Daria Aliotta/Post #1

 

Daria Aliotta
Professor Sherri Sinkoff
Course Name SPI 2608
26 May 2026

 

 

Reflection Essay: What I Learned from the Presentations About Great Presentations

Presentations are something that many students feel nervous about, and I am one of them too. Before this topic, I thought that a presentation is mostly about standing in front of people and reading information from slides. But after listening to the presentations about the chapters, I understood that a great presentation is much more than that. It is about preparation, confidence, clear organization, body language, voice, and connection with the audience. I really enjoyed the presentations because they helped me understand public speaking in a simple and useful way.

The first presentation was about Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5: The important tricks for a great presentation. I enjoyed this topic because it explained that a good presentation should have a strong beginning, a clear message, and good connection with the audience. I learned that the speaker should not only give information but also make people interested. According to Purdue Online Writing Lab, a speaker should know the audience, organize the main points, show personality, and be aware of body language (“Public Speaking and Presentations”). This helped me understand that presentation is not only about what I say, but also how I say it. If I speak with no energy, no eye contact, and too many words on slides, the audience can lose interest very fast.

I also liked learning about small tricks that can make a presentation stronger. For example, using eye contact, speaking clearly, using simple slides, and not reading every word from the screen. Toastmasters International explains that public speaking skills improve with time, practice, and confidence (“Public Speaking Tips”). This made me feel better because I realized that public speaking is not only a natural talent. It is a skill that I can learn and improve with time.

The second presentation was about Chapters 4, 6, 7, and 8: Getting ready for a successful presentation. This part was very important for me because I understood that a successful presentation starts before the day of speaking. Preparation is not just making slides the night before. It means understanding the topic, making an outline, practicing, and being ready for questions. I learned that when I prepare better, I feel more calm and confident. For me, this is very important because sometimes I get nervous when I have to speak in English in front of other people.

This presentation also made me think about my own mistakes. Sometimes I want to memorize everything, but then I feel more scared because I am afraid to forget one sentence. Now I understand that it is better to know the main ideas and speak naturally. Purdue Online Writing Lab explains that speakers should focus on a few main points and not let visual aids distract from the message (“Public Speaking and Presentations”). I think this is very good advice because sometimes students put too much text on slides, and then the audience reads instead of listening. In my future presentations, I want to make my slides more clean and simple.

The third presentation was about Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12: Getting closer to that great presentation. I enjoyed this part because it showed that after preparation, the speaker also needs to work on delivery. Delivery means voice, speed, pauses, movement, and how the speaker looks in front of the audience. I learned that a good speaker should not talk too fast or too quiet. A good speaker should give the audience time to understand the message. Toastmasters International says that speakers should avoid over-explaining and should keep stories and explanations clear and engaging (“How to Rock Your Presentation”). I think this is very true because when a person speaks too long without focus, it is hard to stay interested.

This part also helped me understand confidence in a different way. Before, I thought confidence means being perfect and not making mistakes. But now I think confidence means being prepared and comfortable enough to share my thoughts. I learned that pauses are okay, breathing is important, and mistakes are not the end of the world. If I forget something, I can continue. If I speak slowly and clearly, people will understand me better. This made me feel that I do not have to be perfect to give a good presentation.

The last presentation was about Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17: The different types of wonderful presentations. This topic was interesting because I learned that not every presentation has the same purpose. Some presentations are informative, some are persuasive, some are entertaining, and some are demonstrative. Before, I thought all presentations are almost the same. But now I understand that the type of presentation changes the way I should prepare and speak. For example, if I give an informative presentation, I need to explain the topic clearly. If I give a persuasive presentation, I need to give strong reasons and examples. If I demonstrate something, I need to show the steps in a clear order.

I liked this topic because it made presentations feel more creative. A presentation is not only a school assignment. It can be a way to teach, inspire, explain, or convince people. Purdue Online Writing Lab explains that PowerPoint should be used as an aid to the presentation, not as the whole presentation (“Designing an Effective PowerPoint Presentation”). This helped me understand that slides should help the speaker, not replace the speaker. The audience should listen to me, not only read my PowerPoint.

Overall, I really enjoyed all the presentations because they helped me understand how to become a better speaker. I learned that a great presentation needs preparation, clear structure, good slides, body language, voice control, and connection with the audience. I also learned that nervousness is normal. Many students feel nervous, but practice can make it easier. The most important lesson for me is that I can improve. I do not need to be born as a perfect speaker. I just need to prepare, practice, and keep trying.

In my future presentations, I want to use everything I learned from these chapters. I want to start my presentation stronger, speak more clearly, make simple slides, and look at the audience more. I also want to stop hiding behind my notes and speak more naturally. These presentations showed me that public speaking is not something to be afraid of forever. It is a skill that can help me in school, work, and life. With more practice and confidence, I believe I can give presentations that are not only good, but also meaningful.

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Works Cited

Purdue Online Writing Lab. “Public Speaking and Presentations: Tips for Success.” Purdue OWL, Purdue University.

Purdue Online Writing Lab. “Designing an Effective PowerPoint Presentation: Quick Guide.” Purdue OWL, Purdue University.

Toastmasters International. “Public Speaking Tips.” Toastmasters International.

Toastmasters International. “How to Rock Your Presentation.” Toastmaster Magazine, Oct. 2020.