Blog 1---Chapters Presentation Reflection---Louie Alvarez
Welcome to the ever-evolving world of Public Speaking! My name is Louie and I have never paid too much thought into how we speak to each other, much less to group audiences such as speeches, presentations, and addresses. However, there is much I have learned from my very own chapters presentations that my fellow classmates and I have done. Join alongside me in this adventure as we reflect in my thoughts and learn about what I gained from this project and its presentations!
At the start of our unexpected journey, we delve into chapters 1,2,3, and 5 which were presented by my fellow classmates Angelina, Fiorella, Camila, DorisAnn, Adriel, Adrienne, and Brooke. Adrienne began with chapter 1, explaining how public speaking is an evolving art and understanding the foundations of public speaking. Adrienne does a wonderful job summarizing the chapters and explaining the importance of audience-centered speaking and being able to adapt your message to your listeners. She also follows up by explaining the importance of ethics and establishing credibility when delivering a speech. Although both concepts seemed simple to understand, once she explained each aspect that consisted within basic communication models, it refined my understanding on where each lesson is applied in public speaking. Chapter also wraps up by initiating the speech making process with an introduction that acknowledges who its audience is and the topic that will be discussed followed up by conducting research and organizing data. Overall, Adrienne showed refined foundational rhetoric of the evolving art of public speaking!
Guiding me through chapter 2 is Angelina who explains some of the causes of speech anxiety. From having uncertainty about what your topic is and/or purpose as a speaker, she established a connection with myself and other students by admitting that she has felt that social anxiety as well. As the chapter reflects on other causes of social anxiety such as have doubts of delivering the speech, fear of audience reaction, and even anxiety about where they present their speech, Angelina translates how uncertainty can increase this anxiety. With a fear of being judged, worrying about forgetting what to say in your speech, feeling stressed because you do not know how to use what is around you, and an overall lack of preparation, I could recall moments in my life that I have felt that way and the anxiety I had presenting! Luckily, my guides, Angelina and Adriel, save the day by demonstrating solutions to counter act this anxiety and build confidence!
By now I had learned a vast amount of knowledge on public speaking that I had only known Intuitively, but Fiorella teaches me that with Chapter 3 is not only about the importance of speaking but also listening. Listening is a crucial way of learning public speaking as you learn how it feels to be the audience and learn to gain confidence as a speaker by understanding grabs your attention and keep you focused on the speech. This also helped me realize that I should start listening more and not just hearing! Brooke, following up from Fiorella's teachings, revealed that there are ethical duties that must be upheld as a speaker, such as ensuring your speech is well researched, credible, respectful, and speaks no misinformation. I did not know the magnitude of importance and power that a speaker's words could hold!
Leading into chapter 5 was Camila and DorisAnn, who both showed the importance of understanding what an audience is and how to implement research that is centered around a target audience to further retain their attention and keep them listening. By analyzing environmental factors, time, target audience, and research that directly applies to them, an experienced speaker can captivate an audience's attention even if it is a Friday afternoon heading straight towards the weekend!
Venturing into chapters 4,6,7, and 8 is Kevin, Krystian, Jehu, Giuliana, Jennifer, and Jeronimo guiding us on getting ready for a successful presentation. Kevin begins with chapter 4, where we develop our purpose and topic. Here, we ask ourselves, "What is the goal of my speech?" This involves three types of speeches to choose from: to inform, persuade, or celebrate. Afterwards, Kevin explains how I should brainstorm ideas for my topic and to not judge them but pick which fits best to the type of speech I want to develop. Krystian then follows up on chapter 4, teaching the importance of speech and its key aspects of ethos, pathos, and logos that are critical to every speech. Also, the importance of a thesis for a topic and further brainstorming is crucial as Krystian describes it as critical aspects of the speech developing process.
Jehu starts off chapter 6 explaining how research is vital to making my speech, and where to find good, credible research, suggesting different forms of library resources I can trust and online keywords to help refine my search for information. Giuliana helps guide me to create my own research by teaching me an interview guide to gain hands-on experience for my speech. She also points out important notes to not plagiarize and ensure that my research is relevant and applied correctly.
Chapter 7 is explained by Jennifer who teaches the different types of narratives and examples and how to implement them correctly to enhance my speech, while Jeronimo continues by explaining different applications of definitions and testimony and how integrating both can seamlessly enhance my speech as well. With all these tools to build a speech I thought I learned all there was to developing speeches, but Giuliana showed me, through chapter 8, how to outline my speech and explained each key component to making a speech complete.
Moving onto chapter 9,10,11, and 12 was Louie (me :D), Madelay, Giselle, Luciana, Monica, and Ricardo. Starting with Ricardo on chapter 9, he explains the primary and recency effect as a mental note to always focus on maintaining the audience's attention, as well as, developing my introduction to grasp the audience's attention and establishing credibility so they know what I speak about has gravitas and importance. Ricardo did very well at emulating what he taught me and it reflects the importance of doing so as well! Lastly, Ricardo teaches key points to developing a conclusion to ensure my speech has a lasting impact to the audience.
Following along was Madelay with chapter 10 speaking on the various types of language that people use and how culture impacts what they mean and how we use them. She also explains that there are differing types of communication styles and ways to keep your speech formal and understood. Monica continues chapter 10 by focusing on audience-centered language. This would include clear and meaningful words that help your audience relate and understand you as you tie them into your speech.
Continuing the end of chapter 11 and onto chapter 12 is myself, with chapter 11 wrapping up how to present media effectively using key pointers like practicing, preparing equipment ahead of time, having confidence, and presenting facing the audience and not to your presentation. Chapter 12 consisted of how to deliver your speech, beginning with you delivery method. There are 4 types of speech methods with differing applications, but the most applicable is Extemporaneous, or a planned speech. Continuing forward was me listing certain factors that can affect how your audience can receive your speech, whether its cultural difference, gender, fluency, dialect, or disability and how to circumvent those challenges. I also give some general tips on managing one's voice during a speech like controlling your breath, varying your pitch and rate of speech, articulation and projection, and avoiding vocalized pauses.
Giselle continues chapter 12 by focusing on body language during a speech, emphasizing on looking presentable, facing the audience with appropriate expressions and good posture, and moving with purpose. She also continues by teaching how to manage an audience through involving them in your speech, allocating their time properly, and accommodating to their needs. The final tip for chapter 12 is to prepare for any questions as an attentive audience member may be prepared to ask after any given speech.
The final chapters 13, 14,15,16, and 17 are lead by Raquel, Yen, Elizabeth, and Yanasey. Yen begins chapter 13 by focusing on how to develop an informative speech and what it is, and he includes tips to make it effective like connecting topics to the audience's experiences or using vivid language to display imagery of the topic to the audience. Raquel continues onto chapter 14 with learning about persuasive speaking and how it differs from informative speech and manipulation. She continues with practical persuasion which is persuasive speaking put into practice for a speech, which is to encourage your audience to act upon the topic you speak of. She also notes that persuasive speech usually focus on consequences that focus on questions of fact, value, or policy. Lastly, she notes how it is crucial to adapt a persuasive speech in accordance to the audience as she lists types of audiences you can have for a persuasive speech, such as a negative or apathetic audience.
Chapter 15 is about the key components to making an effective argument, which is lead by Yanasey. She notes that Arguments support questions of fact, value, and/or policy, as well as requiring a claim, evidence, and reasoning to structure a good argument. She then lists of different types of evidence that can be used for an argument such as logos or pathos. The same is also applied towards different types of reasoning, whether it is deductive, inductive, causal, or analogical.
Raquel returns again to lead chapter 16 with a focus on distance speaking, a presentation that is done online or not in the same physical space as the presenter. This often involves presenting through a video conference, online presentation, or telephone meetings. In preparation for these meetings, Raquel suggests being vocally and visually engaging, wear proper attire with good lighting, and use visual media effectively. Raquel then shows how all this can be applied as a media spokesperson and the opportunities that exist for it.
Elizabeth guides me through the final chapter wherein it explains special occasions and group speaking, with certain examples of them being tributes, toasts, or acceptance speeches. She briefly goes over them stating that each should be concise and respectful. Finally, she explains the general aspects that goes into group speaking, consisting of each member speaking on specific sections of a topic, group planning, clear roles for each group member, and group practice and teamwork.
With each opportunity to get to know my fellow classmates and learn much of what is public speaking, this group presentation was a wonderful learning experience to understand more of the different forms of public speaking and how I can become more confident in presenting while making friends along the way!
Loved this!!
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