Create effective cue cards

Having well-organized cue cards gives you added security when you take the stage. However, if you keep your eyes glued to your cue cards, you may neglect to inject gestures and facial expressions into your presentation. Follow these tips to write cue cards that aid—not hamper—your speech: 

• Don’t write out your entire speech. Include an outline and word prompts to jog your memory—don’t jot down every word. 
• Write in short phrases. Use only a few words per line so that you can quickly glance at the cards and continue speaking.
• Write big. Make your cues easy to see with large print. 
• Use one topic per card. That will allow you to easily organize your thoughts and skip over topics if you are running short on time.
• Number your cards to keep them in the right order.
• Cue visual aid usage. Write on the cards where you plan to use visuals.

—Adapted from “Cue Cards: How to Make and Use Them Effectively,” Susan Dugdale, www.write-out-loud.com.