Didier Borrero - Reflection Blog

                                                                        Public Speaking    

        Group 1 started off the presentations of the round, and they really raised the bar. Their presentation was centered on what I would think of as the building blocks of public speaking things that are necessary for being a good speaker but are not necessarily flashy or exciting. They talked about audience analysis kind of like a warm up for thinking about your speech, how to build confidence again, our first speaker had a perfect example of this, and the importance of active listening which I think was a nice way to think about how good speakers are also good at hearing what their audience is saying. There was a calmness and clarity to the presentation, as well.

        I appreciated their emphasis on preparation as the key to overcoming anxiety. That part resonated with me because I know firsthand how nerves can take over when you're feeling unprepared but also how wonderful it feels to nail something you've worked hard for. Their section on active listening reminded me that communication is not just about talking, but also about being truly engaged with your audience. Even though the transitions between speakers could have been a little smoother, there's no denying that the group maintained a strong flow overall. They demonstrated that even the simplest tricks like taking a few deep breaths in or knowing your audience can and should make a big impact.

        Being in Group 2 allowed me a behind the scenes look at what it really takes to pull together a cohesive team effort. We ran into some communication roadblocks on presentation day, but I'm proud of the way we adapted and stayed on track. Our presentation section ran deep into the conversation around preparation strategies, moving from the big, important step of identifying your purpose to mattering with a logical flow.

        Our conversation centered on refining topics, conducting meaningful research with dependable sources, and outlining speeches in a way that makes them resemble the excellent oral presentations we hope they will be. I took them through my favorite ways of thinking about even the smallest speech elements. We spent a lot of time, for instance, on transitions, which are often ignored but help the flow of a speech a lot. The class as a whole has a much better grasp on how to use complete sentence outlines. They think the flow of a speech is a big deal now.

        In retrospect, there's something we could do better, and that's making our slides less wordy. We were so into including all of our knowledge that it sometimes felt like the audience was doing more reading than listening. I know this isn't rocket science plenty of people have said over the years that if you put a lot of words in a slide, people in the audience will read the slide instead of listening to you. But I still think we committed this presentation sin.

        The presentation from Group 3 felt different than the others in a good way it was performance-driven and visually creative. Their vibrant slide design certainly grabbed attention, and they were not afraid to let visual aids do quite a bit of the heavy lifting when it came to driving home some of their points. I am a visual learner, and I appreciated the effort that went into creating this performance piece. My only critique is that I sometimes wanted a little more text in certain sections to help me follow along better.

        The chapters they wrote examined the way language distills meaning, the effective use of presentation media, and the vital delivery techniques of body language, vocal variety, and eye contact. They were clear on the differences between speaking and writing and how spoken language has to be more immediate and audience-centered. I found that powerful. It brought to my mind the idea that the very essence of public speaking can be summed up in this: what you say and how you say it is everything.

        The group also discussed the use of language that is inclusive. They brought up the idea of avoiding slang, jargon, or terms that are biased toward any particular culture. My group members clearly had a grasp on this concept since they presented it in a way that connected with me even more than if they had used the terms they advised against.

        The group also discussed delivery techniques. They clearly understood that what you say is only part of the message. How you say it your presence, your modulation, and your use of gestures also tell the audience something significant.

        Group 4 had the challenge of putting together the finishing touches on the project by presenting the last chapters on persuasive speaking, digital delivery, and special occasion speeches. Their presentation material was deep and meaningful, though their PowerPoint was not always consistent in appearance, which made it visually tougher to follow at times. Still, a few key takeaways from their material seemed worth sharing.

        They presented persuasive structures using ethos, logos, pathos, and even mythos showing how really good arguments are built on some basic foundations of claims, evidence, and almost obvious reasoning. They also warned us about logical fallacies showing how flawed reasoning can sometimes sound convincing but is really just a bunch of nonsense dressed up in a way that misleads the audience. All of this made me realize how careful we need to be in trying to persuade others, especially in a world filled with the kind of half-baked nonsense you see on social media.

        Overall, This entire project taught me more than just the content of each chapter. I learned how to apply those lessons in real-time. I gained an understanding of how the design of a slide, the confidence of the speaker, and the preparation and coordination of a team, or the lack thereof can make or break the impact of a presentation. I learned how crucial it is to communicate with your teammates, to rehearse under life like conditions, and to adjust according to the audience you're trying to reach. I also learned that having a case of nerves is perfectly normal but it's manageable with a good amount of preparation. Seeing my classmates at work was truly inspiring. It brought the textbook to life, a loud, vibrant life. The effort and energy the commitment to learning that everyone demonstrated was contagious. It made all of us want to step up our games. And even if it didn’t, we were learning from their content, sure, but also about what kinds of speakers we want to be. In the future, I will put into practice all we've talked about using transitions with thought, making slides that bolster my message, controlling my speed, and most crucially, connecting with my audience. I do not any more see public speaking as a performance to endure but as a chance to involve, enlighten, and develop.