Lynn Kirkham
Public Speaking Coach
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Co-authored Articles (39)
How to
Write a Speech Introducing Yourself
First impressions have a big impact on how others perceive you, so how you introduce yourself to others is extremely important. Many people call an introductory speech an elevator speech, because it should be succinct en...
How to
Not Be Annoying
If you are worried about annoying other people and are seeking solutions to solve that problem, you have already won half the battle. All it takes is being self-aware and adjusting the way you interact with the people ar...
How to
Perform Well in a Debate
People may come up with the most stunning content for their argument, but the fact is that in most cases, nearly one-third of the marking criteria goes to your delivery of the material. While speaking passionately about ...
How to
Begin a Debate
Opening a debate the right way will make your audience more interested and help you win your argument. Before your debate, take the time to prepare a solid opening that will win people over.
How to Read and Talk Like a News Anchor
Tips for developing a news reporter voice & getting camera readyTV news reporters seem to project confidence and authority when they speak. As is the case with many skills, practice makes perfect when it comes to reporti...
Expert-Backed Ways to Improve Your Speech Clarity
Easy vocal warmups & exercises to help you speak clearly Do you find that you mumble a lot? Are people constantly telling you to speak up or that they can't understand you? Improving your clarity of speech can help. Whet...
How to
Write an Acceptance Speech
Follow our guide for everything you need to include in your speech When you win an award or honor, it's traditional to share a few words. Writing an acceptance speech can be challenging, so it helps to brainstorm and pre...
How to
Write Talking Points
Talking points are often used to prepare for a public speech or an interview. By crafting your own talking points, you can feel more comfortable talking in front of others or answering questions from the media or the pub...
How to Research, Write, & Give an Informative Speech
How to write and deliver an informative speechAn informative speech tells an audience about a process, event, or concept. Whether you’re explaining how to grow a garden or describing a historical event, writing an info...
How to
Judge a Debate
Debate is a popular extracurricular activity that gives participants opportunities to refine their critical thinking and public speaking skills. Judging debate tournaments is a great way to support this tradition! Make s...
How to
Think Before Speaking
Thinking before you speak is an important skill to master for all kinds of situations. It can improve your relationships with other people and enable you to express yourself in a more effective way. Start by using the T...
How to
Give a Great Impromptu Speech
Most speeches are the result of careful planning, revision and practice. There may be times, however, when a situation demands that you give an impromptu speech with little or no time to prepare. When you find yourself i...
How to
Improve Your English Speaking Skills
Speaking is one of the harder four language skills. It's one thing listening and understanding, or even reading and writing, but it's another talking to a native speaker. Don't worry though— with the right tricks, you ...
How to
Write a High School President Speech
Campaigning for school president is an exciting opportunity to build your leadership skills and bring change to your school. If you want to win the presidency, you’ll need to give a persuasive campaign speech to get pe...
How to
Enunciate
Enunciation is a skill everyone could benefit from practicing, especially before a public speech, a singing performance, or just a crowded, noisy gathering. With enough practice, anyone can change, mumbling, mispronuncia...
How to
Lead Into a Quote
Introducing a quote in a paper can be tricky, as you want the quote to feel seamless and relevant to your topic. You may want to use a quote from a literary text to support your ideas in an essay, or as evidence in your ...
How to Be a Better Conversationalist
Overcome shyness and awkward pauses to more easily connect with those around you Conversation doesn't come naturally to everyone. Some of us need a little practice, and that's totally normal. Whether you’re talking wit...
How to
Teach Direct and Indirect Speech
Direct and indirect speech, also known collectively as reported speech, refer to the ways in which a person can report what someone else has said to them. To effectively teach reported speech to your students, it’s imp...
A Guide to Writing School Speeches: Structure, Delivery, & More
Sway voters to elect you for student council or club leadership If you’re running for office in school elections, delivering your candidate speech can be one of the most important parts of the whole process. And you c...
How to
Be a Good Debater
It doesn't matter whether you're debating from a podium or you're just fighting with your mom at home: a few simple rules apply to arguing like a pro. When you use effective communication, a well-placed argument, and rea...
