Jennifer's Clark Blog Post #2

Throughout this unit, our class explored different eras of American changemakers, and each group approached their presentations with unique perspectives, research styles, and speaking strengths. Watching all four groups helped me understand not only the historical impact of the figures they chose, but also the different ways students communicate information, handle nerves, and engage an audience. As I listened to each presenter, I found myself paying attention to both the content and the delivery, how clearly, they spoke, how confidently they presented, and how effectively they used their slides or videos. Altogether, these presentations gave me a deeper appreciation for the individuals who shaped our country.

The first presentation focused on the constitutional authors, and each student covered a different figure who helped shape the early United States. DorisAnn opened with James Madison, describing his sharp intellect, his deep understanding of government, and his role as the fourth president. She explained how he helped design a system that balanced freedom with stability and how he led the nation through the War of 1812. She spoke clearly and seemed well‑researched, even including personal details about his life. She talked a bit fast, which made me think she might have been nervous, but overall, she did a strong job and even added a video to support her points. Fiorella followed with Benjamin Franklin, highlighting his work as a printer, writer, and self‑educated thinker. She mentioned his role in drafting the Declaration of Independence, his time at the University of Philadelphia, and his invention of the lightning rod. She spoke clearly and seemed prepared, though she used “um” a few times, which didn’t take away from her presentation. She also included a video.

Adrienne presented on Alexander Hamilton, explaining how he reshaped the U.S. financial system, strengthened federal authority, and established the controversial national bank. She noted his influence on the ongoing debate between federal and state power. She seemed slightly less confident than in previous presentations but still appeared well‑researched. Camila then spoke about George Mason. Although he is not widely known, she explained his contributions clearly and confidently, showing that she understood her material. Angelina presented George Washington, emphasizing his integrity, leadership, and the trust he earned from the American public. She explained how his support helped the Constitution gain acceptance and included a video as well. She spoke clearly and confidently. Brooke concluded with Robert Sherman, explaining that he was born in 1721, became a lawyer, contributed politically to the United States, and played a role in the Great Compromise. Even though she had missed the first class, she still presented her information well. She sat up straight, looked at the audience, and added details beyond her slides. Overall, the group showed that the forefathers were forward‑thinking and progressive for their time.

My group presented next, focusing on changemakers from the 1800s. Jehu went first, and even though he arrived late, he still delivered a solid presentation on his figure. Jero followed and presented fairly well. I was the third presenter and spoke about Florence Nightingale. I felt that I researched her thoroughly, reading multiple articles and watching videos to understand her impact. If anything, I think I could improve by looking at my notes less and focusing more on the Zoom screen, but overall, I think I did okay. Giuliana presented Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, and even included an interview with someone from the organization. I thought that was a unique and impressive addition, and the interviewee gave thoughtful answers to her questions. Kevin presented next and spoke about Andrew Carnegie. He had a lot of information, spoke clearly, and used strong visuals to support his points. Krystian closed our group with John D. Rockefeller. He spoke confidently and clearly, using minimal bullet points while explaining Rockefeller’s goal of expanding educational opportunities for young people. Altogether, our group showed strong research and a variety of presentation styles.

The third group covered changemakers from the 2000s. Ricardo presented on Barack Obama, the 44th president, and discussed his leadership during the 2008 recession and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which I thought was an important point to include. He also talked about Obama’s work after leaving office and added a strong video showing his continued influence. He seemed a little nervous, but he clearly researched his topic well. Luciana presented on Vivek Murthy, explaining his role as U.S. Surgeon General and his advocacy for mental health funding. She had a lot of information on her slides and tended to read from them, but she still presented the material clearly. Louie spoke about Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. He explained her background as a public defender and included a video about her appointment. He spoke clearly and added information beyond what was written on his slides. Griselly presented George W. Bush, the first president with an MBA. She spoke clearly and had well‑organized slides, though she also read from them at times. Monica presented Stacey Abrams, describing her work as a voting rights leader and her efforts to expand voter registration. She had a good amount of notes and seemed prepared. Madelay presented Alejandro Mayorkas, the first Latino Secretary of Homeland Security. She spoke clearly and had a solid amount of information. Giselle concluded with Sonia Sotomayor, explaining her early career, her major Supreme Court cases, and her involvement with iCivics. She spoke very clearly, did not seem nervous, and included quotes and detailed information. Overall, this group’s presentations were very thorough, and many of the changemakers they discussed had attended Harvard or other major institutions. Their interviews and research were detailed and well‑organized.

The fourth presentation covered changemakers from the 1900s. Raquel began with Alice Paul, a leader in the women’s suffrage movement who helped write the Equal Rights Amendment and contributed to the 19th Amendment. She spoke clearly and confidently, almost like she presents often. Yanasey followed with Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting his role in the civil rights movement and his “I Have a Dream” speech. She spoke slowly and clearly with strong bullet points. Sandra presented Ruth Bader Ginsburg, explaining her struggles as a woman in law during a time when firms rarely hired women. She discussed Ginsburg’s cultural influence and her role as the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court. Yen presented Jonas Salk, the creator of the polio vaccine, and explained how he wanted to help people from a young age. His slides had a lot of information, showing that he researched thoroughly. Terrell presented Nelson Mandela, a global racial justice activist. He seemed nervous and stumbled over his words, but he still gave a meaningful presentation. Elizabeth concluded with Betty Friedan, an American writer and activist who wrote The Feminine Mystique. She spoke clearly, had good bullet points, and added information beyond her slides.

The class managers, Cassandra and Hailie, wrapped up the presentations. Hailie summarized the constitutional authors and the 1800s changemakers, reading their names and explaining their contributions. Cassandra covered the 1900s and 2000s groups with a similar slide setup. Their conclusion tied everything together and showed how each era had its own influential figures.

Overall, watching all four groups helped me understand how different changemakers shaped American history, but it also helped me reflect on public speaking itself. Every presenter had their own strengths, some spoke confidently, some relied more on their slides, and some added creative elements like interviews or videos. Seeing so many different approaches helped me think about how I present and what I can continue improving. This assignment taught me about history, but it also taught me about communication, preparation, and the importance of presenting information clearly and confidently.