Chapter 18

     This week we are talking about group presentations, which is something that everyone should be able to relate to. Whether you had to talk about knights during a medieval era, or about the human nervous system, you probably had to present something with other students for a class. A small group is any number of people between three and 15. I personally like to work in really small groups, three or four people at the maximum.

    Everyone has different talents and preferences, so when working in a group, try to have everyone work with what they are strongest at. Some people like to research, some like to speak, and some like to be more artistic and design. No matter how you decide to split up the work, make sure that everyone is communicating with each other and doing their part. You also need to make sure that all of the slides blend together if your are doing a PowerPoint or a Google slides presentation. Whichever part you decide to do, you need three things in order to be successful. Those three things are proper preparation(research and credible sources), organization(who is doing what), and delivery(practice makes perfect). 

    You should be able to openly communicate with partners through text, email, or however everyone is comfortable with talking. Do not be too controlling, you are able to lead the group and take initiative and step up, but you should not be ordering everyone around and telling them what to do. Do not be afraid to speak up for yourself, especially when someone is going mad with power and ordering everyone around and just being rude in general. 

Chapter 14

     Speaking to large crowd can be scary, but speaking to a global audience is a whole different type or terrifying. Just like every other speech, you need to be thoughtful about who is it in, but when giving a speech to a global audience, it is even more important than before. Not only do you want to be careful of your words, but also your body language. Not every gesture or stance is the same in every culture, so therefore if you want to point at something; for example, use two fingers or your whole hand instead of just your pointer finger. Just like every other speech we have gone over as well, make sure you use inclusive language so that you are able to bring everyone together as a group, instead of isolating one culture that may not understand a reference of a joke. Speaking of jokes, look over your speech before hand in order to not make an offensive joke, even if you think that it is not, do not take any chances. I would personally not be a fan of a global audience, I am terrified talking in front of my soccer, but it would be an incredible experience none the less. 

Chapter 11

     I do not know about everyone else, but I get extremely nervous when giving a speech to a crowd. I shift my weight a lot and I constantly fiddle with my many rings or my necklaces, which could be distracting to those who are trying to listen to me. In this chapter we are told ways to gain confidence within our selves when giving a speech and many reasons why someone may be nervous while publicly speaking.

    Make sure that you are properly prepared when giving your speech and make sure that you are well informed and knowledgeable about your topic so that you are not only credible, but more confident as well. Be sure to try and know your audience before you speak, so that you can be confident that you are using the correct wording and are ethical. Try to envision yourself succeeding with this speech, that you get through to your audience and you have persuaded them about what you think or you have taught them about different ways to reduce emissions. 

    There are three main reasons why someone may be scared or nervous when giving a speech. The first reason is making an embarrassing mistake like repeating the same sentence or tripping while walking. It happens to everyone and the best way to avoid these mistakes is to remain calm and take deep breathes. The second reason is because they do not want to be judged whether it is the topic they choose or what they may be wearing or how they speak. No one wants to be judged, so if you are happy and confident with what you say and how you say it or what you wear, then you should have no problems feeling confident within yourself. The final reason is that you do not want to be under scrutiny. It is like the same thing as being judged, be confident within your words and your topic and your anxiety should reduce. 

Chapter 17

    Most people have been to some sort of special event where a speech was given, such as an awards show with prizes or a cheerful wedding bringing two people together, or even at a somber funeral where a speech was given to remember the person that is now no one longer with us. Just like most other speeches, the reason for the speech should be clear to everyone listening, you do not want to come off to your audience at a wedding reception that you think the bride and groom won't work well together, you would want to rejoice at the fact they that found someone that makes them happy. 

    If you are celebrating a person or a specific event, that would be considered a toast. Most people present at the gathering are there when a toast is given and most times a glass is risen when the toast is dedicated to its recipient. Another example of this is a roast, where the recipient of the speech, which is usually a person, is roasted by making jokes or backhanded compliments. You should always be aware of your audience and the recipient when giving a roast to make sure that you remain respectful to everyone and can still be seen as ethical. Just like every other speech we have discussed, you should do your best to remain respectful to your audience and recipient, especially when giving a eulogy. You can intertwine memories into almost type of special occasion speech, so you are able to use that to your advantage. 

Chapter 10

     Words and language control the world and how people see it. Our worldview's and every relationship we have is shaped by language and communication with others. Humans learn at a young age that we should treat people the way we want to be treated and to treat people with kindness. Using positive words and phrases can completely change the way someone may interpret the way you speak, for the better. Not only while positivity make people listen to you better, it also has the ability to persuade people when giving a persuasive speech and can also inform them when trying to teach your audience about a specific topic. 

    Not only do you want to be positive to make your audience listen, you also want to use words and phrases that create a clear image in your audience's mind about your topic. You do not want to make a part of your audience feel isolated or left out, so be aware of your audience as always and make last minute quick changes if needed. You also want to make sure that the language used is ethical and accurate to your audience. Being ethical means that you have good views and beliefs, and it is okay if your ethics are different from someone in your audience's, as long as you respect their beliefs and do not make them feel attacked or make them defensive. You do not want to only be ethical, but also credible and reliable. You should be able to cite your source wherever you get your information from within your speech by saying, "according to ...". If you use reliable and well-known sources that are not bias, then your audience will trust your words when listening to your speech.  

Chapter 3

     Everyone has ethics whether we whether we realize it or not. Ethics can be considered as your moral principles as a person that guide your decisions and your life. Every single person has ethics, even the ones in your audience, so you have to make sure that when you give a speech, you are not offending one belief or leaving one out. 

    When talking, or even before you deliver your message, scan your audience to see if the words and phrases being used are appropriate. You also do not want to separate your audience because of differences, instead you want to celebrate the individualism and diversity within the room, hall, or wherever you are speaking. You want to avoid any and all hate speech that you can, this will isolate your listeners and possibly make them feel like they need to be defensive against you. Instead of saying "you", try saying "we" instead, it will make your audience feel more included. Social awareness is also a very good thing to have in the back of your mind while speaking; this means that you are aware that the people in your audience have different beliefs than you, so you choose your words very carefully and possibly change it on the spot if needed so that you do not offend your listeners. 

Chapters 12 and 16

     To deliver a good speech, you have to figure out your style of speaking so that you are comfortable delivering your points. One style is manuscript, where you read off your notes and papers and you do not really go off of it. Another style is memorized, which is the opposite of manuscript. You don't use your notes and you memorize the majority of your speech. One more delivery style is impromptu. Your speech is unrehearsed and made up on the spot. These are the types of speeches typically given when someone is given an award and give a thank you speech. 

    Not only do you need to focus on your style, but also on your vocal aspects. The tone and volume are both very important when deciding the feel of the speech and how your audience interprets your speech. You also should focus on your pitch as well, which can be used to give meaning and to emphasize specific aspects. Your tempo also can give different meanings depending on how quickly or slowly you speak. 

    A persuasive speech is a speech given to try and persuade people to come onto your side of an argument, whether it is political or just a little debate you and a group of friends. The purpose is to gain more supporters for your argument. You do not want to guilt trip your audience into thinking differently or thinking badly about themselves, instead you want to give that statistics and information about your topic. You want to move theirs hearts just enough to move their minds as well.