Reminiscing about CAS 100

Backtracking to the first couple weeks of the summer, I absolutely noticed a change in my rhetorical language. Over the time I’ve spent in CAS 100 I have learned much about effective speech strategies and techniques, along with the wrong ways to convey a message to an audience. In my first blog, I did not really recognize the techniques that Charlie Chaplain utilized through his monologue in The Great Dictator. This was because at the time I was unaware of all the subtle methods one uses to deliver their ideas effectively.

Through this course I have learned many valuable ways to deliver an effective speech. I have been informed on the multiple different kinds of speeches, along with the ways in which they are delivered the best. I have come to appreciate the finesse and subtlety that is essential to speech, and now realize many things about communication that I had previously overlooked. After taking CAS 100 I have improved both my interpersonal skills and stage presence when giving a speech. I valued my time here over the summer, and will walk away with much more knowledge than before.

Back at the Beginning

Reflecting back on my first blog post I realize that I did understand some concepts that play a major role in effective speeches. I talked about how the coach made sure he made eye contact with his audience. That is important to do in order keep the attention of your audience. He spoke with the method of impromptu not extemporaneous because he didn’t rehearse his speech and then present it to his audience like the way we did in class. Through his voice and choice of language style he motivated everyone including me. He took in consideration of his audience and made sure to word things a way that we would understand. Myself as a speaker and even watching other speeches I never took into consideration the audience. The audience plays a major role in the speech presentation and taking this class made me realize this. Through his motivational speech he received good feedback not only from the team but also from myself. I received my best personal time and when I told him and thanked him I knew he was happy he made that speech. Before taking this class I didn’t realize how much of an amazing speaker he was, but now that I have and I understand the concepts we’ve learned I see that he is an incredible role model and many people could learn how to deliver a good speech from him.

Reflection/Self-Evaluation Blog

Since August, I did not mind going to effective speech class each day, and I did not have much difficulty with the material because I have previously taken a rhetoric course. Although I spoke about varying topics of afghans and ADHD, CAS 100A was like a review for me. The communication model and the rhetorical situation, which were useful constructing my speech, will further help me in life with future presentations and interpersonal conversations. These concepts have instilled in me a better understanding of how messages are interpreted. I feel that public speaking is much easier now because I covered topics in my speeches that are close to me.

I can honestly say that I have had the best summer of my life at Penn State. This experience has given me the assurance that I have made the right decision by coming to this school. Not only have I had a great time and made good friends, but also I have taken part of college classes in a traditional setting. In this picture, I am delivering my speech for the fourth time while practicing. It shows how I have managed my time to fit in my classes, which this will be a good skill that I have acquired this summer for the rest of my college career. After this summer, I now know Penn State wants to hear what I have to say.

Let's review, shall we?

At last, the summer session draws to a close, and for a precious week, we will be free to lounge about at lazy teenagers until we're kicked back into the fall semester. In the past few weeks, I've experienced a whole range of things I hadn't been prepared for, and shared in the embarrassment of standing in front of an audience to speak. While my confidence as a speaker hasn't grown, my understanding of what to do to increase that confidence has. I've always understood when I've seen a good speech, but now I understand exactly why a speech is good or bad. The useful trio, ethos, pathos, and logos, make all the difference in the world. I had never before understood the concept that in order to speak effectively, you have to convince your audience that you're worth listening to.

These are skills that will assist me in all future situations, whether publicly, professionally, or interpersonally. The course has help me to understand exactly what it takes to communicate effectively. Where as before I had only vaguely understood that people communicate, I now understand how and can improve on any flaws that I might have suffered from before. With one speech left, I hope that I can apply what I've learned, and wrap up the class in the best way that I can!

A Speech Reflection

In my very first blog I talked about one of the most revered teachers in my school, telling everyone that he had recently been diagnosed with cancer. I described how he spoke in such a diligent way, and with an amazing amount of ease. After this past summer semester I have learned what is entailed in a good and effective speech, and I still feel that this speech had the impact it was designed to have. He knew he would upset a lot of people if he went in one direction, but he used it as an opportunity to teach a life lesson. I have learned a lot from this class, including what is and isn't appropriate for different speeches. I also learned about ethos, logos and pathos. Pathos deals with emotion, and that was definitely the overwhelming factor in this speech. I now know so much more about the art of giving speeches, and feel I can evaluate them in a whole new way. My teachers speech still epitomizes what I think of when I think “public speech.” Also, my idea of communication and speaking has not so much changed, but I now know more about the inner workings and how to approach different speaking situations with a better idea of what to do and expect. The characteristics I now associate with speech will stick with me, and I will identify them with each new speech I see. The speech I discussed in my first blog post continues to be the most influential and memorable speech I have ever witnessed. In addition, with the help of this course, I appreciate it in a entirely new light.

What I've been up to..

Coming in and out of class the first week here i was defiantly a little unsure if i would be able to talk in front of these people. I was wondering how could i possibly construct a speech and talk in front of people for five minutes or more. It was defiantly a little scary at first and i think that this course has made me realize that it is all mindset. If you go into a speech scared and not confident i've learned that it plays a role in how the audience will accept your speech. My first speech was by far not what i imagined. I came in nervous and not as prepared as i should have been. However, this was extremely beneficial for my future speeches. This class allows you to learn not only from others but more importantly yourself. CAS100a has helped me in how i interact with other people too. I am much more confident going up to someone i don't now that i have this course under my belt. So, coming from a nervous, unprepared speaker i have learned what it takes to be an effective speaker through this course.

Reflection on first post

Looking back on my first post, i actually dont think the man who made the speech was that good of a public speaker. He had all the physical aspects down, as in he didnt studder, walked around and kept eye contact, and used his hands a lot, but he didnt consider his audience. The audience was a bunch of kids ranging from 14 to 18, and he didnt plan his speech accordingly. He started out funny, making a bunch of jokes and making us all laugh, but as he got into it he was getting really angry at us. There was even a point where he yelled at a kid who had a smile on his face. This anger and seriousness should not have been presented to teenagers, the speech he gave was more for adults.
My understanding of a good speech has not changed that much since the beginning of the course, i can normally tell when a speech is good or bad. The main thing i have learned to improve on my speeches it to consider the audience. If your audience is a bunch of preschoolers, you have to make your speech up in a way that four year olds can listen to and understand.