Melissa Iglesia- Reflection #1

Melissa Iglesia

Reflection on Presentations About Chapters 1–17

In the recent presentations we had in our public speaking class, I felt like I learned a lot more than just theory from the book. Watching my classmates present gave me the chance to see how the concepts can be used in real situations. At the same time, I had the chance to give my very first public presentation in English, which was not easy but turned out to be a great experience for me. I will go over what I learned from each group and then reflect on my own speaking experience.

 

Group #1 Presentation

Group #1 presented chapters 1, 2, 3 and 5 talked about the history of public speaking, how to build confidence, and how to adapt to different types of audiences. Something I found very useful was the part about how audiences can respond in different ways. Sometimes they can support your ideas, other times they can be neutral, and they can also be against your argument. For me, the most interesting part was about the oppositional audience. I learned that in that case you really need to use strong reasoning and evidence so that what you are saying still makes sense even to people who don’t agree with you.

They also gave advice about how to build confidence step by step, starting by practicing alone, then practicing in front of a family member, then with friends, and then finally in front of a larger group. This part spoke to me personally because I usually feel very insecure when I speak in front of others. The idea of practicing little by little before the big moment seems like something I can try in my own life.

I could see that the group prepared themselves and tried to do their best, and I was able to understand their points. But I also noticed that some of them kept reading too much from the paper instead of looking at the audience. This made it a little harder to follow along. Their slides also had a lot of words, which felt overwhelming at times. Even though these things distracted me a bit, the content itself was good and gave me ideas I can use for my own presentations.

 

Group #2 Presentation

Group #2 presented chapters 4, 6, 7, and 8. They explained the different types of speeches like informative, persuasive, and speeches for special occasions. The one I learned the most from was the special occasion speech. Before this I had not thought too much about how much the tone needs to change depending on the occasion. For example, a wedding speech should be happy and more relaxed, but a funeral speech should be respectful and serious. I had never really stopped to think about how different these situations are and how important it is for the speaker to adjust to them.

They also talked about the different types of narratives that can be used in a speech. A narrative can be personal if the speaker lived the experience, or it can be about others if it’s someone else’s story. It can also be institutional, where the story represents the growth of an organization, or cultural, when it is based on traditions. This helped me realize how stories can make a speech more powerful, and that not all stories are the same.

I understood their presentation well because their language was clear. I especially remember the example about ice cream that they used. It had a funny touch to it but at the same time it helped me understand the point better. I also noticed that they didn’t depend too much on their notes. This made the presentation more natural and easier to follow.

 

Group #3 Presentation

Group #3 presented on chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12. They covered topics like primacy and recency effects, the importance of language, and the use of media and visual design. I thought the part about primacy and recency effects was very useful. The idea that people remember the beginning and the end of a speech more than the middle makes a lot of sense. It reminded me that when I speak, I should really pay attention to my introduction and my conclusion because those are the moments that will stay with the audience.

I also learned that slides should not have too much information and should be kept simple. They explained that a single image can sometimes be more powerful than a lot of text. This made me think about how sometimes when I see a presentation, it is the image that stays in my head and not the exact words.

They also reminded us of the importance of body language. Things like posture, gestures, and even facial expressions are part of communication. The way you look and move says almost as much as your words. What I liked about this group is that they used the advice they were giving. Their slides were clear and had the right amount of information. They also used images that really helped explain their points. Another thing I noticed was that they wore matching colors, which gave their presentation a more organized and professional look.

 

Group #4 Presentation

Group #4 presented chapters 13 through 17. They focused on different speaking situations, but I paid most attention to the part about persuasive speeches. They explained how to build good arguments and the different types of claims: fact claims, value claims, and policy claims. Fact claims are about whether something is true or not. Value claims are about whether something is good or bad. Policy claims are about what should be done. Understanding these types made me realize how important it is to choose the right type of claim to make an argument stronger.

They also explained the importance of using logos, ethos, pathos, and mythos. I learned that persuasion works best when you use all of them together. Just using logic might not be enough if you don’t also connect with emotions. And if you only use emotions, people might not take you seriously unless you also have good reasoning.

The way they presented the information was clear. Their slides were colorful but not distracting, and the colors looked good together. They also added graphics that helped explain their ideas. Most of them spoke in a formal way but still seemed approachable, which made it easier to listen and understand.

 

My Speaking Experience

As I mentioned before, this was my first time giving a presentation in English. At the start I was very nervous and insecure. I kept thinking I might say something wrong or forget my words. I was worried about embarrassing myself in front of my classmates. But once I started speaking, I slowly became more comfortable. I was able to focus on my message instead of just my fear. By the end of my presentation, I relied less on my notes and felt more confident in my voice.