A good rule to follow:  1) tell us what you're going to say, 2) say it,  3) tell us what you said.   This is a simple matter of voicing your intent so that we know what to listen for as you go through your material to make your point.  Then, at the end, you will restate your intent (which should be your conclusion).  By the way, "Well, that's the end of my talk" is not a conclusion.

Don't just present a bunch of "Trivial Pursuit"- type facts and information.  Analyze your information and draw conclusions.  At the end of your presentation, I should not be able to say: "And your point is . . . ?"

When you use PowerPoint with your presentation, be careful not to use too much text on the slide.  Wordy slides distract your audience into reading instead of listening to you.  "Bullet" important points in a very few words to aid your audience in following your elaborations.  You should really have no more than 20 words per slide at the most.

If you use sound clips, you must have everything in your presentation self-contained on the CD.  Be sure and rehearse your presentation.  There is definitely a Murphy's Law of Media:  something will go wrong, especially if you have not rehearsed.

Make your clips short.  Play only a short section to make your point. 

Use graphics on your slides:  photographs, paintings, representative art of the same period, etc.

How to use MP3 audio files with PowerPoint:

1. Save your PowerPoint file in a new folder named with the title of your subject

2. Copy all of the mp3 files that you plan to use into the same folder

3. On the slide in which you wish to insert the audio file, click insert - movies and sounds -  sound from file and choose the mp3 from the file containing your PowerPoint and mp3 files

4. Choose “automatically” in response to the “How do you want the sound to start in the slide show?”   This is your choice, but the following procedure seems to work best:

   1. Do not put music files on any slides which have text.  For example, use your bulleted text slides to make verbal points about your subject, give explanations, etc.

   2. When you get ready to play an example, insert the audio file into the NEXT slide and set the music to begin automatically when you get to that slide.  Put a picture or graphic on that slide. 

   3. The result:  you say everything you need to before the audio clip, go on to the next slide which automatically plays the clip.  When you have heard enough of the clip,  go on to the next slide and the music automatically stops so that you can go on to your next point.

   For additional information on using PowerPoint in your presentation, click here.

No caps/hats, no gum

Try to avoid distracting vocal mannerisms such as "like" or "you know"; leaning on the lectern, shifting your feet, propping your foot on the lectern or on your other foot,  hands in pockets or fiddling with objects on the lectern.   You get the idea.  The focus should be on what you are saying, not on you.

Begin your presentation by announcing your name and the title of your subject

Speak slowly and clearly.  Do not rush through, mumble, or speak at a low volume.

Do not read the entire report.  Use notes if you wish, but as a guide.

Practice your timing.  Don't lose points because you don't have as much material as you thought or because you ramble on too long.  Don't forget to allow for the time your music clips will take.