Five Lessons

1. Present a clear plan

• State what it will accomplish
• State how it will be accomplished

2. Know your side well

• Know your strongest arguments
  • Point them out
• Know your weaknesses
  • Prepare your defenses

3. Know the other sides well

• Know their strongest arguments
  • Prepare your defenses
• Know their weaknesses
  • Point them out

4. Address the panel's likely criteria directly

• Write down the panel's likely criteria that they will use to make their decision.
• For each one, point out the criterion and state how your plan best meets the criterion.

5. Be persuasive

• Speak to the panel members
• Use visual aids
• Use facts vs. emotion appropriately
• Sound informed
• Be enthusiastic