Practise with Your Media

After reading chapter 11, I picked up upon a few good aspects that would be helpful for my next presentation when using media. After reading about practising with your media, I learned that the most important thing is to use your media in a way that is helpful for the listeners, integrating in a way that's as smooth as possible. I felt that many times fear that our use of technology can be uneasy, and in order to avoid this fear completely, I think that it is important that we constantly practise until feeling comfortable. Effectively managing technology is vital especially when definite mishaps are most likely to occur. Also, making sure to keep the focus on the audience and not the media is important as well . Glancing from media, and back to audience is important for any speaker. Acknowledging the audience is key and making sure that they feel apart of the speech will avoid losing their attention span. I think that the book made it a good point of using your media to enhance the major points of the topic, however. In any case I find myself using my media but avoiding my audience members. Chapter 11 gives great tips to find that happy medium.

Reflect on Public Speaking Event

Last week in my English 1B class, we had a presentation on one of our favorite authors. The speaker did a good job in presenting the data, however. The media that he used was both effective but almost distracting. I felt that the speaker's use of media could have been more effective. I was almost more distracted by the amount of information on every power point slide. I think that had the PowerPoint slides had less info, it would had been more effective and less overwhelming. I think that in order for the PowerPoint to be more useful, it should have had only the major points of the presentation. That way, the listeners could have been more in tuned with the information that the speaker was not talking about. The media was effective at some other points in which had less information and more of the main points. That was when i understood most and gained much out of the presentation. Watching the speaker and the use with the media made me realize how i wanted to relate what I want to say.

Self Eval

In this last speech, I felt that I defiantly improved from what I had accomplished the first time, however. I do think that like every speech there is much improvement to be done. After watching the tapes, I learned that there are several skills that can be improved and altered. There were good points and other skills that could be fixed for the final speech. Hopefully after watching and re-watching the videos I can learn more about several was that my communication skills can be altered for the future.
After reviewing my speech I do think that i did achieve my purpose for my speech. In the begining I felt confident, and overall, ready. As the speech continued I felt my self go in and out of nervousness. Overall, I think that I am the type of person, that when avoids feeling nervous, can. When i give into to feeling anxious, I allow the feelings to overwhelm me. I noticed this happen as I reached the last couple points of my speech. I think that if I could, I wold rearrange the form of delivery, making it more easier to memorize. I really did underestimate the speech from the previous time. The first time, our demonstration took much of our time, allowing the speaker to use their visual aids in support of their main topics. This, to some extent, took much of my nervousness away. This time, being left to simply talk the entire time without using my aid made it a bit more harder. Overall I felt that my supporting details where adequate and gave the main points support. For our next speech I hope to be even more prepared and go over my speech several more times then before.
My speech content could have been improved. After watching all of my other colleagues go before me, I felt that their multimedia provide not only evidence but several visual aids for their audience. I think that in order to improve my content, I could have used more visual aids and possibly a PowerPoint slide. I feel that those that did provide good evidence to support the main idea. For my delivery, I feel that I did an adequate job, however. This among other aspects can be improved greatly. I need to make sure that I come more prepared with note cards, as well as the amount of time that I memorize my speech. I did feel comfortable for the first 4 minutes and then allowed my nerves to get to me. To insure that this doest happen, I want to first, memorize me speech to the point where I feel very comfortable with it. I want to also have an effective opener that engages my audience. In viewing my speech i defiantly know what aspects I want to alter.
I feel that for this speech I felt more comfortable and avoided any unnecessary words, such as "um". Yet i encountered what seemed to be a major pause that could have been avoided. Though I paused, I regained my thoughts and calmed myself down in order to make sure that I could not make any unnecessary commentary. I should have been better prepared in order to have avoided the situation. My body language could have been altered as well. I think that I could have maintained proper posture as well as avoided moving from side to side. It was a major improvement from my last speech. I was less nervous and I think that it was evident from one video to the other. I did maintain more eye contact, and did not show much of my nervousness from last speech when I stumbled across an unexpected incident. I think i maintained eye contact of about 8. It could have been improved had I felt more comfortable with the delivery of my speech.
If I were to grade myself, I would give mys self a grade of a B. I think that I did a much better job than before because I was able to maintain eye contact, and overcome situations in which did not allow the audience feel to much of my nervousness. I did say "uh" though. Next time I encounter a situation that shakes my nerves, I want to make sure that I take a deep breath and do not allow my audience to feel that nervousness as well. In the midst of the entire speech, I did make sure to mention all my sources in order to meet the requirements. Overall, I do think that my speech tactics did improve from the last oral presentation. I am proud of the entire outcome as a whole but feel there is much room for improvements.

Intro and Conclusion

The book emphasises the importance of an introduction and a conclusion. In a conclusion, it is important to have an attention getter that captivates the audience and gets their attention. It is also important to have a thesis in which explain exactly what are will be adressing in your speech. This means that the thesis must be explanatory. In the into, the main points should be stated as well as the evidence of reliability, which could be quoting a statistics from an important resource. According to the book you also want to ensure that you include the purpose for what you are trying to attain. The books tips provide a form that makes the introduction flow and creates validity for the speaker. Starting off the introduction is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the speech, and the potential to attain good feedback. The book provides the basis for writing and formatting an adequate introduction.
The conclusion should provide most of the information and restate the major points of the speech. It should also close with a memorable ending because it is the final sentences in the entire speech. The listeners should also have an understanding that the conclusion is the final sentences in the speech. This is why it is important to have transitional phrases that lead into the conclusion. The book says to make sure to reiterate the important points, as well as the thesis of the speech. For my informative speech, I am still working on keeping the intro and thesis simple but effective. It defiantly is hard but i think that in following the blue prints that the book sets, my speech will be adequate.

Introduction Chapter 9

Chapter nine was very informative and a good reminder on how to develop an introduction that is well composed and includes the major components in an outline. There was several different examples that helped me in not only clarifying what makes a good introduction, but how to help it sound cohesive. For our informative speech, our introduction must be a narrative, with cited sources. Chapter 9 gave good tips on exactly how to not only incorporate the different parts of the speech, but use transition words for the next main points of the speech. Similarly, like a introduction, the conclusion is just as important. A conclusion must not only reiterate the main points of the informative speech but reinstate a memorable message for the listeners. All of chapter nine helped me make sure that my introduction as well as my conclusion have all of the information that is need for my outline to be correct and effective. I hope that my introdution and conclusion will have my thesis, topic points, purposel , but amoung other things, remain creative and interesting.

Video

I did consider much of the information when piecing together an informative speech. Supporting material is vital to any speech, but must be representative of what your trying to inform. Using power point and making your speech informative. Narratives can be tricky to use because they may sometimes be biased. What the video pointed out was that the facts and statistics should be credible and straight to the point. I need to make sure to incorporate the information about transition. Having transitions makes the speech have flow. I think that was the most important information that I picked up from the videos. Making sure that I have transitional sentences will help the informative speech seem more cohesive. Having a narrative of some sort will also make the speech more interesting having some sort of a attention getter. I do think that the video was very helpful and gave much information about how to make the informative speech effective. I do agree with some of my student that these videos were very good refreshers in making the speech informative.

When are Facts Most Useful

I believe that the facts that are most useful are one's that relate to the central topic and help provide coherent data. I think that facts and statistics can be helpful for any topic, but should be used so that listeners can connect the facts and statistical data to the main topic. If the facts or statics are not relateable nor understandable, that makes the data useless. In using graphs for a statistical data, I do think that they should be clear and straight to the point. The worst type of data or statistical graphs are those that are clearly illegible. Meaning, they do not provide enough detail to allow the listeners to comprehend there data. Data can only be helpful if it is understood. It does help prove the point accurately but requires that the speaker display t in a presentable format. The data that is not adequate is confusing ultimately leaving the audience more indifferent. Hopefully my data will not only support my information, but provide enough statistical information about my topic making it fun and exciting to hear.

Examples

I found that in reading the section about different examples, I was able to use much of the information and gear it towards my informative speech. I feel that using personal examples, as well as specific examples, I can illustrate the meanining behind my speech. Examples also reaffirm certain facts. Examples are important in giving the audience valid information not only about personal experiences, but reinforce certain topics in the speakers speech. I also believe that facts and statistics help validate certain aspects of the speech. In using facts and statistics, speakers not only enhance their point, but show that the speakers validity in their speech. The use of facts help the presentation seem more credible but at the same time have to be accurate. Facts and statistics can be interpreted differently, and as a both a speaker and students, it is important to accept the interpretation as well as observations. This may include media . Students that use the media should probably use sources that are reliable, and don't express a bias. Using both media sources as well as Internet sites, I think its important to find resources that are representative of credibility. Using media that shows a certain bias gears the speech to a certain perspective. For example with issues that are more controversial, I think that it is important to use resources that are not biased but show an equal representation on both perspectives. Reading more about chapter 7 gave me a new perspective on what sources i can uses and how to choose sites that are reliable.

Self Evaluation

Self Evaluation 1: How to Make a Caesar Salad

After completing the first presentation in front of class, I felt an array of different emotions. Both excited and relieved, I could not help but experience a rush of adrenaline as I concluded my demonstration. Like most of my fellow classmates, I was very nervous, however. All my classmates were very encouraging as well as welcoming. I fell like through out my speech, there were good aspects, as well as habits that could have been broken or improved. .
In watching my video, I learned that I did educate my audience on my three major points. Though I did reach my general purpose, I definitely feel that there are several improvements that could have been made. I did feel prepared because of the multiple times that I reviewed both my demonstration and speech, however. I felt as though by doing so, I simply over thought the entire demonstration. I think that my speech could have been less rehearsed and more real. After watching my video, I think that the way that I delivered my speech could have been more realistic and less rehearsed. Being in front of a crowd was both exhilarating and easy. I felt relaxed and I definitely felt that I did maintained eye contact through out the entire presentation. With a rush of different emotions, I did feel a bit nervous, and said a couple of unnecessary words such as “um”. I not only want to improve that aspect in my speech, but omit it from my vocabulary. I think that there were definite occasions that I felt very comfortable and enjoyed the public speaking process. This I noticed in my video. The only times that I felt most nervous was when my demonstration strayed away from the instruction s. This can definitely happen when conducting a demonstrative speech, and after practicing without any errors, coming upon a unexpected incident did shake my nerves. I did contort my face, and felt a rush of nervousness. In my next speech, I will be more aware of my surroundings. I was able to learn from this mistake, and use my energy to remain calm. Instead of thinking out loud, I need to remember to smile and know that not everyone is able to sense my nervousness.
The content for my speech could have been improved. I could have avoided the use of the word “um” by not only being more aware of my bad habit, but also talking more slowly in my speech. The use of the word “um” derives from a nervous pause. Next time, If I choose to take a pause I want to make sure that practice good breathing techniques. Slowing down is also helpful in that it will force me to manage my time in order to fit the assigned time frame. I noticed that I used my hands, which could be limited and easily avoided. I think that the overall delivery was adequate but needed to be slower. For my next speech I want to seem more at ease and not so mechanical. After watching my speech for the first time I felt as though it were to rehearsed. I really want my audience to feel as though I am comfortable. I felt that in watching my presentation, I was very dependent on my body, meaning that I used my hands. I need to make sure that I maintain a good posture and avoid overly using my body. I want to make sure to control my body and maintain any movement such as moving from side to side. In doing so I feel that my presentation will not be distracting but more formal.
Besides not focusing on my demonstration I felt that I maintained good eye contact. I feel that I scanned the room accordingly, but could have looked up when I demonstrated how to make the salad dressing. I think that maintaining eye contact was’nt as difficult. In fact, I felt most comfortable when addressing my audience. I think based on a scale from 1-10 my eye contact could receive an 8. Overall I felt that my voice projection as well as eye contact remained constant. I also sited all four of my sources through out the speech. This I made sure not to forget. For my next presentation, I want to strive to have overall good eye contact and remain confident in my speaking abilities.
This demonstrative speech allowed me to work on my speaking skills. I feel that my overall grade should be B+ for the simple fact that there were few instances were I did not keep my head up , and reacted in part from my nervousness. I want to continue perfecting my speaking skill, and improve immensely. Watching my video playback was very helpful, allowing me to find constructive ways to improve my speaking abilities. I cant wait for the next one.