Post #1 Jason Munoz

After watching and participating in the presentations, I learned more about public speaking than I was expecting. Since each group was responsible for presenting a different chapter, we were able to gain a deeper understanding of various aspects of public speaking from each of them. I appreciated this approach since it meant that rather than just studying one subject, we received information from several chapters. The two points that impressed me most were adapting to your audience and researching your topic. I considered both of these topics to be important because they are things that can actually be of help when delivering a speech or presentation.

The aspect of the course that I enjoyed most was learning how to adapt to your audience. I found this interesting since although before the presentations I was aware that one had to take account of the audience, I never really considered all the various factors involved. The point that impressed me most was the importance of building credibility with your audience. I discovered that when making a presentation it is essential that the people listening believe what you are saying. If the audience does not think that you know your subject, they may suspect that you did not take your presentation seriously. You can gain the audience's trust by demonstrating that you are well prepared, know your topic well, and demonstrate use of reliable sources.

I also liked the section concerning reaching your target audience. I've realised that it's not always possible to give the same presentation in exactly the same way to every group of people since different audiences have different interests, backgrounds, and levels of knowledge about a particular concept. Meaning you have to consider who you're addressing and change the way in which you explain things based on your audience. For instance, the way you explain something to college students might be different from the way you explain it to younger students. I believe that I can apply this skill in my future presentations since I can focus more on who I'm speaking to rather than just centering on what I'm presenting. One aspect that I enjoyed was finding out what an audience is. I had never really considered the audience as being an important element of a presentation. My usual focus is on the speaker, but the audience is also important since it is they who receive the information; their reactions, questions, and degree of interest can influence the way the speaker gives their talk. The takeaway from this is that a good speaker should not only concern themselves with themselves but also consider whether the audience actually understands the information and if they seem interested in what is being presented.

Another thing I enjoyed was looking into your topic. The part I enjoyed most was locating research material. I believe that research is very important since it provides you with information which supports the things you are saying. Rather than simply stating something because you think it is true, you can discover a reliable source that supports your argument. Research also allows you to gain a better understanding of your subject and makes you feel more prepared when it comes to delivering your presentation. The more you know about your topic, the easier it is to discuss it without feeling entirely lost. The lesson I've drawn from all the presentations is that public speaking involves a great deal more than simply standing in front of an audience and delivering a speech. You need to prepare, carry out research on your subject, understand your audience, organize your material, and make certain that your ideas are communicated clearly. I also realised that confidence doesn't mean that you have to know everything; preparing yourself can help to increase your confidence since you will know what you're talking about. I can definitely apply this in my future presentations since at times I feel more nervous when I'm not prepared.

I also really enjoyed working with my group. I liked how organized everyone was because it made everything easier. We knew what we were supposed to do and were able to get our parts done without too much confusion. I also think our communication was really good. If one of us had a question, we could ask each other and someone would usually have an answer or help figure it out. I liked that nobody was afraid to ask questions because sometimes you might think you are the only one who is confused, but someone else might have the same question.

Working with my group also showed me how important communication is when working with other people. If there was no communication within the group, completing the presentation would have been much harder. Everyone had their own part, but we still had to make sure everything connected and made sense as one presentation. I think having a group that communicates and stays organized makes the whole process less stressful.

In essence, I enjoyed the presentations and feel like I actually grasped useful information from them. The topics about adapting to your audience and researching your topic were the ones that stood out to me the most. I learned how important it is to understand your audience, develop credibility, reach the people you are speaking to, and use research to support your information. I also realized that being prepared can make a big difference when giving a presentation. Besides what I learned from the chapters, I also enjoyed working with my group because everyone was organized and our communication was solid. These skills will also allow me to communicate more effectively in everyday circumstances, specifically when expressing ideas, speaking confidently, and collaborating with different individuals. If someone had trouble with understanding a certain part of the presentation we were able to collectively help that person better understand. Overall, I think the presentations were a good way to gain skill because we were able to hear the information from different groups instead of just reading it off the textbook. I feel like I have grasped a better understanding of public speaking now and can apply these skills in my future presentations.