Giving a Speech in Class (10th grade)?

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My teacher has told us we will be required to write a persuasive essay and deliever it in the form of a speech. I am not good at talking to groups, so what should I do? How can I prepare?

Write the essay, and then just recite it.

If it will allay your nerves, remember that your peers probably are not paying attention to your presentation anyways. You're not really talking to a group, you're just reading your essay aloud. They're all just as nervous about their presentations as you are about yours, and no one will really remember your specific presentation at the end of the day.

Ummmmm, how is it persuasive if no one remembers it?

Choose a speech based on your special interest. You will do fine. If you feel anxious beforehand, breathe slowly and deeply and picture something very calming and soothing, such as ocean waves lapping onto a beach. Lastly, prepare a good outline and practice saying your speech aloud at least 4-5 times before you give it in class, with the last practice sessions in front of family or friemds.

Because (a) a bunch of high school sophomores aren't likely to be paying attention, and (b) probably twenty other people are also giving presentations. That deluge of presentations will drown each other out in memory, so there is no reason to be nervous over one's performance as even if one does badly, no one will remember or care. (I'm not saying you'll do badly, eman_ekaf, I'm sure you'll do fine, I was just sharing the bit of perspective that always helped me get rid of the jitters before giving presentations)

Also remember to look upwards (focus on the back wall or something, you don't have to explicitly do the eye contact thing, as long as you're looking in the same general area as where the audience is) rather than reading your notes with your head downwards.

Other then that, be familiar with what you are talking about. It is helpful if you actually personally agree with the point of view you are arguing

one old trick is to imagine the audience naked (which works a lot better with 10th graders [I presume] than middle-aged business types...

There's a club called Toastmasters, who basically....do toasts and speeches...for fun (the horror!... They might have a web sight.

You see, last year I presented a monologe (sp?) in my freshman English class. My teacher had me practice one on one until I knew the words like the back of my hand. Then we added eye contact (the horrors!). I had it down...until I got up in front of the class. I lost it. I couldn't remember a thing. I managed to struggle through my cue cards and make minimal eye contact with my teacher. It was a disaster. Afterwards, someone commeneted on the way I began rocking from side to side.

I guess maybe that one incident freaked me out...now I am terrified it'll happen again.