How to give an in-class presentation

There comes a time in every student's life when he or she must make a presentation. For some, this is the cruelest time of the year - the time when we are forced to give up our comfy seat in the back-corner of the classroom to shuffle to the front and fumble with our index cards in front of a class of our peers. Then, there are the lucky ones - the people who are naturally gifted at (and even enjoy!) public speaking. You too can be one of those people. Really.

We here at the Amnesty believe that everyone has the potential to be a master presenter. With the right combination of preparation and courage, you too can master the in-class presentation. You may even get so good at it, you'll want to give presentations for fun! Wow. Imagine that.

The point is, Amnesty functions as both an active and educating organization. We're all about sharing knowledge of human rights with other people. So grab your cue cards and let's get going!

Top Five Things To Remember When Giving A Speech:

Know your audience - What you say and how you should say it depends a lot on who you're talking to. In most cases this means not using acronyms or complicated jargon and making that your vocabulary and method of presenting will be well-received by the audience.
Have a point - Don't walk into a presentation without a plan on what you're going to say. If you're going to speak "About Amnesty," will you be talking about our history, mandate, philosophy, structure or success stories? What is the key argument that you're trying to make?
Be clear and concise - Keep your speech short and to the point. Don't write a speech and read it word-for-word. Write key points in point form and elaborate on these as you speak. Try not to use acronyms or complicated "Amnesty-speak." Allow enough time for people to ask questions.
Practice - the more often you speak in public, the better you'll get at it. Also, be sure to review your presentation at least once or twice to get all the bugs out.
Give them something to do - be sure to include an action component to your presentation. Make it really easy for your audience to take action, by providing a postcard action or petition they can sign right away.

Great Tips From the Pros

Be positive! There are many success stories that show us that Amnesty works! Motivate your listeners by showing them that activism can really have an impact! Check out our web site for some good news about recent Amnesty success stories.
Start And Finish with a Bang! Use a story, quote, tasteful joke or interesting anecdote to get your presentation started. Often, successful public speakers will link the beginning and end of their presentations (ie: refer back to the story) to ensure a sense of continuity.
Add A Human Dimension. Include human-interest stories and personal accounts, not just facts and figures, to get your point across. Try to get your listener to understand that human rights are affect us all!
Bring Out the Facts and Figures. If you are trying to make a point, illustrate it with a figure. Instead of saying "many refugees are women and children" tell your audience "80% of refugees are women and children." This has a much bigger impact. Don't drown people in numbers, but use facts to enhance your credibility.
Repeat, Re-introduce and Revisit key points throughout your presentation in fresh and different ways. This will help people remember

Project? Report? Use our Essay Kit!

Doing a project on Amnesty International? E-mail (library@amnesty.ca) us and ask for a free copy of our essay kit. The kit includes information about Amnesty International, the work of AI, information on current campaigns and actions as well as general resources on human rights.

If you enjoy giving presentations, there are many ways to use your public speaking skills to work for human rights. Talk to your group about expanding your Public Awareness activities or contact the National office for a copy of Advice for giving effective public presentations on Amnesty International.

Presentation Outline

Human Rights

What are human rights? (Give examples) They are inalienable, indivisible, interdependent.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - its history, meaning, what it contains
Other examples of human rights documents (Convention Against Torture, Convention on the Rights of the Child, etc)
Commitment of governments to respect human rights

Human Rights Abuses

How do governments violate human rights?
How do non-state actors violate human rights?

Amnesty International

History
Mandate
How it functions
Characteristics of Amnesty
- Amnesty International is:
  - effective
  - impartial
  - diverse
  - unrelenting
  - independent, democratic and self-governing
  - accurate and reliable

Personal Empowerment

Can one person make a difference?
Does Amnesty work?
How will joining Amnesty contribute to human rights work?
Take action! challenge (hand out action)

Case Study: An Effective Speech
One of the most famous speeches in modern Western history was given by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Lincoln was the second speaker; the famous speechmaker who went before him spoke for two hours. Lincoln took about two minutes to say the words that are now remembered as the "Gettysburg Address." In fewer than 300 words he conveyed a message that is still being repeated, almost 150 years later. The two-hour long speech has been forgotten.

Keep this in mind as you plan your presentation!