Paola Vallarino-Reflection#1

 


Group 1: Public Speaking, Confidence, and Listening

Group 1 went first, and I think they did a good job of starting things off. They talked about how public speaking has changed over time. I never really thought about that before. To me, public speaking was just standing in front of the class and talking. But they explained how, in the past, people used speeches in town squares or debates, and now we have things like podcasts, YouTube, and even TikTok. That made me realize public speaking isn’t just in school it’s basically everywhere.

The part I liked most was about confidence. I get nervous when I have to speak in front of people. My hands shake, I forget what I was going to say, and I just want to sit down. They explained that confidence isn’t something you’re just born with. It’s something you practice and build over time, like a muscle. That made me feel a little better because sometimes I think I’ll never get good at it. But now I see it’s something I can improve if I keep practicing.

They also talked about listening, which at first didn’t make sense to me. Why does listening matter if you’re the one speaking? But they explained it’s important to listen to your audience and notice their reactions. It’s also important to listen to feedback so you can get better. That made me think about how I usually focus only on myself when I present, instead of noticing how people are responding.

Group 2: Types of Speeches, Thesis, and Plagiarism

Group 2’s presentation was a little more technical, but I actually learned a lot. They went over the types of speeches and their purposes. Before, I kind of thought all speeches were the same, but they showed how there are informative speeches, persuasive speeches, and others. An informative speech is about teaching people something, while a persuasive speech is about convincing them. It made me think about times when I mixed those two up without realizing it.

They also talked about thesis statements. I’ll admit, I struggle with those. I usually know what I want to talk about, but when I write it out, it sounds messy. They explained how a thesis is like a road map it shows your audience where you’re going. That made a lot of sense and made me realize that some of my past speeches probably confused people because I didn’t have a clear thesis.

The part about plagiarism was really important too. I know teachers always say not to plagiarize, but I never thought about how easy it is to do it by accident. Like if you forget to cite a source or if you copy someone’s idea without saying where you got it from. They explained how plagiarism isn’t just about breaking school rules it’s also about being honest and respectful of other people’s work. That made me think twice about how careful I need to be.

They also mentioned narratives and how telling a story makes your speech stronger. That’s true because I know when I listen to people, I usually remember their stories more than the facts they share.

Group 3: Language, Media, and Delivery


Our group’s presentation was about language, media, and delivery. At first, I thought the topic was pretty basic, but once we started working on it, I realized there was a lot more to it than I expected. We kicked things off by asking, “What is language?” I figured the answer was just “words,” but we learned it’s way more than that. Language is also your tone, your body language, and even the way you use context. That made me realize communication is bigger than I thought it’s not just about talking, it’s about how you say things and how people take them in.

We also went into the basics of language. I’ll admit, I used to think that throwing in big words made me sound smarter. But while working on this, we found out that keeping it simple and clear is actually better. That made sense to me, because I know when I’ve tried to sound “fancy” before, people just ended up confused.

Another part we focused on was visual design. Honestly, we’ve all sat through those PowerPoints with way too much text, and it’s boring. I zone out when people just read paragraphs off a slide. That’s why we talked about keeping slides clean and simple, with visuals that support what you’re saying instead of distracting people. I know I’ll definitely use that in my own future presentations because visuals really do make a difference.

The last part we covered was delivery. We wanted to make it clear that even if you have great slides and a solid speech written out, it won’t matter if you deliver it in a flat or boring way. I’ve been in plenty of classes where someone just reads word-for-word off their slides, and it’s so hard to stay interested. Preparing this made me realize I need to practice not just what I’m saying, but how I’m saying it. Delivery is what keeps people’s attention, and it’s something I want to keep working on.

Group 4: Informative and Persuasive Speaking, and Audiences

Group 4 went last, and I think they tied everything together really well. They talked about informative and persuasive speaking, and I liked how they explained the differences. Sometimes those two overlap, but they showed how knowing your main goal can keep your speech focused.

The part that stuck with me the most was about audiences. They reminded us that no matter how good your speech is, it doesn’t matter if you’re not connecting with the people you’re talking to. That made me think about how I usually only focus on not messing up, instead of thinking about what the audience needs or wants. They explained how knowing your audience helps you decide on your examples, your tone, and how much detail to include. That’s something I never really thought about, but it makes a lot of sense.

Conclusion

Looking back at all the group presentations, I feel like I actually learned a lot more than I expected. Each group had their own focus, but together it all connected and gave me a clearer picture of what good public speaking looks like. Group 1 showed how confidence and listening are key, Group 2 explained the types of speeches and why being clear and honest matters, my group (Group 3) dug into language, visuals, and delivery, and Group 4 tied it all together with audiences and different speaking styles.

What I liked most was that the presentations didn’t just feel like school assignments they felt useful. I can use these tips in real life, whether it’s a class project, a job, or just speaking up in front of people. Public speaking still makes me nervous, but now I feel like I have some tools to make it a little easier. Overall, the presentations helped me see that public speaking isn’t about being perfect it’s about improving step by step and finding ways to connect with people.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chelsea Lugo - Reflection #1

Image
Chelsea Lugo- Reflection #1 September 28, 2025 Reflection on Group Presentations Introduction When I think back on all the group presentations in class, I realize how much I learned, not just about the topics that were presented, but also about presenting itself. Watching my classmates presentations showed me a lot about what works, what doesn’t, and what I need work on to improve my own speaking skills moving forward. Each group had its own strengths and approaches, and seeing those differences made me reflect on my own habits as a speaker. Group 1 Group 1 did a good job of breaking down their information. I liked that they delivered their information in a way that made sense step by step. What stood out the most to me, though, was that they included a video in their presentation. I had never seen that done before, it made their presentation feel more engaging. It added something extra that kept me interested, and it’s definitely something I want to incorporate into my future presenta...
Read more

Rubelis Ovalle pena - group #4 reflection

Blog on group 4 presentation : Chapters 13–17 Group #4 presented on Chapters 13 through 17 of our textbook, and their presentation helped me understand different types of speaking situations. Each chapter focused on something different, from informative and persuasive speaking to arguments, distance speaking, and special occasion speeches. Their slides and explanations broke the material down in a way that was clear and easy to follow.  Each chapter focused on a unique type of speaking, showing how communication changes depending on the purpose, audience, and context. Together, these chapters painted a full picture of what it means to be an effective speaker, whether the goal is to inform, persuade, argue, connect through technology, or speak at a special event. Chapter 13: Informative Speaking The first section, presented by Nathalie Lora, focused on informative speaking. Informative speaking is all about raising awareness, increasing knowledge, and helping the audience u...
Read more

Gabriela Rangel- Reflection #1

Image
Reflection on Class Presentations Introduction In this public speaking class, each group had the chance to present the different chapters from the book ‘’Public Speaking: The Evolving Art ‘’ by Stephanie J. Coopman and James Lull. My team was responsible for chapters 9 through 12, and I personally presented on Chapter 12, Delivering Your Speech, with the help of my peer Sara Loredo. I feel like viewing all of the presentations helped me better comprehend the book's subject matter as well as the various presenting strategies used by others. In addition to examining my personal performance, this reflection focuses on my views and experiences with Groups 1, 2, and 4.  Group 1: Confidence and Organization The first group presented chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5, covering subjects including Listening, Adapting to Your Audience, Building Your Confidence, and The Evolving Art of Public Speaking. The neatness and general order of Group 1's presentation were among my favorite features. Each pr...
Read more