Face it, at some point we are all going to have to do an oral presentation in class for a grade. Anxious? Take a deep breath, don't panic, and remember you can do it. You may not have a silver tongue, but that doesn't mean you can't communicate effectively.

Classroom presentations can be frightening, but think of them as opportunities to share your thoughts about a particular subject with your peers and friends. You already do this informally in the classroom during discussions, study groups, or just with your friends in the dorm. Giving an oral presentation or speech is fundamentally no different than that, except that you get to control the setting and process for delivering your ideas.

The idea of an oral presentation is to determine how well you grasp a specific topic and can communicate it to others. This is not as hard as you might think. Most people get panicky over this because they are scared of the unknown, but the power in a speech is this: you control how you will communicate the topic to others. So stick to what you know and have researched, and remember -- if you know it and believe it then others will connect and believe it with you.

First, take some time to brainstorm about your topic. What are the different perspectives relating to it? What about arguments, both pro and con? List these out on paper, and don't rule anything out just yet.

After your brainstorming session, start organizing your thoughts into a thesis statement and three or four supporting statements, in outline form. Be sure to stick to three or four statements - one of the most common mistakes in public speaking is presenting more information than you need (overselling your ideas) or than the audience cares to hear. By going with three or four supporting statements, we have a basic speech outline ready for some supporting research.

Great, we have an outline. So... What do we do now?

If you're not already there, now is library time. Put your outline aside except for your thesis statement and do some research on the topic. Look at scholarly journals, books, and the Internet for information pertaining to your thesis statement. Jot down supporting statements, ideas, and statistics about your topic just as you would for a written paper, but don't forget to write down your sources. (Giving a speech also requires you to give credit to others for their thoughts and statements.) Include the author and source -- article/magazine, book title/author, Internet site, etc. If in doubt, ask your instructor about how to properly cite your sources.

Your research may give you a different perspective on your topic, and you may even want to change your supporting statements. This is fine! Recreate your outline with your thesis statement at the top and supporting statements listed underneath. Here is an example:

Intro

• Insert thesis statement here

Body

• Insert supporting statement #1 here
• Insert supporting statement #2 here
• Insert supporting statement #3 here

Conclusion

• Restate thesis statement here

The difference between a good speech and a great one is how you start. So how do we start this thing?

Begin your presentation with an attention grabber that supports your thesis, the more creative the better. We need to catch everyone's attention here, and some of your classmates may be preoccupied with their 'night before'. Keep it simple, relatable, and to the point. Some good openers include a short story, quote, joke, hand signals, dance, etc., anything related to your topic that evokes emotion. You want them to laugh, cry, or get angry -- either way, you want their attention! Your introduction also needs to include your thesis statement and a very brief outline of what you intend to speak about.

Next, you'll need a transition statement leading to your first point and each following point. Be clear and precise with your points, but don't get caught up in minute details. (These tend to bore your audience.) If you have visuals make sure they are clean and professional looking. Make sure they can communicate without any explanation, and don't read directly from them. A good visual should complement what you are saying, not actually say it for you.

Finally, your conclusion is very similar to your introduction but in reversed order. Tell them your quick outline and thesis statement with a concluding story or statement that again evokes emotion.

A good speech requires practice alone and in front of others. The more you can avoid relying on your notes the better. This isn't difficult, but it comes through practice.

For those of you who are still a little anxious and scared about giving your speech, contact your campuses speech or communication department. They usually have resources to help you get over stage fright. They may even be willing to help you prepare and practice your speech for them!

Above all, remember: if you don't believe in your presentation, neither will they!