FAQ >
Tips for Visual Layout of Oral Statement when Testifying Before
Congress
These tips
are included in the course materials for our course
Preparing and Delivering
Testimony Before Congress.
- Use a large font
- Do NOT use all caps (capitalized
letters do not have ascenders and descenders which provide visual cues
for quick recognition when reading)
- Double space
- Leave wide margins
- Leave a very, very wide footer
(about a third of the page) so that when you read the statement, your
eyes/head will not bow down to look at the bottom of the page
- Use indents or “overhanging indents”
for each paragraph start, or even each sentence
- Print only on one side of each page
- Never split a sentence on to 2 pages
Tips for an Effective Oral Statement
- Limit the presentation to 3 to 5
main points
- Use enumeration to clearly emphasize
points:
- My first point is . . ., my second
point is . . ., my third point is . .
- Use a creative, engaging enumeration
phrase such as:
- Our first goal is . . . Our second
goal is . . .
- The first piece of evidence is . .
. The second piece of evidence is . . .
- Our first challenge is . . . Our
second challenge is . . .
Also see
-
"Congressional Investigations: Subpoenas and Contempt Power," by
Louis Fisher, Congressional Research Service, Report RL31836,
updated April 2, 2003 (pdf)
-
"Congressional Oversight," by Frederick Kaiser, Congressional
Research Service, Report 97-936 GOV, updated January 3, 2006 (pdf)
-
"Hearings in the House of Representatives: A Guide for Preparation and
Procedure," by Richard Sachs, Congressional Research Service, Report
RL30539, updated June 13, 2006 (30-page pdf)
Quick
DC Links - Washington Essentials
URL: TheCapitol.Net/FAQ/oraltestimonytips.htm
Last updated:
April 04, 2008 |