SPC2608 Reflection Blog Isabella Gonzalez

SPC2608 Reflection Blog

Isabella Gonzalez 

     As our first presentation in the public speaking class, the whole class was divided into groups to cover chapters one through seventeen. In each group, a chapter was assigned to each person, which meant that throughout one presentation, there were different types of designs and presentation styles; especially if the group didn’t communicate well, including mine. Throughout most of the presentations, I noticed some groups communicated effectively, with each member contributing what they had prepared. On the other hand, for example, my group ended up with only about three members presenting because we didn’t coordinate well, which is something I want to improve for our next presentation.

Group one presented chapters one through five, and their presentation stood out for being well-organized and cohesive. They used the same theme throughout their slides, which made the entire presentation look professional and unified. The slides were not overloaded with information, making them easy to follow. This type of clean and organized format helped the audience focus more on what was being said. The grammar was also well-polished, which made their message clearer and more credible.

Their presentation explained how public speaking is always evolving and how modern communication technologies have become an integral part of that change. They provided examples of how we can use online tools to help build presentations, add visual elements, and even engage in public speaking through video conferencing across the world. I learned that public speaking is not just about performing in front of an audience; it’s a life skill that builds confidence, sharpens thinking, and teaches effective listening. Public speaking courses teach us how to tailor our messages to specific audiences, organize content logically, and build credibility, all of which are vital skills in school, work, and life.

They also introduced the concept of four spheres of communication in the digital age: mass media, expressive technology, mediated interpersonal communication, and face to face interaction. In addition, the public speaking process was broken down into eight essential elements: audience, speaker, message, channel, noise, feedback, context, and environment. The audience, however, is always at the center, reminding us that our message must be designed with the audience in mind.

The second group, which I was part of, presented chapters five through eight. My experience with this group was mostly positive. Our group leader was very organized, and although it was difficult to contact some teammates on the day of the presentation, we managed to resolve it quickly and still deliver. This presentation focused on how to effectively structure a speech with four main components: introduction, body, transitions, and conclusion. We emphasized how the body should contain main points that are clear, relevant, and balanced in importance. We also explained different organizational patterns such as chronological, topical, spatial, cause effect, problem solution, narrative, and Monroe’s motivated sequence. Choosing the right pattern helps strengthen the delivery and impact of the message.

Additionally, our presentation highlighted the importance of using transitions to create a smooth flow from one idea to the next. We also discussed the complete sentence outline, which helps plan and revise speeches in detail. This outline includes the thesis, main points, subpoints, transitions, and references, allowing a speaker to organize their ideas clearly before delivering them to an audience.

The third group’s presentation stood out for its creativity and use of visual elements. Their theme was vibrant and engaging, which helped hold the audience’s attention. The first few speakers used mostly images, while the latter speakers included more text. While I understand the value of using visuals, especially as a visual learner myself, I prefer having some textual information on slides as well. It helps me follow along and understand what the speaker is saying more easily.

This group’s content focused on the power of language in public speaking. Language enlivens ideas and can make speeches more memorable and impactful. They explained that language is arbitrary, ambiguous, abstract, and active, which can make it both powerful and challenging. Because language is shaped by culture, it’s important to avoid slang, idioms, jargon, and gender-biased language that might not be understood or accepted by everyone. The group also explained how spoken language is different from written language; it’s more immediate, informal, and audience focused. They encouraged us to use clear, concise, and inclusive language while avoiding offensive terms and using vivid imagery to engage the audience.

The final group presented chapters on building persuasive arguments. Their content was very insightful, although the second half of the presentation had a mismatch in slide themes, similar to what happened in my own group. This disrupted the visual cohesiveness of their slides, which was a little distracting. However, the content itself was strong. Their slides were clean and straight to the point, avoiding too much clutter.

Their presentation taught us how persuasive speeches rely on structured arguments composed of claims, evidence, and reasoning. Claims are what the speaker is asserting, supported by evidence, which can appeal to logic (logos), credibility (ethos), emotion (pathos), or cultural values (mythos). Reasoning shows the link between the claims and evidence using four common types: deductive, inductive, causal, and analogical. They also discussed logical fallacies, which are mistakes in argumentation. Although fallacies can sometimes sound convincing, they are deceptive and unethical. This was a helpful reminder of the importance of building arguments on valid reasoning and trustworthy evidence.

In conclusion, this first round of presentations taught me much more than just the content from the textbook chapters. It showed me how group communication can influence the success of a presentation, how slide design and consistency affect audience understanding, and how different presentation styles impact engagement. It also gave me a better understanding of how public speaking is not just about delivering facts, but about connecting with an audience in a thoughtful and organized way. I’ve realized the importance of preparation, clarity, and teamwork, and I look forward to applying these lessons in our next group presentation.