An effective presentation integrates the nonverbal aspects of voice and body language with the words of your speech. It is characterized by enthusiasm and naturalness. Your voice and bearing should project your sincere commitment but should not call attention to themselves. You should sound and look spontaneous and natural, not contrived or artificial.
Methods of Presentation. The four major methods of speech presentation are impromptu speaking, memorized presentation, reading from a manuscript, and extemporaneous speaking. In impromptu speaking you talk with minimal or no preparation and practice. To present an effective impromptu speech, follow the PREP formula: State your point, give a reason or example, then restate your point.
Both memorized and manuscript presentations require that your speech be written out word for word. Be sure that your speech is written in good oral style. An extemporaneous presentation requires careful planning, but the wording is spontaneous. Instructors usually require that you present speeches extemporaneously. Extemporaneous speaking allows you to adapt to feedback from your audience. Be especially alert for signs that your audience doesn’t understand, has lost interest, or disagrees with you, then make adjustments to your message to overcome these problems.
Following any presentation you may need to answer questions about your
material and ideas. While your responses will be impromptu, you should prepare for questions in advance and plan appropriate responses.
Using Your Voice Effectively. A good speaking voice conveys your meaning fully and clearly. Vocal expressiveness depends on your ability to control your pitch, rate, loudness, and variety. Your habitual pitch is the level at which you usually speak. Your optimum pitch is the level at which you can produce a clear, strong voice with minimal effort. Speaking at your optimum pitch gives your voice flexibility. The rate at which you speak can affect the impression you make on listeners. You can control rate to your advantage by using pauses and by changing your pace to match the moods of your material. To speak loudly enough, you need proper breath control. Vary loudness for the sake of emphasis. Vocal variety adds color and interest to a speech, makes a speaker more likable, and encourages identification between speaker and audience.
Articulation, enunciation, pronunciation, and dialect refer to the unique way you give voice to words. Articulation concerns the manner in which you produce individual sounds. Enunciation refers to the way you utter words in context. Proper pronunciation means that you say words correctly. Your dialect may identify the area of the country in which you learned language or your cultural or ethnic background. Occasionally, dialect can create identification and comprehension problems between speaker and audience.
Using Your Body Effectively You communicate with body language as well as with your voice. Eye contact signals listeners that you want to communicate. Your facial expressions should project the meanings of your words. Movement attracts attention; therefore, your movements and gestures must complement your speech, not compete with it. Proximity is the study of how humans use space during communication. Two proximity principles, distance and elevation, can affect your identification with an audience as you speak. Be sure your grooming and dress are appropriate to the speech occasion and do not detract from your ability to communicate.
The importance of Practice. You should practice your speech until you have the sequence of main points and supporting materials well established in your mind. It is best to practice your presentation in conditions similar to those in which you will give your speech. Keep citations or other materials that you must read to a minimum. Tape recording or videotaping can be useful for self-evaluation during rehearsal.

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