Self-Evaluation Assignment #1

(1) After giving my last couple of speeches, I feel slightly more confident in my ability to communicate with the audience. I felt like my last speech was probably my best. I was able to form my sentences more clearly, but there was still some fumbling with the words. I didn't actually memorize the speech, but instead the ideas and points I was trying to convey. This allowed me to make it a more fluid conversation with the audiences. (2) Comfortable ways, I was a little tens still during the performance, but it was my better moments because I knew the topic so well. The intro was a little rough, but as I made from each point it smoothed out. (3) The only thing I would have liked to have changed would have been the intro. I wanted a more solid motion of words. Also, it would have been cool to demonstrate how to actually do the seaming. I know it didn’t make a whole lot of sense to the audience, but I was still able to slightly give them a visual. (4) I think what I missed wholly was the verbal citation of credibility. Although I am sure my audience believed my expert experience, it would have been more reliable information with citations. (5) I believe my delivery was about fine during this last speech, but I obviously would have liked to have given it in a more enthusiastic way. Right before each speech, I psych myself out too much, so it drains my energy, leaving me on a teeter of delivery. I need to find a better way to relax before getting onstage. Perhaps with visual aid it will help me form my ideas more calmly. (6) Well, given the fact we didn’t have a video to watch I can’t really comment. (7) I didn’t think I did anything that would be considered distracting. Perhaps I laughed a little in the begging because I forgot my intro lines. This might have thrown off the audience’s perception of my speech. However, I felt like I recovered well. (8) From what I remember, my eye contact was pretty good. I wasn’t looking straight ahead, but more of scanning the audience as to make sure I had their attention. I’d give myself a solid 8 out of 10. There was a couple of time I had to break to look at my cards, but other than that it was fine. (9) From what I remember I only mentioned one citation, luckily. (10) Overall, I felt like I was demonstrative with my visual aid and my mannerism were entertaining. I didn’t pause a whole lot during my speech, and my voice was assertive for the most part. I used transitional words to lead into each main point, followed by each subpoint of ideas. Although I didn’t use all four of the required citations, the majority of my speech was spot on with accurate information. I think with the positive feedback from the audience outweighing the negative format of the speech. I give myself a B+.

Speech Buddy 7.1 to 8.2

Watching the Speech Buddy videos from 7.1-8.2, it enlightened me about the different aspects of giving the correct type of speech style, examples, facts, and statistics. Although I already know the layout of writing an essay, applying it to a given speech is different. You need to provide a steady and constant pattern of organization as to not throw off your audience. It’s important to make sure they’re able to fallow you in a clear concise way. Keeping your ideas short and sweet, while providing key support for you main points are essential. Also, you want to have a smooth transition between points. For example, “Education is important for everyone. It is imperative that kids learn at, a young age, to graduate and get to college. Furthermore, education stimulates the economy.” In this quote, I transfer over from one point to another that will lead to my next main idea. I feel I have a good grasp on the style of my speeches, but it’s important to use the correct one for what I am trying to convey.

Similes Everywhere!!!

What I found interesting in this week’s readings was the use of similes. Although everyone uses the word “like” or “as” in everyday conversation, I think that perhaps everyone uses them in strange conjunctions with examples. Living in NorCal, this area is known for its beaches, beautiful summers, and is stipulated that everyone is a surfer or snowboarder. I think what has caught on like wildfire, is the fact that the younger generation uses the word “like” outside the context of “example”. For instance, someone might be talking and they say, “I really like how those girls look, like they are so beautiful”. It’s not that they’re trying to give a comparison, but they’re using it in conjunction with starting the next sentence. This like-phenomenon is annoying because as a culture we’ve become simile fanatics! I always have found myself saying the word “like” a little too much in my sentences. However, after taking a few English classes, and becoming more aware of the like-craze, I’ve started correcting my use of the word “like” as much as possible.

Facts and Statistics

When giving facts it is important to know when to be factual. For example, you could be arguing that statutory rape is considered a felony in California. How would you prove this notion? Simply by find the fact from a reliable source, such as criminal law library or government website. Now if you were trying to relate that one thing is a cause that affects the outcome of another, you might want to consider statistical data. For example, let’s say that does religion effect crime rates? You’ve find data like that most likely from a sociological site that does crime reports and relational data. In this case, you’re trying to defuse an independent and dependant variable. And you’re arguing that perhaps religion is causing your neighborhoods crime increase. Overall, you can easily find sources that can help determine factual arguments or statistical analysis of persuasion. Hopefully you’re using your speech for something good. I am sure there are probably other ways to use facts and statistics, but for now, these are my ideas of when to use them.

Audience Attitudes

Alright, so let’s just say we have a speech ready to go. You’ve provided a reasonable argument, included creditable sources, and given the audience an example of what it is you’re trying to explain. Now how come they’re not moved by your persuasive research? Well, you’ve got one half of the situation right, but you might have forgotten the important of how the audience feels about the topic. The attitude of what you are trying to convey, based on the issues, and might not be reigniting with the audience’s belief. It is important to set a positive setting for your audience when giving a standpoint in a speech. Sure, you could be discussing the importance of legalizing same sex marriage, but you should always try to keep a positive attitude in mind. For instance, you could give the history of negative consequences it’s had on social and political matters, but you should also bring into the how society, legalizing same sex marriage, can make a positive change for future generations. In short, make sure your attitude reflects that of your audience.

Audience Analysis & Adaptation

The importance of audience analysis is a central aspect to creating a speech. As a speaker, you not only want to give valuable and reliable information to you argument, but you also need to be considerate to who you’re speaking too. The audience is a living, breathing thing. You can’t just expect everything to run smoothly when giving a speech; thus, you have to prepare for the unexpected. Analyzing your audience will greatly improve the success of your speech, but sometimes you’ll run into a few snags. For example, you could be talking about a sensitive topic, such as why rape should have harsher laws. In this case, you might want to take a more feministic approach with the audience, talking more about experience and statistical facts of victims who must go through therapy. This not only gives the speaker a sympathetic outlook, but also creates a connection to those affected by rape. As speaker, you have to be dynamic in your approach (audience adaptation) to any subject, and you must tread carefully whenever you’re dealing with audience’s who respond critically to issues. These are some of the crucial concepts I will take when giving my speeches.

Speech Buddy: Drinking & Light Pollution

In the persuasive speech of drinking, Matthew Naso, demonstrates good control over his sentences. Although there were some slight fumbles within the speech, he got his point across, calmly, which was directed at his targeted audience. What’s even more important was the fact he chose the demographic group of a younger audience, specifically college students. I think what helped out the most to argue his speech was the statistics he used during it. His standpoint on drinking was clear that he wanted people to use better judgment, creating clear values for the speech. Also, Courtney Stillman’s speech on Light Pollution had the same concept. She was arguing her standpoint on how light pollution is becoming a larger problem in society. The only difference in her’s and Naso’s speech was the fact she was addressing a much larger audience. She was arguing that it’s not just a certain group’s problem, but an entire community all together. I think they both had to do some audience analysis in order to interest the majority of who they wanted to listen. I believe that I’ll look at these videos with in ideal perspective as to who I should be trying to interest in my upcoming speech.

Reliable and Credabilty in Speech

If there’s one thing that’s the most important when giving a speech, it’s the credibility of information the speaker is giving. This is a very common mistake in communication courses. Whenever you are about to make a statement or fact, you need to have reliable data supporting your case. Even if you’re not making an argument, but just trying to be informative, giving examples from a particular source must be thoroughly researched. You need to double check and cross-reference with other sources to ascertain whether or not something is truly accurate. Having good amount of resources and data to back up your claims is important because it creates a foundation for expertise on any given subject. This allows the speaker not only give reliable facts, but also creates self confidence when giving a speech. In short, reliable, creditable, and validity in a speech are the three paradigms I felt were important in chapter 6.

Do Your Research

There is an overwhelming amount of information correlating to interviewing and citing. Whenever I research, I usually gather a verity of sources and compare them, beforehand, to see if information matches. If I have a source that doesn’t match up with a majority of information, I’ll usually discard it keeping the opinion of the author in mind. Trying to find first-hand sources is a big deal. I’ll usually try and find original works whenever I am trying to make an argumentative or informative speech. Going to a library in this case would be the most ideal because books provide a more solid foundation for first-hand citing. Depending on what you’re trying to research, you can never go wrong finding information online, but you have be careful not to assume that blogs or websites are accurate. Sometimes sites and blogs can be changed at a moment’s notice, so you want to make sure you’re gathering information from sources that have been around for long enough periods.

Interview Tips

I recall doing an online interview. I can’t remember what it was for, but I was interviewing a fellow student for something. There were a couple of times I had to do a follow-up, just to double check if the information I wrote down was correct. I don’t think I ever used that data. It must have been for one of my English classes. Well, my first advice is remembering what the interview was about. Secondly, write down any questions you can think of, even if you think they aren’t worthwhile. Sometimes these conversations can strike up ideas for the topic you’re trying to relate it to. Try and make your questions simples. You want to make your interviewee feel relaxed. If you’re tense while interviewing, they’ll sense the atmosphere is a little off. Conduct the interview in a location that is calming, like a local coffee shop. If it’s online or over the phone, make sure you write down the key points. Also, try and get contact information in case you need to follow-up on answer or ask questions.