Know Your Subject

• Research your topic, and understand as much as you can about it. Gather enough background and current information to know the topic and why it is important to your presentation. Knowing a lot about your topic of discussion will help you flesh out your arguments with facts, statistics and sources. The more information you know about a topic, the better you can answer any questions from your audience.
  
  

Avoid Logical Errors

• Once you have thoroughly researched a topic and written out the points you want to discuss in your speech, play devil's advocate and look at the opposite side of your arguments. Understand where there could be errors in your logic and where your audience might find questions or issues with what you are discussing. Seeing the opposite side of your argument can help you to eliminate any holes or issues with what you are hoping to present strongly.
  
  

Avoid Claims Without Facts

• Each fact that you promote in your presentation should be fleshed out with facts and not emotions. Do not simply make a claim out of an emotional appeal, for example, that racism should be stopped because it is bad. Make a stronger claim that is statistically supported, such as a specific number of hate crimes that are committed each year in a certain area or other reasons that can be verified. Citing specifics is much more appealing to an audience than an emotional claim.
  
  

Avoid the Circular Argument

• Avoid making claims that cite themselves as reasons why they should be believed. An example of this is to say that someone is a good speaker because she communicates clearly. Use specifics, such as that someone is a good speaker because she directly addresses the concerns of her audience. Make statements that you can easily flesh out with facts. The more facts you give, the stronger your speech will be.