Presentation review

    For our first project in public speaking, we had to give a a presentation on chapters from the class textbook. These chapters gave us a blueprint for a successful speech. Starting with important tricks, getting ready, getting closer, and the different types of wonderful presentations for us to learn. These four sub topics were divided into four groups. I was gratefully placed in to group two. I was very happy to work with the people I did. Once we established who our leader was, we got together and organized quickly. Everyone wanted to do a great job and get a good grade, but we also wanted to really understand what we were talking about. Since we were collaborative, we were able to practice outside of class time. This allowed us to take constructive criticism from one another and help make each others presentations better. My groupmates were very confident as well, they had a positive impact on how I would approach this project. On the day of the presentation I should tell you I was nervous though, my heart was beating out my chest. I knew for sure that I would do well, it was really the waiting for my turn that made me anxious. What really helped me out , was the fact that I created a script for myself to follow in my notes app for every single one of my slides. This way it would not appear as if i was reading off my laptop screen the whole time. I was the fifth presenter so i would read through it and try to memorize my "lines" as my group presented. Looking at the camera and sounding confident was really my focal point. The chapter they gave me was chapter seven. Joel and me split the pages in half, he got the first three and I got the last three. I spoke on different ways you can support your ideas to your audience. A brief summary of what I learned was you could use testimonies, statistics, and facts. A testimony is when you use an individuals opinions or experiences on a particular topic. This can come from an expert, a celebrity, or a lay testimony. Facts are simple, they are  verifiable observations. Finally, statistics are numerical data or information. One of the small concerns from my group was going to fast and leaving too much time in class. So I made sure to work on my pacing along with my delivery. My Slides were not very full with words, so i used a lot of examples from book to thoroughly explain my points. These filled in gaps and maybe answered questions people might've had. Ultimately my team ended up taking up all the time, we even had videos left over to share. To put the cherry on top, our professor said we did amazing. 

I think every other group did an amazing job as well. Group one set the tone for everyone else, because of them we knew what to expect. Their chapters conveniently were on the beginning/basics of how to conduct a presentation. For example, building your confidence, listening, and adapting to your audience. Anyone paying attention could take mental notes and help themselves out. The professor asked them questions and they were able to answer. My group brought this up in our discussions so that we could have our answers to the most basic of questions prepared. Group four spoke with a lot of confidence and they were notably cohesive. They spoke on advancing your presentation by integrating media and that is exactly what they did. Not only were they great speakers, they chose great videos. It enhanced the message they were giving to the class. They also got into detail when on the topic of delivery. These are tips I would be using in the future. Last but not least group four concluded this assignment with the different types of speeches people may give. You can give an argumentative speech, informative speech, or a persuasive speech. These may also happen in groups or other special occasions. Every individual seemed like they knew what they were talking about. I understand that there are different approaches and tactics you might use depending on what you are trying to convey in your speech. The words on the slides were very straightforward. Meaning they did not leave much up for interpretation. If I ever needed to go back for information I know that I'd find something to help me. 

In conclusion, as a class I think we all did a good job for our first time. We can only get better than what we are now at public speaking. We have more presentations in the semester and I definitely will be using everyone's interpretations of the textbook. Reflecting on this experience, the biggest realization I had was that the best way to learn a subject is to teach it. By diving deep into Chapter 7 to explain it to my peers, the concepts of testimonies, facts, and statistics became second nature to me. I now understand that these aren’t just definitions to memorize for a quiz; they are the actual tools I need to build a credible argument in the future. Whether I am trying to persuade a future employer during an interview or inform a team during a business meeting, I know that my words need the backbone of verifiable evidence to truly matter. This project shifted my perspective from simply "getting through" a speech to actually crafting a message that holds weight. Furthermore, the collaborative nature of this assignment highlighted the importance of active listening and adaptability. Watching my classmates conquer their own nerves and present their chapters humanized the whole process for me. It created a safe environment where making mistakes felt like part of the learning curve rather than a failure. Seeing how other groups utilized media or handled the Q&A session gave me a live blueprint of do's and don'ts that a textbook simply cannot provide. It proved that public speaking is as much about observation and preparation as it is about the actual delivery. Moving forward, I plan to carry this momentum into our upcoming individual presentations. The anxiety I felt while waiting for my turn has now transformed into excitement. I know I have the support of my group and the tools from the text to succeed. This first project was an icebreaker and a foundational step in finding my voice. I will apply these techniques for better pacing, stronger evidence, and confident delivery to see just how much I can grow as a communicator by the end of the semester.