Lilly Perez Blog 1

 

Jake Villa - Post 1

These last few days we’ve been able to watch each of the groups present on a chapter discussing public speaking. I thought that it was an interesting way of teaching to not only reading the chapters but also having the information presented by my classmates and reading how they perceived the chapters also. Each group presented in a different way and they had both good and bad aspects to their presentations. Overall, watching each of the groups to me, that helped us gain a better sense of what public speaking is all about because it showed us so many aspects that are all parts of giving a speech.

Group 1: We did chapters 1, 2, 3, 5. It had a chapter each on the topics; 'public speaking', 'gaining confidence', 'active listening', and 'how to be listened to'. I think the group introduced the most important concepts in a good way.

One thing that i did find quite important with it all was how to give people confidence, pretty much everyone that gives a presentation could be nervous in the beginning, or with new people who aren’t there often.

But even if they know what you are talking about so well, such nervousness can even worsen their situation. I’m also think be on stage is interesting as some don’t teach how to do it the way other do.

I think that Group 1 could have taken a little more time to go over some of their topics. I found two spots where they seemed to skim over some information that could have been better conveyed had a few more examples been used. However, they didn't have a very long presentation so it moved a little faster. On a whole I do feel that the author(s) made a solid effort at introducing us to the content of the book, and concisely explained the central themes of each chapter.

My group was group 2, and our chapters were 4, 6, 7, and 8. Each group then had chapters covering purpose and topic, researching your topic and evidence, main points to support your topic and, lastly, an outline. I think these chapters relate very well because they are talking about ways you take your main idea and turn it into a speech. Well first you think of an topic that you want to do, then you do a project about it, then you go do a research about it, then you look for facts to make you idea become come true and last of all organize all the information.

The core of my speech was Chapter 7, Supporting Your Ideas. It covered the various materials that can be used to support a speech. The types of evidence to support 1 of my main points was: testimony, facts, definitions, narratives, examples and statistics. In my opinion this was the best chapter for a great idea is only no good if you do not have some data to support it.

Stories or examples can help relate an idea to your audience. A definition can illuminate a point with which the audience may not be acquainted. Testimony can explain the viewpoint or expertise of an authority figure or someone who has prior experience. Some facts make an argument and some statistics can help support the size, shape or direction of that problem.

I also inserted a short video that was about using a statistic in a speech for my presentation. I liked seeing that you were trying a new variety of presentation that included something a bit new other than just slideshow afterslideshow and you guys can see the results that we are able to achieve rather than just hear us go off about it. Videos and visual aids make the whole presentation much interesting and relevant to the viewers if they are correctly used and presented well in accordance to the whole topic of presentation.

Our group's weak point may have been our presentation length. We did have four chapters, which is rather a bit. So, you think that the message got across? - Yeah, I think so, the message, pretty okay, but there were parts where I thought you could have been a bit quicker.

I’d rather go at the rate I need to actually explain things rather than blast through and end up up here all day.

The experience for me was to find the right mix.

Group 3 was responsible for chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12. Group 3's chapters introduced how to start and end your speech, using language, using presentation media in speech, and speaking. I’m assuming that these are really good because preparing a speech is something else entirely. That’s not the same thing as actually making a speech to an audience. But not only have we got the content of the speech to think about, we also have got to think of the way in which we deliver the speech, and ways of engaging the interest of our audience.

One other thing I picked up on from Group 3 was that they could have put a little more energy into their presentation. What they said was interesting, but it could have been more lively and interesting to make the viewers want to pay attention. Funny how that really relates to their topic because, the way someone gets something to the public could affect how they accept it. The most brilliant person with the most interesting subject can still bore their audience if they do not appear excited by what they are discussing.

Group 4 covered: Chapters 13-17. The chapters the members have presented consist of;informative speaking, persuasive speaking, understanding argument, presenting to audiencesat adistance and in the media, and special event and group presentations. I think that their part is interesting as they worked in cases when the person might be needed to perform a speech. Formal speaking is much more common in persuasive and informative speaking, and I find it to be very useful.

Another thing I liked about Group 4 was the slide appearance. They’d come up with a bright colour scheme and brought a multitude of visual aids with them. One thing I didn't like as much was that I thought some of their slides had way too much written on them.

When you have a slide with a lot of words on it, the audience is busy reading and can't focus on what the speaker is saying.

I think that they would have had more of an effect in their presentation had they some of the same background on all the slides, but had more space on the pages and less content.

The project managers also played a part in the presentations. Although they did a first and final presentation (not every other chapters as most of the groups), I still felt that they had a good introduction and concluding slides. I think that their introductions transitioned well into the presentations and the closing brought everything together. I liked having the transitions to connect the project together.

Things I learn from my chapter 1 item that I was new to, which I learnt was that a good speech just begins with a good idea. You need good and applicable supporting material to help make your ideas more clear and more interesting to the audience. That the supporting material backs your idea not replace your idea and that your example should clearly identified in that chapter also went to show you.

Having seen all of you speak, I think I now have a better appreciation for what goes into a successful speech. You don't just stand up in front of the audience and speak. You select your audience, do your homework, back up everything that you have to say, construct your speech properly, get excellent visuals and also present it in a method which will certainly ensure that everyone gets it in addition to appreciates what is taking place! I think each group had a worthwhile piece of info to share and the differing delivery styles really gave me an insight into how to do a similar project.