How to Give a Good Lecture

Just the word "lecture" is enough to elicit groans from most people. Nonetheless, there is no reason a lecture needs to be dry and boring or hard to follow. With a few tips, techniques and some practice, just about anyone can give a good lecture on just about any topic.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Lecture topic
• Lecture notes
• Media (if applicable)
• Technological aids (if applicable)

Planning the Lecture

1. Identify your audience: young students, college students, parents, business entrepreneurs, etc.

2. Identify your lecture topic.

3. Determine your time allotment. Consider how long the lecture will last and how much time will you leave for questions or announcements.

4. Outline your lecture material. Clearly state the main point of the lecture first. Next, lay out the supporting points and relative details, including the approximate amount of time you plan to spend on each topic. Finally, wrap up with a clear conclusion that restates the main point of the lecture.

5. Go through your lecture outline and highlight places where you can stop lecturing and reinforce your point in a different way. Engage your audience by asking questions. Make a point of using pop culture references. Turn to media for visual or audio aids.

6. Write out a detailed final lecture outline. Include complete topic sentences, quotes and references you wish to note, and questions you will pose to the audience. Highlight places where you will turn to media or incorporate other teaching methods.

7. Practice, practice, practice. Rehearse your lecture. Write in cues such as "Pause," "Breath," or "Scan Audience for Questions" and practice these motions as well. Make sure your language, tone and examples are appropriate for your audience.

8. Arrive at your lecture location early. Make sure any technology you plan to use works properly. Have someone sit at the back of the venue to evaluate your volume and enunciation.

Giving the Lecture

1. Grab your audience's attention. Open with a catchy quote, surprising fact or anecdote that the audience members can relate to.

2. Introduce yourself and briefly state what you have to offer your audience--what qualifies you to be here speaking.

3. Progress through your lecture smoothly, beginning with your introduction and flowing through your notes to the conclusion. Connect all ideas and examples.

4. Maintain eye-contact with your audience members. Scan the audience slowly, so that each audience member feels as if you are addressing him individually.

5. Speak clearly. Enunciate your words. Use good grammar. Project to reach the back of the venue, or use a microphone.

6. Ask your audience for any questions or comments following your lecture.

7. Thank your audience for coming to hear you speak.

Tips & Warnings

• Play to your strengths. For example, if you are a comedian, incorporate a joke or two. But stick to what is comfortable for you.

• Be passionate about your topic, and act as though you really enjoy being there lecturing. This will help you stay dynamic and engaging throughout the lecture.

• Try to break up the lecture into 15- or 20-minute chunks, maximum. This is the average attention span of most audience members. You may need to adjust based on your audience.

• Help your audience follow you by posting an overhead outline of your lecture or handing out photocopies of the outline prior to beginning your lecture.

• Videotape yourself while lecturing. Use this to evaluate and improve your delivery.

• Don't try to address every detail pertaining to your topic. Stick to the basics, and try to make it relevant to your audience.

• Avoid reading directly from PowerPoint slides or your notes. You should have rehearsed enough that you can speak to each slide or point while addressing the audience.

• Make sure all media and technology work prior to the lecture, if possible. If you do experience technical difficulties, stay positive and move on.