Blog 1 post Aliya Jones

 

On the second day , the class participated in a group presentation project designed to help students become more comfortable with public speaking while also understanding the course material more . It required  the class to split into 4 groups and for us to work together to create a mini PowerPoint presentation based on selected chapters from the textbook. We all had creative control over this presentation, meaning  we could utilize pictures, videos, and other media as long as the primary objective of effectively presenting and teaching the material was met. Which I  can state with confidence that each group did incredibly well. 

To start off with the highlights of each group I will be going in order which will be group 1 the one I was assigned to .Our group covered chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5. 

Brianna Sanchez  was the first of two speakers in Chapter 1. Her portion of the chapter focused on how public speaking has changed throughout time in response to society and technological developments. Her topic also included how a speech should be audience centered and how public speaking is considered an important life skill. I liked the way she organized her speech because she was not only repeating information from the chapter, but also using personal stories and quotes from well known figures like Oprah Winfrey to provide additional support and make the presentation more engaging.The part that is relatable to me the most is when she told the class that she preferred speaking through zoom because it felt less nerve racking than speaking in person. This is relatable because when I speak in front of an audience I get so nervous but through zoom it is a lot more manageable.  At the same time, she also acknowledged that in person speaking allows for a stronger connection with the audience. Another thing I like is how she didn't just read off the powerpoint; she had separate notes to provide more context.

Besides Brianna the rest of my group  Anhelina , Marco , Daria  and Carlos also did an excellent job their speech was focused on how public speaking has transferable skills an example that was mentioned was that public speaking enhances your communication skills so when join the workforce you are able to gather information and present it well  for team meetings.Which is true communication is very important  as it clears up any misunderstanding . They also included how important active listening from the crowd is and to limit distractions to focus solely on the speaker.  

Although my group members presented confidently and effectively, my own presentation made me realize that I still have room for improvement. I completed Chapter 2 on public speaking anxiety, which was ironic  given that I dislike speaking in front of an audience due to my own anxiety.  Through zoom  though I didn't hear my voice shake,  but my heart was definitely racing . Which I admit is an improvement but I know in person it would show.  During the presentation, I felt as if I was describing myself. I have all of the usual signs that I mentioned, such as voice shaking, heart beating, and a tendency to go blank. So, throughout my presentation, I felt like I was racing through the material in order to disguise my nervousness Also, it was my oversight that my video was too long. Even though it discussed great tactics, it took up too much time. Other than that, I felt like we cohesively did a great job, and I also liked how our slides were different from each other because they showed our personalities.

Moving on to group 2 presentation the chapters they did was Chapter 4,6, 7,8 

Hilary was the first speaker in group 2. She explained that speeches differ from each other in terms of purpose. It can take the tone of informative  which would be best in educational settings  or in a job setting or persuasive for politics or advertising. Her using the setting as an example made her topic easier to understand and I also like how she did her speech in a conversational way.

Dayna emphasized how selecting a topic, developing a goal, and arranging ideas are critical for delivering a great speech. Daphne emphasized research and the significance of using credible sources and avoiding plagiarism. Joel and Dhanmattie talked about how personal stories, anecdotes, and testimonials may help make presentations more powerful and interesting. Finally, Isabella highlighted how speeches should be properly ordered with an introduction, body, and conclusion. I particularly enjoyed the comparison of a speech being layered like a BLT sandwich rather than messy like a sloppy joe. 

Group 3 had several speakers. Kimora focused on presentation media and explained how visuals such as pictures, videos, and slides design can make speeches more engaging and memorable for audiences. I liked how she included personal experiences about becoming more comfortable with presentations over time because it showed she presented her speech with confidence and clarity, Leah Albertson discussed introductions and conclusions and explained how attention getters and strong closings help keep audiences engaged throughout a speech. Her explanation of the primacy and recency impact clarified why listeners are most likely to recall the start and finish of lectures. Mariana Borst and Mia Rodriguez concentrated on language and communication, stressing the significance of using language that is respectful, transparent, and audience centered. They discussed how language might impact comprehension and audience engagement. Finally, Karla Torres and Mya McMurray talked about preparation and speech performance. Since delivery has a big impact on how an audience reacts to a speech, I felt their points regarding confidence, body language, and voice variation were especially important.

The final group, group 4, presented on various aspects of public speaking and communication skills. One presentation discussed informative speaking and how speakers effectively organize material so that audiences may quickly learn  new concepts. Another presentation discussed persuasive speaking, including how speakers use credibility, ethical communication, and audience knowledge to influence beliefs and actions. The group also discussed how to construct strong arguments utilizing claims, evidence, reasoning, and persuasive appeals like ethos, logos, and pathos .  also it was emphasized that whether a presentation is online or through in person successful communication depends on preparation, clarity, and confidence and  it  requires speakers to adapt their communication skills to different scenarios .All in all, the presentations demonstrated that effective public speaking requires clear organization, compelling evidence, audience awareness, and confident delivery.

Overall I'm excited to hear the next set of presentations for the class and to use all the tips that we learn from this lesson. I also want to give a shout to the group leaders who did a great job at introducing each group and giving feedback. Camellia and Kathya.