Senior Capstone Talk

The Talk: Preparing and giving a good talk

You will get lots of advice during the capstone seminar on giving a good talk. Look at the resources that have been posted for other good advice. Here are few quick words of advice.

Be prepared. Good talks must be planned. Think about organization, get familiar with the materials you'll use well in advance (whether PowerPoint or some other form). Plan on completing your preparations with a few days to spare, so you have time to...

Practice your talk, then practice some more.

No matter how much you hate or fear public speaking, everyone is capable of giving a good talk. Practicing your talk as many times as possible is the best route to appearing confident and relaxed. Try to practice your whole talk at least four times before Capstone Day. Get a friend to listen, videotape yourself, or just stand in front of the mirror in the bathroom. Speak out loud, and use your visual aids. This will give you a better sense for the timing of your talk. Time yourself: Capstone talks should be twenty minutes long, not ten, not thirty.