Jeronimo Castano's BLOG #1

    These past weeks in my speech class, we had four groups who presented different chapters from our public speaking textbook. Together, all of these presentations helped build and fully explain all the elements which go into being an effective speaker and presenter. Rather than just reading about public speaking strategies, we were able to see them in action through our classmates delivery styles, slide designs, and organization. As I watched all the groups present, it was able to give me the chance to reflect on what works well, what could be improved, and how I personally performed when it was my turn to speak. Seeing these concepts being applied in real presentations made the material feel more realistic and useful, especially because we will have to use these skills throughout the rest of the course. Overall, I think these presentations helped me better understand how preparation, organization, and delivery all come together to create an effective speech. 

    Starting off, the first group presented Chapters 1,2,3, and 5, which mainly focused on the foundations of public speaking.  Their presentation did a good job in explaining how public speaking is an evolving skill that anyone can improve with practice. One part that stood out to me was their discussion of speech anxiety.  It was very helpful to hear that feeling nervous is normal and that even speakers that are experienced still deal with this anxiety. The presenters explained that being prepared and practicing your material can help reduce nerves and make your delivery sound more natural.  I also really liked how they talked about listening and the difference between simply hearing someone versus actively listening. This idea stood out to me because it applies not only to speeches but also to everyday conversations with friends, teachers, and family members.  Their section on adapting to your audience was also very important because it reminded me that speech should not be targeting one singular type of audience, rather multiple people. Also, A speaker has to think about who they are talking to and adjust their examples and language in order to better connect with their audiences.

    Next was my group. We presented chapter 4,6,7, and 8, which focused more on preparing and organizing a speech.  Our presentation helped to show how much work actually goes into creating a strong speech before you even begin to present.  We explained how choosing a good topic is important because the speakers needs to be interested in it, and it should also be a topic which the audience will care about. Our specific topic on research was one of my favorite parts because it really emphasized credibility. Furthermore, using reliable resources, balancing personal experience with outside research, and being able to properly cite information all help to make a speech seem more trustworthy. We also got into the topic of plagiarism and why avoiding it is very important, which is something which applies to all classes. 

    For my part in the project, I presented the last part of chapter 7. This section focused on supporting materials and how speakers can use different types of examples and evidence to make their ideas clearer and more convincing.  I explained how speakers can use definitions, analogies, testimonies, facts and even statistics to go more in depth on the topic and support their main points. These tools help make the audience better understand the topic and see why it matters. While preparing for this section, I realized how important it is to not just state opinions in a speech, but to back them up with accurate evidence. Moving on, while presenting, I felt a little nervous, but i tried to stay calm and speak clearly. I also made sure to keep my slides as simple as possible, avoiding loading it with too much text so the audience can focus on what I was saying instead of just reading it from the slides. I think I did a good job explaining the material, however I know I can still improve a bit on pacing and confidence in future presentations. 

    The third group covered Chapters 9 through 12, which focused on structuring and delivering a speech. Their presentation helped explain how introductions and conclusions are especially important because most people remeber the beginning and end of a speech the most. I really liked the way how they explained ways to create strong openings and closing that leave a good impression on the audience. Another section which stood out to me was their language section. The main reason is because it showed how word choice, tone, and communication style can affect how a message is received. They also discussed how speakers should adapt their language based on their audiences demographics. Their next part on the media was also very well presented as it showed how visuals and audio tools can significantly help a presentation if used accurately. Further on the topic of media, they also explained that you should practice beforehand to make sure you do not experience any technical difficulties when presenting. Overall, there presentation was very well done. 

    Finally, the fourth group presented Chapter 13 through 17, which focused on different types of speeches and how context affects communication. They started off by explaining the difference between informative and persuasive speeches and how persuasion is different from manipulation. I found this important because it showed how persuasion should be ethical and respectful, not forceful. Furthermore, their section on arguments helped clarify to me how logos, ethos, and pathos work together to strengthen a speech. They also talked about distance speaking and how virtual presentations require different strategies than in person speeches. Due to all of our presentations being online, this part is especially relatable because it talks about the importance of lighting, camera placement, and background and how professional a speaker can appear because of these elements. Their final section on special occasion speeches stood out to me as well because it showed how tone and content should match the event, something which was previously stated.     

    Looking at all four groups as a whole, it helped me realize how every part of the public speaking process is connected. Choosing a topic, researching, organizing ideas, supporting claims, and delivering the speech all work together to shape how audiences experience and see the presentation. As I watched my classmates present, it also helped me to think about my own strength and weaknesses as a speaker. Seeing the difference between a confident and nervous speaker in real time made the advice in the textbook feel more real and easier to understand. Overall, these presentations helped me gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be an effective speaker.