Yovani Aguilarperez - Reflection #1
Yovani Aguilarperez - Reflection #1
September 29th, 2025
Introduction to Public Speaking
Reflections on presentations about chapters 1-17
Reflection on Public Speaking Presentations
Sitting through those presentations in my public speaking class felt way different from just flipping through the textbook pages. You know how it is, there's this big difference between getting a concept in your head and watching it happen live, all messy and real. I watched my classmates go first, then it was my turn to get up there.
It turned into this hands-on thing where everything we read about got tested right in front of us. Each group had stuff they did well and spots where they could improve. I came out of it with a better grip on what turns a presentation from okay to something that sticks with people. This wasn't really about the
grade for me. It was more like seeing how communication actually works when it's alive.
Group #1 Presentation
Group one started us off with the basics from the early chapters. They covered the history of public speaking, ways to build confidence, and how to adjust to your audience. The confidence part really got to me. I mean, like a bunch of folks, I get super nervous in front of people. They made a good point that confidence isn't something you're just born with. You build it up over time. They broke it down step by step. Start practicing by yourself. Then try it with a friend or family member. Keep going until you're ready for bigger groups. That made it seem less scary. More like a skill I could work on bit by bit.
Their bit on analyzing the audience helped me a lot, too. I hadn't thought much about dealing with people who might not like your ideas right from the start. For that kind of crowd, they said, lean on solid reasoning and good evidence, you know, the logos stuff. You don't have to change their minds completely. Just get them to see the logic in what you're saying, even if they don't feel it emotionally.
The content they had was pretty strong. But I picked up on their delivery too. A couple of them read straight from notes a bunch. It put this wall up between them and the rest of us. Their slides had too much text crammed in. Made it tough to follow along without getting distracted. It showed exactly what the book says to avoid. Seeing it happen drove the point home.
Group #2 Presentation
Next up was my group, group two. We handled chapters 4-8, which covered preparing and structuring a speech. As we put our presentation together, it hit me how a solid speech needs real planning. You can't just wing it and expect it to land. We stressed having a clear thesis statement, like a guide for the whole thing. And doing real research to support your ideas. We mentioned using libraries and trustworthy online spots. Citing sources matters not only to avoid plagiarism.
It shows the audience you put in the work. That boosts your credibility, the ethos part. What stuck with me most from our talk was the section on narratives. Stories have always seemed engaging to me. But I hadn't broken them down into types like personal ones, or from institutions, or cultural stories. You can pick them based on what fits.
A good story turns some dry idea into something that feels close and true. Often it's the story that people hold onto, not the numbers or stats. Presenting it myself was intense. I kept trying to make eye contact without blanking on what to say next. I leaned on my notes more than I planned. It made me understand the first group better. Knowing the ideas is one thing. Doing it when everyone's watching is totally different.
Group #3 Presentation
Group three came after presenting chapters 9-12, and it felt like everything started making sense all at once. They did language, visual aids, and delivery. They didn't just explain it. They showed it off perfectly. Their slides stayed simple and clean. Usually just one strong image instead of paragraphs of words. That made their ideas hit harder. The thing that blew my mind was their take on the primacy and recency effects. People remember the start and the end of what they hear the most.
It clicked for me right then. Your intro can't be some lame greeting. The conclusion has to wrap up strong, too. Those parts need to be the best. They hammered on body language as well. How you stand, the moves you make with your hands, and where you look. All that sends a message on its own.
I liked how professional they seemed. They even matched their outfits in color. Small touch, but it made the whole group look together and sure of themselves. It showed me that public speaking isn't just about the words. Content is the base. But delivery, with your voice, the visuals, how you carry yourself, that's what makes it real.
Group #4 Presentation
Group four wrapped it up with types of speeches and different situations. They presented chapters 13-17. I focused hard on their persuasive speaking part. They explained building an argument by knowing your claim first. Is it about facts, values, and policy. That keeps you on track. Then they linked it to the persuasion basics, logos for logic, ethos for trust, pathos for feelings, and mythos for common ground.
The key for me was mixing them all. Just logic can come off cold. Pure emotion might seem fake. But combine trust, heart, and good reasons, and your point gets real power. They mentioned online talks, too, which hit close to home. Virtual crowds zone out easily. So, looking right at the camera and keeping visuals lively makes sense.
Personal Reflection
Thinking back over all four groups, including ours, this whole thing has been one of the most useful parts of school so far. My first time up there had me on edge. Insecurity hit hard. I kept thinking I'd trip on words or draw a blank. But once I got going, I found my flow. It's not about nailing it perfectly. It's about linking with people. Anyone can look up info online. A speaker's role is to turn that into something that grabs attention, sparks ideas, and gets folks reflecting. This class dragged me out of my safe spot. It handed me ways to speak with real intent.
Very good and honest reflection!
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