Where did Time Go?

Although I was dreading this class from the first day I am so happy I had the opportunity to take it this summer. CAS 100 was my first speech class and might not be my last. Before completing this course I hated public speaking and was always shy and nervous. I learned that the skills for public speaking aren't hard to acquire and just take practice. Getting to know everyone in our class helped a lot. I felt comfortable talking in front of the class and giving a speech didn't seem like as big of a deal.

Even though we only gave two speeches, I believe I improved from the first. In class I learned more skills and techniques involved with communication and speaking. I was more confident in my second speech and executed it because of the new techniques learned in class. I learned to successfully construct an outline with all the necessary components: attention getter, credibility statement, preview, thesis, body, conclusion. I learned how to connect to my audience using Ethos, Pathos, and Logos but overall I actual learned what it takes to be a good public speaker.

I know I have my flaws, and still get speech anxiety, but I feel more confident in talking in front of crowds now. I realized I simply need to practice and put my work into giving a great speech to be successful. Unfortunately CAS 100 was only 6 weeks since it was over the summer, but I've learned things that I can carry into my classes this fall. I'll be able to give great presentations and if ever forced to speak in public I feel that I will be able to do so. I had a great experience in this class and am happy I had the opportunity to take it.

Although we did not study any theater examples in CAS100A I still believe the initial example I used from Our Town reflects my understanding of public speaking. After taking the course I can actually see even more how my example applies to what we learned. The monologue used includes a sender (Emily) a receiver (audience), a message (live life to the fullest), and context (the play’s setting). CAS100A has taught me about the individual parts of communication and the importance of understanding those parts to improve any message I am trying to convey. I have a better understanding of communication because I know how many different occasions really require the use of rhetoric and communication techniques. Presenting my own speeches helped me understand how to organize my own message. I also sympathize with sufferers of speech anxiety because now I have felt some of that fear. Discussing communication techniques and uses with my classmates has led to a deeper understand of the subject and how I can improve my communication efforts.

Rest in Peace first speech course

Although I have taken a speech course before, for some reason I had more success in this one. Maybe it was how close I got with everyone or just being older, but I feel I have become more comfortable with public speaking. I was literally dreading this class, wanting to withdrawal before it even started. Now, I will probably take another speech course because I realize that it sometimes just take practice. In my previous speech class we also didn't talk about ethos, logos, and pathos, and we also were never taught how to relate to an audience. That made me think of it more than just public speaking but delivering a message. I am more aware of how giving a good speech is not just how you present but what you're presenting and how the speaker relates that to their audience uses rhetoric to portray the purpose of their speech.

Although I don't think my individual performance improved drastically in between the two speeches, I definitely feel that it's has improved from before beginning this class.

I know that I will need to use public speaking in my professional life, but I am also starting to realize from the recent group activities that I will need it if I plan to join any sororities or clubs.

As far as each of the speeches are concerned, I obviously felt more comfortable with the second one because I had already done the first one and survived, but I also liked the topic better. I personally hate talking about myself, it makes me pretty uncomfortable, so the second topic itself just took some nerves away.

Although I am not about to go out and look for opportunities of public speaking, if it came to a life or death situation, I feel confident that I would be able to deliver.

Five weeks later...

Looking back, it is crazy to think about how much I have learned in five weeks. I can assert with complete assurance that I know infinitely more about communication, public speaking, and critical listening than I did upon first entering CAS 100. I thought that this class would be pointless for me personally because I can honestly say speech anxiety is not something I struggle with and I knew that upon entrance. I had this idea that the class would be completely focused on facing the fear of speaking in front of people. It turned out to be so much more than that and I believe it was really helpful in making me not just a speaker, but an effective speaker.

Through the course and preparing different speeches, I realized just how much work it is to be a successful speaker. I had never before thought about the prospect of actually having logic behind the outline, relating it to the audience, and maintaining their attention. All the while having to constantly remind myself to choose appropriate and accurate language, keep a good tone, speak at a moderate tempo, and use my body language in a useful manner. From the time the class began until now, my entire thought process regarding public speaking has transformed. I once thought it to be a mindless task of just being comfortable in front of people. I realized, though, that there is a lot to consider if a speech is to be executed successfully. I definitely grew in my approach to public speaking situations.

I know that the skills I have acquired through this course will make me a better student, future career- woman, and overall communicator. I will be able to apply what I have learned to almost every moment in my life because communication is such a huge part of life. Though this class was not something I was looking forward to, it turned out to be a great learning experience and I know it will aid me in all my future endeavours.

Reflection/ The Hangover 2

Reflecting on my first blog post, The Hangover Wolf Pack speech does still reflect my understanding of “public speaking”. Prior to taking this class, my knowledge was limited, but now I am a lot more familiar with public speaking and its concepts. I previously mentioned how Alan gave the speech to his three friends, so the occasion would be a special occasion and the speech purpose would to be to celebrate. Simply by presenting speeches in class, I can identify with some of the struggles that he was going through while delivering his speech. I've learned from the readings, however, that speech anxiety is a very common thing, and that the audience can hardly see how bad it is as compared to what you are feeling. It can also be controlled by relaxing before giving the speech.

Alan's genuine love for his friends is an effective use of pathos, which appeals to the emotions of his audience. Alan was aware of who he was speaking to, and by performing an audience analysis, he incorporated humor to catch their attention. Even though this speech is not a historically significant one, I have learned how to not only be a critical thinker, but a critical listener as well. I definitely give credit where credit is due for those who speak in front of others; it can be a very difficult task. I not only admire others for speaking publicly, but I am more confident in doing so now that I have taken this class.

I would like to point out another clip (from 0:07 -0:30) in which Alan gives a different speech from The Hangover 2. I'm pretty sure Alan would be a great CAS100 student. Right off the bat, he uses an interesting statistic to gain his audience's attention. Props, Alan. Another thing that I noticed when viewing it was that he was using note cards. He has incorporated the use of visual aids as if we was following one of our rubrics. I now understand how useful they can be to trigger your memory and guide your speech in the direction that you want it to go. Although his delivery was not quite extemporaneous, it was a good attempt and I can admit that it is a difficult skill to perfect.

Reflection of my First Post

Looking back on my first post I actually think I understood at least a little bit on what public speaking was and how it can be effective. I talked about my principals speech delivery and the relevance it had to my class which are all important in creating an effective speech. Even with all of the important things we have learned I stand by what I said earlier but if I had to add one more thing, it's that he didn't put into consideration his audience. His lack of audience analysis is what cost him the effectiveness of his speech entirely because I was turned off to everything he was saying. It was not effective for the various reasons I stated and what I have been learning over this course just affirms my opinion even more. This class has taught me how to critcally listen to someones speech and be able to speak better myself. I can now communicate with a direct message and then listen and pull apart what my friend or whoever I am talking to is saying. Even when watching movies and things on TV I am starting to pull apart how their arguements could be flawed and what they can do to communicate and speak better. This class is not just for giving speeches but to help me with any type of situation in which I need to talk to someone. That is how this class has changed my views on public speaking and communication.

Good job, Washington

With all of the things I learned this semester, I can now confidently reaffirm that George Washington's Farewell Address is an example of good public speaking. Throughout the course, a speaker's ethos and a good delivery are requirements that have been greatly emphasized. Washington has a great deal of credibility, or ethos, with his audience so they wanted to listen to what he had to say and they trusted his advice. Also, he delivered his speech with confidence and commanded his audience's attention, which is a key element of being an effective speaker.

Although I was able to recognize an example of good public speaking from the beginning, I think I have learned how to be a better public speaker. Now I know how to apply the important skills I recognized in Washington's speech, to my own speaking. I am glad I took the time to revisit my first post because it gave me the opportunity to remember my thoughts and opinions from the beginning of the course. I am glad that now I know what goes into making a good speech, and more importantly, why these techniques work.