When learning to speak in public it is always best to practice before going on stage. Practicing will allow you to become comfortable with your material and will limit the times that you look at your notes. Practice makes Perfect.
1) Read your speech in front of someone (such as a Speaking center consultant) and ask for feedback
2) Edit your speech including suggestions that may have been given
3) Read your speech in front of someone else to get a different point of view (or have someone read your speech back to you so you can hear if it makes sense)
4) Edit the speech once more
5) Read speech to self
6) Practice speech at least 13 times
Other things that may be done are to go to the Speaking Center and allow yourself to be videotaped. Watch the video to see what needs to be worked on in the case of body movements, eye contact and how loud you have to be.
