Week 15: Discussion Question 3

This class was really loaded with useful information, especially our textbook; I really liked it. I've mentioned this in a previous post, but the outlines to speeches really did wonders for me so I'll definitely be applying those in the future. Before I continue on and forget though, congrats to everyone on getting through the class and thanks to Carol for being a cool professor!

Besides a lot of the how-to-prepare-a-speech tips from class and our textbook, I think I'll remember not to procrastinate on assignments, especially oral presentations. I don't know if anyone else was in a similar predicament, but it can be very stressful trying to prepare a speech in like four or five days (at least for me). I don't like stress in general so I'll try to remember what it was like rushing through the creation of a speech. Procrastinating on papers and tangible projects is one thing, but speeches are totally different because you have to practice! The rehearsing of the speech is probably one of the most important things too. Anyway, those are the things I'll take from this class into my future endeavors.

Week 15: Discussion Question 2

My favorite speech that I've done for this class was probably the tribute speech, followed by the informative one. I favor doing the tribute speech though because I really had a great time giving tribute to someone who has made an impact on my life, my grandmother. It was also very enjoyable hearing the rest of the class share about someone they admired and/or looked up to.  

Being able to reflect on how I have been changed by somebody else was really cool and, I think, beneficial. It's good to realize that other people are having a positive influence on you, even if you don't see them often or something, but just knowing that in some way, shape or form they have made you a better person; that at least something about them makes you want to do better in certain area of life whether it be to become more like them in a certain characteristic or just being inspired by them.    

Week 15: Discussion Question 1

I've learned lots about public speaking in this class, which is the purpose of a public speaking class, but I just felt like sharing that. Probably one of the most helpful concepts I learned while in this class for preparing speeches was the drafting of an outline. It may be common sense for many, but putting a speech in outline form helps so much. Although I personally don't like putting the time into writing out an outline, its end result is a help like no other. Having your intro, main points, ideas, etc. in your outline really help you prepare for the delivery because it gives you a format to follow; it tells you what you need to say next.

Most of us probably took some type of communication/public speaking class in high school. I don't know about everyone else, but I sure didn't prepare outlines for the speeches I gave then. The teacher didn't even require them. Anyway, up until this public speaking class here in college I've learned to prepare for speeches with more than just note cards ( although I still need to depend a bit less on note cards) because I've garnered the skill of drafting an outline.

Week 13: Discussion Question 3

The concept I chose to discuss from this week's reading is from chapter sixteen, speeches of introduction. Many of us have had the chance to introduce a speaker. When doing this we do a short speech that introduces someone to an audience. I remember giving the introduction to the speaker who gave the commencement address for my high school graduation; I didn't do a terrible job, but it would have been helpful to know these following points. 

It is important to remember to keep focusing everything one is saying to the speaker and the speaker's speech. Everything must move in the direction of the speaker because you are essentially preparing the audience for the main speaker. When doing an introductory speech it is not necessary for it to be long; you're just doing the little intro, let the speaker speak because after all, that is what the audience has come for. A second point to remember is to know the speaker well, research them. Although you'll be doing far more research than needed, it is good to know too much than too little, especially for somebody who you are presenting to a group of people. Last but not least, one should try to develop a relationship with the audience. One can connect with the audience by interesting them in the soon to follow speech by the speaker, as well as by having good background knowledge of the speaker. These tips can surely help anyone who has yet to give a speech of introduction.  

Week 13: Discussion Question 2

I like to stay healthy. Some of the main ways I stay healthy is by eating a good diet, exercising regularly and trying to always sleep adequate hours. Whenever I'm talking to friends, or anyone really, more often than not subjects regarding health come up. It just so happens that one of my best friends is in her first semester of nursing school. She was telling me that she is having a hard time in school due to many reasons, but her biggest complaint is that she does not get enough sleep. Being the helpful little friend I am I attempted to persuade her to try to sleep better hours because it jeopardizes her health.

In hopes of helping my friend, the type of reasoning I used was causal reasoning. This is where one action results in another. For this specific occasion I informed her (reminded actually because she already knows this) that having bad sleeping habits and not having proper rest will result in incapability to function at a prime level, hence not doing well in school. She understood that rest is a big factor that must be worked on because she certainly does not want to be tired and risk doing poorly on her academics. I believe my reasoning worked because she agreed to try to implement more sleep. But, people make promises all the time and break them. She may just decide that there is too much studying and homework that need to be done so cutting back on sleep will have to be a sacrifice. Its understandable in some circumstances, but one should always strive to get good rest regularly. 

Remember fellow students and everyone else on the web who might read this, brain restoration and memory consolidation occur during sleep. So, if you're trying to remember the information that you've been studying all day long, go to bed at a decent hour instead of staying up late to study more; your brain will amass all the studying you've worked hard on so you can quickly recall it when needed.

Week 13: Discussion Question 1

I enjoyed watching those two videos on home schooling. Watching the speakers present both sides of the topic was interesting. Since I'm on this topic, I think home schooling is a great option, but it would depend on the child; does the child want to be home schooled or continue in his or her traditional school? I've known several home schooled students over the years (mainly through them showing up for extra-curricular activities such as band, choir and physical education) and they were always some of the smartest students around. However, being a home schooled came at the expense of being made fun of and shunned by the "cool" kids, just because they were home schooled. Don't worry, I didn't shun them. But, the home schooled I knew had great confidence about themselves and were not easily bothered by other students; they seemed to have little or no insecurities which may have stemmed from being home schooled (e.g. not having been exposed to troublesome students, drama, violence, etc.)

Anyway, for every topic there are two sides, the pros and the cons. Each speaker can argue for their side and make a good case; it's up to the audience to then decide what is best for them. Something I learned from this video is that I should look up arguments that will be made against my main points; what is on the opposite side, you know? It's always important to be prepared to answer back to disagreements, or to just know the oppositions and know how to counteract them.

I think the appeals that were used were geared towards parents, or those with children, obviously. The speaker who was speaking for home schooling used the tearful child example to open and close, showing how the public school system can be detrimental to a child's development. The speaker who opposed home school stated that most of them would not be willing to sacrifice their careers and time. Also, that most people who would home school would not be qualified to teach. The first appeal was directed more towards a concern for the child, while the second video's appeal seemed to be for the parents. Differences aside, they both did a great job in presenting their information.

Week 12: Discussion Question 3

It wasn't until I read this chapter that I understood what coercion was. Sure I have heard it used here and there in times past, but I didn't understand that that word was used to identify the opposite, negative side of persuasion. As our textbook said, coercion is forcing someone to think a certain way or making someone feel compelled to act under pressure or threat. For a long time I just thought that this was described as "persuading with fear."

Growing up I often went to church with my parents and I would listen to a preacher, pastor, priest or cardinal give some kind of religious talk/sermon. Some of them were very good and seemed to want the best for the congregation; they spoke with feelings, a moving power and I believe had a genuine care for the church people. However, some of religious speakers I heard used some frightening scare tactics to try to persuade people to believe something or to behave a certain way. I now am aware that they were using coercion, not persuasion really. Our textbook said, "Brainwashing or intimidating people to get a desired effect is not persuasion" (pg. 274). People who attempt to change groups minds would benefit from trying to persuade rather than coercing. The steps to persuading are not terribly difficult; one must just follow the correct steps and obviously be knowledgeable on the topic. Speakers who know how to persuade do so rightfully by using the problem-solution, problem-cause-solution, or Monroe's motivated sequence pattern of organization.