Jackeline Parra Blog

 First Project Summary

Hello everyone! My name is Jackeline Parra, and in this blog, I will be writing about my most recent project in my Introduction to Public Speaking class. 

For this project the class was split into four groups that each consisted of around five to seven members. Each group had to create a presentation about their assigned chapters from the class book. The general topic was about how to improve public speaking skills and why they are important. It had to be around thirty minutes long and each person had to make at least three slides. 

The first group was assigned chapters 1,2,3, & 5 focusing on the important tricks for a great presentation. They start off with explaining that when giving a presentation, the speaker should converse with their audience to make them feel more encouraged to respond. It is important to understand the 5 arts of public speaking in order to make a clear presentation, those being Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory, and Delivery. Invention is used to make the listeners focus on what the presenter is saying, Arrangement is how one organizes their ideas towards the listeners, Style is the use of imagery to bring the speech to life, Memory acts as a use of knowledge and ability to give a well thought speech, and Delivery refers to the amount of time and the place a speech is given. They also spoke about building confidence when presenting. They noted that planning and preparing your speech helps you build confidence. Procrastination does not help as it gives you less time to prepare and review our speech. Speaking about a topic that you know well and are familiar with helps you focus more on the subject rather than yourself. Overall, this group focused on the pre-speech steps. They gave tips and information that will prepare you before your speech.

The second group was assigned chapters 4, 6, 7, and 8 which focused on getting ready for a successful presentation. This is the group I am a part of. We decided it would be best to split the chapters evenly between ourselves. I chose to do the second half of chapter 7. This part consisted of sources and accountability. It starts off with the definition of testimony. Testimony. Is when speakers rely on an individual or groups opinions related to a particular topic. Speakers use three different types of testimony sources which are, Experts, Laypeople, and Celebrities. An expert source is when the presenter uses a source that the audience will perceive as qualified on the topic presented. A Laypeople testimony involves individuals who have experience with a topic but are experts or well-known on the topic. A celebrity source works because of the persons fame even if they don’t know that much about the topic. Then it is important to understand facts and statistics. Facts foster agreement because they can be verified as true or false. As a speaker it is essential to recognize that your audience may not infer what you do about the facts so, it is important to view it from their point of view. Statistics like facts, speakers rely on them for logical appeals. The audience tends to like statistics convincing in persuasive situations. But it is important not to overwhelm your listeners or they will tune you out. All in all, it is essential to view your presentation from your audience’s point of view to communicate your message clearly. 

The third group completed chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12. These chapters focus was how to get closer to a great presentation. They started with the foundations of informative and persuasive speaking, followed by understanding the structure of arguments. Afterwards, they discussed the unique challenges of distance speaking and media appearances. One slide on this presentation focused on developing the conclusion. I feel like many people struggle with how to conclude their presentations and papers. The presenter mentioned that summarizing the main points of your speech and restating your purpose or thesis is one of the main things in a summary. Creating closure and a sense of finality in persuasive speeches make for a final call for commitment or action. I believe the conclusion is one of the most important parts when presenting an argumentative topic. It is the final words the presenter gives to their audience making it the most memorable. Having a strong and powerful closing statement can convince your audience of your point of view. I believe they presented their points clearly and kept their audience intrigued. To sum it all up, group three explored a range of essential, communication skills. Each of these skills are vital in ensuring the speaker can make a strong statement towards their audience.  

The fourth and final group presented chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. The four main areas of these chapters is how to develop strong introductions and conclusions that capture attention and leave a lasting impression, how to use language effectively to engage and persuade your audience, ways to integrate media into your speeches to enhance understanding and impact, and tips for delivering your speech with confidence and clarity. They mentioned how there are three different types of informative speech. Firstly, there is speech about any significant occurrence that you experienced or know about. Secondly, there are speeches about ideas and concepts. Lastly, speech about demonstrations where it can be done with physical materials or slides. This group presentenced guidelines for an effective informative speech. On this slide it mentions how keeping your speech informative and not straying towards a persuasive purpose allows you to give a strong presentation. Having a positive attitude and using vivid language can help you connect with your audience in a stronger way. Connecting with your audience is the most powerful tool when presenting. It allows your audience to understand and remember your points. In conclusion, this group did a clear and informative presentation that will help others improve their speaking skills. 

Overall, I believe every group did a fantastic job delivering their information. I am glad to have been able to meet everyone in my group and am grateful to continue making presentations with them.