Sara Loredo - Reflection #1

Intro

In Professor Sinkoff’s Public Speaking class, each group had the opportunity to cover different chapters from Public Speaking: The Evolving Art by Stephanie J. Coopman and James Lull. My group was assigned chapters 9–12, and I presented Chapter 12, Delivering Your Speech, together with my classmate Sara Loredo. Watching everyone’s presentations helped me understand the book in a clearer way and also gave me ideas about how people approach presenting. In this reflection, I’ll review my own role as well as share my thoughts on Groups 1, 2, and 4.

Group 1: Confidence and Organization

Group 1 presented chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5, which focused on Listening, Audience, Adaptation, Confidence, and the Evolving Art of Public Speaking. What stood out to me the most about their work was how organized it was. Their slides and points were clean and easy to follow, and they never threw too much information at us. Each speaker carried themselves with confidence they spoke loudly, stood up straight, and gave the impression they knew their chapters well. Even when talking about listening skills, which can be a little abstract, they explained it clearly and in a way that made sense. If there’s one area they could improve, it would be transitioning between speakers. Some handoffs felt a little awkward, but overall, their confidence and clear organization made a strong impact.

Group 2: Creativity and Everyday Examples

Group 2 had chapters 4, 6, 7, and 8, which were about organizing your speech, finding your purpose and topic, researching, and supporting ideas. Their creativity was what impressed me the most. They used everyday examples, like comparing choosing a speech topic to picking an ice cream flavor. The way they explained it made the content more fun and relatable it definitely caught people’s attention and made me remember the point better than anything else that day. One weakness, though, was that some members leaned too much on their slides or notes. It made them sound less natural, almost like they were reading instead of presenting. That reminded me how important it is to know your material well enough that you don’t have to rely on the screen. Still, I thought their creativity kept the audience engaged and made their chapters feel more real.

Group 4: Professionalism and Persuasion

Group 4 presented chapters 13–17, which included Informative Speaking, Persuasion, Arguments, Distance Speaking, and Special Occasion speeches. The thing that stood out most about them was their professional look. They coordinated their outfits, which gave them a polished and prepared appearance. On top of that, most of them delivered with energy, didn’t read too much from the slides, and showed confidence in what they were explaining. That worked especially well since their chapters were about persuasive strategies and arguments topics that require a strong presence. If I had one suggestion, it would be to make more consistent eye contact. A few speakers spent more time looking at their slides than the audience, which made some parts feel less engaging. Even so, their polished appearance and confident style matched the seriousness of their assigned chapters.

My Group and My Role: Chapter 12 – Delivering Your Speech

My group was assigned chapters 9–12, and I focused on Chapter 12, Delivering Your Speech. I thought this chapter was especially meaningful because it’s all about how your preparation finally shows when you’re in front of the audience. I was glad I didn’t rely too much on my notes because it allowed me to make more eye contact and feel connected with the class. I also tried to tie the idea of delivery back to the bigger picture of the course, emphasizing how all the planning comes together at that stage. Looking back, though, I know I need to improve in a few areas. For example, I could’ve varied my voice more and used more natural gestures, since sometimes I probably came across as stiff.

In Conclusion, watching the other groups and presenting myself taught me several important lessons about public speaking. Confidence makes a difference. Groups 1 and 4 showed how speaking with certainty and standing tall adds credibility. Examples make information memorable. Group 2 famous ice cream analogy proved how connecting ideas to real life helps people remember them. Slides aren’t a script. Some presenters reminded me that reading too much weakens delivery. It’s better to know your points. The audience matters. A good speaker keeps the audience engaged and makes them feel included the whole time. Overall, this project not only helped me practice delivering my own chapter but also gave me new ideas for how to be a stronger presenter in the future.