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How to speak in public

  • start with a bang
  • pose a bullet list of the topics you will cover that expose the overview of your argument
  • don't pose alternatives - present them as possibilities
  • repeat the conclusion at the beginning of every section of your talk, explain your bullet points
  • establish the relevance, what is the audience thinking about the topic - faith, reason, problem, solution
  • multimedia - draw examples from movies, tv, newspapers, books
  • define important terms
  • what are the broad streams of thought about the topic
  • strangers are in two separate worlds - how, why, mechanism, meaning, science
  • Powerpoint slides - don't read of the slides, but if you are going to read quotes have them on the side; have phrases from your point on the side of the slide concerning the point; names of people you are quoting write in full on screen.
  • real world examples of your hypothesis, your point, your exposition
  • be within your allotted time
  • invite questions and then try to draw their points inclusively into your argument
  • introduce answers with "I don't have a well-formulated idea here, but this is a notion that might apply"
  • be seen to be inclusive and positive about every question

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