Week 9, DIscussion 3

From chapter 13, I learned about the different types of organizational patterns for informational speeches. The topical pattern is the pattern that we have been using throughout the semester. When you create a topical outline, you divide the topic into sub points. You then address the aspects of the topic. This type of organizational pattern is best used when you want your audience to understand a process. From chapter 9, I learned how to create an effective introduction. In an introduction, you must include an attention getter, the purpose of your speech, thesis, establish credibility, and preview your main points. If you include all of these points, you will have a strong introduction that will grab your audiences attention and inform your audience of the topic you will be talking about.

Week 9 Discussion 2

According to the book, the components that go into an introduction are an attention getter, purpose, thesis, credibility, and a preview of the main points you are going to talk about. At the moment, I do not know what my attention getter is going to be but for the informative speech I plan on coming up with a creative attention getter that will make my audience want to listen to what I plan on saying. The components that go into a conclusion, according to the book, are a review of the main points, reinforce my purpose, and then provide closure. In the conclusion, I will be sure to review my main points and the purpose of my speech.

Week 9 Discussion 1

In video 9.1, I learned how to make a good introduction. There are three things that you need to do while giving your introduction. They are to get the audience's attention, establish the purpose and thesis, and preview your main points. From this video I learned how to write a successful attention getter. You can use stories, humor, or even surprising facts and statistics. In video 9.2, I learned how to write a successful conclusion. You must review your main points, state the reinforcement of purpose, and provide closure. I have always had problems writing conclusions so I found the tips on what to include in a conclusion very helpful. By Watching video 13.1A, I noticed that although Evan had notecards, he did speak loud and clear, and he also had good eye contact. In Video 13.1B, Jeanine seemed very confident. She had good eye contact (looked all over the room and didn't use notecards) and it looked like she had done the speech a few times. I also liked her attention getter. In the Use It video, I think that Katherine talked too fast. I also think that she used her notecards way too much and she didn't seem confident at all.

Week 8 Discussion 3

The one concept from Chapter 8, that has not already been discussed, I found useful was the discussion of analogy. The definition of an analogy is “a type of comparison that describes something by comparing it to something else that is resembles”. It can be useful for me because it will help my audience to understand something that is new. There are many types of analogies such as figurative and literal. Something else I found useful was metaphors. It can be useful towards the audience during a speech because the figure of speech can create feelings and connection. Hopefully I can use these concepts for my next speech to capture my audience’s attention from beginning to end!

Week 8 Discussion 2

You tend to find facts most effective in a speech when you are trying to persuade others to do something. However, sometimes people over do the amount of facts that they use and the audience begins to "tune out" which makes the facts not effective. Statistics are used to "quantify the magnitude of a problem and make comparisons across groups and time periods." Having too many statistics also overwhelms an audience and makes them not effective. Also, if you include too many, you can be misinterpreted. In order for your facts and statistics to be effective, they must be from reliable sources and you must keep your audience in mind when you plan on using them.

Week 8 discussion 1

I learned a lot of helpful things while watching videos 7.1, 7.2, 8.1 and 8.2. While watching 7.1, I learned about the different types of supporting materials that you can use. The supporting materials that you should use are narratives, definitions, testimony, facts and statistics, and examples. In 7.2, Evan taught me that books are the best kind of media sources to use because they are written by many, edited, and take a long time to write. In video 8.1, Anthony taught me how to correctly organize a speech. There are seven basic patterns and they are called chronological, spatial, topical, narrative, cause-and-effect, problem-solution, and Monroe's motivated sequence. He also taught me what each outline was used for. In 8.2, I learned about the different types of transitions that you can use to make your speech effective. There are six types of transitions and they are ordering, reinforcing, contrasting, chronology, casuality, and summarizing. The video also taught me example phrases that are used in each type of transition so I know how to use each transition correctly.

Self-Evaluation: Cultural Artifact

Sitting in class waiting to find out when I was presenting was the most nerve-racking feeling ever. When we pulled our numbers, I was relieved to see that I was going fourth because I wanted to get the speech over with as soon as possible. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the class giving my speech. It seemed like it all happened in the matter of seconds and looking back on it, there are many things that I know that I need to improve on for the next speech.

I think that I achieved the purpose of my speech. I stated my main points and went into full detail about each of them and I related my topic to why it is considered a cultural artifact. However, while giving my speech I didn’t feel all that confident. Going into it I knew that I had memorized my speech by heart but once I stood up in front of the class, I froze and it seemed as if everything I had memorized left my brain. I know that I didn’t seem very confident and I thought everyone could tell that I was shaking and my voice was trembling.

If I had to do the speech all over again, I would definitely prepare more. Instead of practicing in front of one person, I would practice in front of a group of friends or in front of my whole family. I think I did well supporting why it was a cultural artifact but I know that I could have cut more from the types of surfboards and put more information into my support. I think my speech was organized well but for delivery I would definitely have practiced more so I could be more confident and not rely on my note cards to help me through.

One goal that I have for improving the content in my next speech is to do more research and apply it to the topic. With this last speech, I did say why it was a cultural artifact but I could have expanded on that. For the next speech, I am planning on focusing more on informing people about my topic. One goal that I have for improving the delivery of my next speech is to have more eye contact. I did look around but I noticed that I also looked at my note cards a lot as well.

After I watched the video I noticed that I tend to talk with an upward tone and I sound like I’m asking a question when I’m really making a statement. Someone on the note cards had said this as well. I think that the only distracting thing that I did was that I moved around a lot and didn’t stand very still.

On a scale of 1-10, with “1” being the worst and “10” being the best, I would rate my eye contact a “4.” I knew my information but you could not tell that I did in the video. I had a lot of quotes so that might be a reason why a lot of people said that I did read off my note cards too much, but I definitely could have looked around and scanned the audience a little more.

During the speech, I mentioned six source citations. On a scale from A to F, I would give myself a B+. I had an organized speech that included three main points that in the end, related to why surfboards were a cultural artifact. I also cited sources in my speech. I spoke loud and clear which is what many said on the comments from other classmates. They also noted that I had a good attention getter and had good transitions between my topics. The reason I am not giving myself an A is because of my lack of eye contact and confidence that I had in myself.

All in all, I think that I did a pretty good job for my first speech. I now know what needs to be improved on for my next speech but I also know what I did well. I hope that on my next speech I give better eye contact to the audience and am much more confident!