Blog Post #1 - Chapter Presentations Reflection - by Giselle Iskandarani

 Hi, my name is Giselle, and this is my reflection of the chapter presentations.

This is the first in a series of blog posts I will be posting frequently with the purpose of detailing my perspective onwhat I have learned from the presentations given in my Introduction to Speech class at Miami-Dade College. I cameinto this class hoping to learn a lot, as I believe being able to communicate with others, especially a large group ofpeople, is the key to success. In my daily life I often need to speak with a lot of people, with the professor leadingmy research project, with the boards of clubs I am president of, and with the kids at my jobs. Thankfully, so far Ibelieve my hopes have been met and I’ve learned so much I can apply in these space.Throughout the chapter presentations, I learned that public speaking involves far more thansimply standing in front of an audience and talking. Together, each group's presentation taught me so much about thedifferent aspects of public speaking.

Group 1 presented Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 5 which focused on the basics of public speaking. There was a huge focus on understanding your audience which I thought was a very prominent part of speech I sometimes forget. There are times the people around me complain I talk to them as if I am speaking to the eight year olds I work with. Thus, I found the reminder and explanation to be worthwhile and something I have been trying to take into consideration before I speak. As of yet, no one has complained about me speaking to them as if they are in the wrong age group! I also found the part about speech anxiety to be particularly helpful as I often lose track of what I am saying as soon as I am in front of a big group. From the group I learned it is best to prepare for the speech and pick topics I am passionate about to prevent this.

Now that I understood the fundamentals, Group 2 taught me how to perfect a speech and make it great. The group presented Chapters 4, 6, 7, and 8. I learned that there are a great many things that go into making a successful speech, but what stood out the most was interviewing experts in order to conduct research for a speech. I thought this part was super interesting as I had already assumed the internet and the library could be used for this, but I hadn’t ever considered talking to an expert. I have already found a way to apply this by interviewing the creator of the Coral City Camera youtube channel, which features a constant live stream with a perspective underneath the waters of a Miami boardwalk for a presentation I have to do on native and invasive species in Miami.

Group 3 was my group, which made this presentation especially exciting and meaningful for me. Our group presented Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12, which focus on how a speech is delivered and how the audience experiences it. The section I presented focused on delivery and nonverbal communication, and it made me realize how many factors can affect a speech beyond just what is being said. One part that really stood out to me was learning about barriers between the speaker and the audience. Before this presentation, I had never seriously considered how something as simple as a podium could affect a speech. I learned that physical barriers can make a speaker seem distant or disconnected from the audience, even if the speech itself is strong. I have often seen podiums used in speeches and never questioned if this hurt or helped a speaker’s connection to the audience. Now, I am much more aware of how positioning and body language play a role in audience engagement. I have tried to incorporate these lessons into my work with kids; when I know a day will require me to talk longer before beginning an activity I try to prepare a room with the least amount of distractions. The presentation was also special for me because this presentation was my turn to speak. I was nervous at first but I ended up proud of how well the speech went and relieved that the preparation paid off. I made my planning sheet exactly as the book recommended and can safely say I felt much more comfortable presenting the speech than I have in the past.

My group’s presentation included more than just what I covered of course. I enjoyed seeing how my group membersalso took to heart their presentations advice: for example, Ricardo recommended asking questions to keep theaudience engaged and his speech included many thought-provoking questions.

Group 4 presented Chapters: 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 concluded the chapter presentations by covering different types of speeches, including informative, persuasive, and special occasion speeches, as well as speaking in group and distance settings. This helped me see how these skills extend beyond the classroom and into my academic research. Their discussion of informative and persuasive speaking made me more aware of how I should frame my research depending on the audience I am presenting to. In the future, when explaining my biofuel project to classmates, I should focus on informative speaking by clearly explaining what biofuels are, how my research helps produce them, and why it matters. However, when presenting the same research to professors or potential funders, I should apply persuasive techniques by emphasizing the environmental impact and feasibility of biofuels as a sustainable energy alternative. I also liked Group 4’s discussion about organizing speeches around cause-and-effect structures, which I could apply to my research presentations by explaining how the cause: reliance on fossil fuels leads to environmental harm, and the effect: biofuels become a viable alternative solution. I liked learning about this shift in how to structure and present my speeches as it will be incredibly beneficial helping me communicate my work more clearly while keeping the audience focused.

Overall, each group's presentation taught me something I had never considered before that I could apply in real-life.Most importantly, this experience reinforced my belief that strong communication is essential, and I look forward tocontinuing to build my public speaking skills throughout this course and beyond.