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Tips for Skillfully Reading Aloud
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  1. Read from a print copy 
    Always read from print, and never read aloud from a computer screen. Make your font large. Double space. Make it easy to read so you can focus on your voice.
     
  2. Read with expression
    Let your voice reflect your opinion of the personality of each character.
     
  3. Read loudly
    When we read quietly, we are more likely to mumble. Read like you are reading without a microphone to a large group of people.
     
  4. Pronounce every word.
     
  5. Use inflection intentionally
    Inflection occurs when you change the pitch or tone of your voice as you say a particular word in order to emphasize something. 
  •  
    I didn't say Sammy stole my beer.
    I didn't say     Sammy stole my beer.
  • I didn't say Sammy stole my beer.
  • I didn't say Sammy stole my beer.
  • I didn't say Sammy stole my beer.
  • I didn't say Sammy stole my beer.
  • I didn't say Sammy stole my beer.
     
   6. Vary your pace
        Don't read sentence by sentence, all at the same pace. Vary your pace   
        intentionally. Read chunks of text together in a conversational manner.
 
    7. Capture your punctuation
        Punctuation isn't just for writing. It's really there for reading, and now
        that you are reading aloud, you need to observe the choices you made
        while writing. 
 
    8. Pause
        Use silence intentionally. Pause for emphasis.
What If You Don't Like What You Hear
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  1. Revise your writing
    If you don't like the way your writing sounds when you read it aloud, then you probably feel unhappy with your writing. 
    • Vary your sentence length.
    • Replace repetitive words.
    • If you find yourself saying something different than you wrote, replace what you wrote with what you want to say.
    • Revise your punctuation.
    • Bold certain phrases that you want to emphasize when you read.​
       
  2. Practice reading it aloud
    No one gets it right the first time. You will need to practice reading each part of your essay many times before you feel you have captured your authentic voice--the one your hear in your head when you read your work.
     
  3. Get used to hearing your recorded voice
    Most people don't the sound of their own voice when they hear it recorded. There are reasons for this, but the best way to get past it is to practice recording and get to used to hearing your own voice.
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