Sometimes, you want to make an emotional case when you’re speaking or presenting. And, sometimes, you want to make a logical case.

Here are a few tips to consider if you need to make a logical case:

1. Explain the structure of the speech before you start. For example, you might say, “Today I’ll be explaining how the new service works. After an overview, we’ll focus on the three most important issues; and then I would be pleased to take your questions.” And, to wrap up your presentation, you would reiterate the overview you began with, and touch again on each of the three points.

2. You’ll notice I said “three” points. Almost all experts recommend that your speech have no more than three points. You could cut back to two points, but don’t use four or more. In a verbal presentation, it seems our minds won’t easily handle any more than three points. If for some reason you need to make more than three points, perhaps you can group all of the individual points into three categories.

3. In setting out those three points, start with the one that’s most important. Most listeners will remember the first one best. Your second most important point should come last; that’s third, of course, if you stay with the three-points rule of thumb. And, your other points would go in the middle.

4. As you start each point, hold up the appropriate number of fingers: So, for example, when you start your second point, you would hold up two fingers (on the same hand), and say something like, “Moving to our second point…” Holding up fingers provides a visual, as well as oral, reference point.

5. Change your position after each section or point. After you finish the introduction, for example, pause and walk a few feet to one side or the other. If you started behind a lectern, move away to one side of it after the introduction and before you start on the first point. When you finish the first point, pause and walk to the other side of the lectern before starting on the second point, and so on.

6. Finally, you’ll find your logical case is better accepted if you do everything in moderation. Use pretty much the same pitch and volume throughout the presentation, for example. Similarly, mute your gestures, so that you do nothing too dramatically or too quickly.