The Atlanta Urban Debate League is committed to providing excellent debate education programs, services, and opportunities to diverse students, educators, and members of the community!
Engaging an Audience
Eye contact. Eye contact by far is one of the most important ways to establish a connection between you and your audience.
DO: Allocate attention to each person in the room one at a time. Focus on one person at a time, and when you feel as though you’ve really connected with that person, move to the next (if there is another person).
DON’T: Stare at the ground, or at something in the distance, or to your side.
DON’T: Be a chicken/owl/gecko (turning your head back and forth and trying to split your eye contact between everyone in the room).
Body language. With eye contact, body language is the other visual method you engage your audience.
Hands.
DO: Use natural hand movements
DO: Keep all hand gestures ABOVE the torso.
DON’T: Avoid nervous tics like flailing arms/repetitive hand motions.
Face. Keep it natural!
DO: Keep good eye contact!
DON’T: Make weird face movements.
Legs.
DON’T: Rock back and forth on their legs (practice in front of the mirror)
OPTIONAL/ADVANCED: It’s acceptable to walk in between each one of the main structures in your speech.
Posture. Posture is key to confidence! Superman pose!
DO: Have a good posture. This includes straight back, chin up, chest out.
DON’T: shrink, hunch, etc.