. Feel your stomach contract and inhale and contract as you exhale. Repeat this times

Picture yourself standing up in front of two or three people you feel very comfortable around. Now add a few more people you know. Again, just talk to them. You can gradually start adding people. This will make speaking less nerve- racking. As you speak, picture your audience smiling, fully understanding your entire speech, and erupting in applause at the end.

Make an outline, an overview, or a summary of whatever makes you most comfortable. Planning and Presentations will vary greatly depending on the audience. Before you begin, ask: Why am I speaking? To whom am I speaking?

You need a specific beginning, middle, and end. The Beginning: Establish your reason for speaking. The Middle: This is the “meat” of your presentation. Key facts and points are included here. The End: Strong wrap- up of key points of info. Make a strong final statement that enhances your presentation.

Beginning ESTABLISH Middle TELL, SELL, & TEACH End SUMMARIZE, ENHACE, FINALIZE