Speeches and oral presentations are a frightening but required part of high school life.. Have no fear: Maryclaire is here with tips on how to make it a snap.

be prepared

Being comfortable with the material is essential if you want to deliver a good report. Use bullets with quick information you can expand on. Visual aids are great tools to keep people interested.

dress accordingly

If you're doing a project on Napoleon for history class, maybe you want to dress in costume. For those of us without that degree of confidence, dress in something you feel comfortable in. If you're not sure, get an honest friend's opinion.

visualize

Practice your speech where you will be presenting it so you can become comfortable with that space. Imagine speaking well in front of specific peers. If your speech is timed, have someone with a stopwatch observe and listen.

make sure to memorize

You don't have to memorize your entire speech; you can, and snaps for you, but all you have to do is learn your first few sentences by heart. It'll get you through the beginning (often the hardest part) and help you feel more confident.

before you talk

Take a few seconds when you get to the lectern to organize things and gather your thoughts. No one's in a hurry.

breathing is important

Calm breathing ensures that your voice won't crack. Also, don't lock your knees. You might pass out, and that's way more traumatizing than presenting a speech.

maintain eye contact

Eye contact is important when sharing information with people, so look up. You know at least some of the kids you're talking to. Focus on those people first, then make eye contact with others. Also, learn to pause while you're reading your speech. This allows you to catch your breath and lets everyone get caught up.

Maryclaire Regan is a junior at Augusta Preparatory School.