Public Speaking Presentation

Goyette Julien

SPC2608

Reflection Blog #1

Group 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 5

Group 1 discussed the fundamental guidelines for successful public speaking for this section of the presentations. This involved organizing your thoughts with intent, making sure you speak correctly, comprehending audience participation, and more. These are essential elements of any effective speech or presentation. Speaking in front of an audience has always been a significant part of my life. My father took it upon himself to ensure that I worked on speaking in front of others from a very young age. For almost every family event and get together, he would give me little speeches and introductions. Whether it was a simple barbecue, a holiday feast, or a birthday, it made no difference. I was the designated speaker. He even recorded these moments on camera, and we still have a collection of those early memories today.

Consequently, my mother was inspired by that process and decided to start guiding me into the acting industry. My extended family members also encouraged me to start pursuing acting more seriously after noticing the potential in my speeches.. I was exposed to a variety of public presentation styles through acting. Such as improvisational scenes for showcases audition, and monologues. I definitely consider these experiences to be on a certain degree of public speaking because they really contributed to the development of my comfort level and public speaking abilities. Trickling back to our class presentations, this background made a lot of the material in this portion seem familiar to me.

Nonetheless, there was a point that was made that strikes me. Listening is equally as crucial as speaking during a presentation. That caught my attention and changed my viewpoint public speaking a bit. Conventionally, we see the audience as recipients of information and the speaker as the only source of communication. However, this philosophy ignores how crucial interaction is. It's critical for speakers to stay aware of and mindful to the energy, reactions, and body language of their platform. It could be time to change things up in the middle of a presentation if you pick up on disengagement, wandering eyes, or distracted behavior. Asking open-ended questions or starting a brief, interactive exercise are two good approaches. Conversely, if your audience seems focused and receptive, that’s affirmative that your message is getting through. In either scenario, the speaker's job is to convey a message while simultaneously making adjustments in real time to keep the audience interested.

Group 2: Chapters 4, 6, 7 & 8

Group 2, which included me, concentrated on the topic of public speaking preparation. It was fulfilling to work alongside my peers. Everyone in the group was willing to participate fairly, goal oriented, and communicative. We had a smooth procedure because of this dynamic. It makes all the difference to collaborate with people who have a strong work ethic.

In terms of content, the chapters we studied talked about the value of preparation before speaking. The importance of using images in a presentation was one of the main lessons I learned. Visual aids are crucial in helping me remember and comprehend information, whether I'm giving or receiving it. Statistics are one of my favorite visual aids to use, specifically when they are displayed as graphs or charts. Hence, "The stats don't lie!" is a my catchphrase when it comes to showcasing them.

But as I prepared our presentation and learnt from the chapters, that balance is essential. Using too many visual representations can be just as ineffective as using too few. An excessive amount of material or images in a presentation may overwhelm or distract the audience. Disengagement can also be a result. The secret is to keep spoken and visual content in a good balance. Finding that balance sets a better outcome that the message is both interesting and easy to understand.

Group 3: Chapters 9–12

The next step, refining and polishing your presentation, was discussed by Group 3. This section almost directly related to the topics of structure and balance that we had covered in our group. One piece of advice that struck a chord with me was how crucial it is to review your presentation from the perspective of your audience. Once you have a draft, step back and imagine that you are the listener rather than the speaker. Ask yourself, “Is this going to hold my attention? Is this message understandable and clear?” Revisions made with that viewpoint can help you identify areas in need for improvement that you might’ve missed if you didn’t.

Verbal polishing was another interesting topic that was addressed. Having a outline is useful, but simply writing it out is insufficient. You also need to practice it out loud. Awkward wording, long sentences, and even small grammatical errors could normally go overlooked if you don’t practice your speech in real time. Additionally, practicing increases confidence, which enables a more fluid delivery when the time comes to present. Although these methods may seem surface level, they can significantly affect the performance as a whole.

Group 4: Chapters 13–17

Group 4's discussion of various presentation techniques gave everything we had previously learnt a striking new dimension. This group dissected a variety of presentation styles such as demonstrational, persuasive, informative, and more. I had to consider my own speaking preferences and strengths after this portion. Persuasive and informative speeches were my favorites among all the kinds that were talked about. I've always known that I like a challenge, especially one that revolves around strategic and deep thinking. Similarly, persuasion and information have always been important to me.

I feel comfortable using my public speaking skills to inform or sway others. Taking a stand on a subject or giving knowledge that can alter someone's viewpoint to me comes with a sense of fulfillment. I also find that when speakers are attempting to educate or convince, that’s when I am the most attentive.

Conclusion

All things considered, every group contributed something different, and all presentations were given in interesting and educational ways. I paid consistent attention the entire time, and I actually gained knowledge from each group. I intend to use the main lessons learned in my upcoming presentations and beyond.