How to Increase Public Speaking Ability?

Infinite_Truth
Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:00:29 +0000

I’d like to ask how to effectively speak impromtu at a public event, most namely a debate. I’m set to debate a local politician in public in a while, and I’m quite nervous as he is noted for being a fiery speaker and I’m not…very good, so to say, and he challenged me directly on the issue as I’m a big spokesman for a lobbyist group that is lobbying for an issue he hates.

In short, anyone have any advice for what resources I may look up to address the following problems:

How to think quickly while speaking publicly and craft one’s words well.
How to speak [actually in terms of pronouncing clearly and projection] in detail. Often I slurr and stutter.
How to measure and adjust one’s tone. Sometimes my tone goes nuts, even though most of the time it doesn’t, but it’s really bad when it does.


Note: Self-Confidence isn’t a problem. I have no stage fright. It’s just the actual act of speaking publicly and impromptu that leaves me blanked.

Thanks.