JOURNAL# 5: What are the big takeaways from chapter 13? In a full journal entry, help explain the significance of what you found important and what you connected with in the chapter. (150-200 words).

This chapter covered different outline formats that speakers should choose from to organize their speeches. The author suggested that speakers compile two different outlines: a working outline and a key-word outline. The working outline is more detailed with references, identified transitions, and slide prompts, while the key-word outline is more simplistic for rehearsals and if used during the speech, allows for the speaker to maximize their eye contact with the audience. The author suggests to write the body of the outline before drafting the introduction, since typically the introduction contains the main points of the speech. This chapter was comprised mostly of a working outline sample, which to me seemed overly excessive. I was glad to see the transitional places, bibliography, etc., but the content of the speech was kind of difficult to plow through. I can see how this sample works for a longer speech-for example, adding a conclusion that wraps up the basic points would be applicable for a speech over 5 minutes or so-otherwise, it would seem like you are reiterating points in a short time frame.

JOURNAL # 6: After emailing me your final version of Speech 3, compose an honest self-reflection journal analyzing your Teaching a Skill speech. What went well during the speech? What can be improved? Consider delivery, content, organization, and audience reaction in your response. (150-200 words).

When teaching a skill via a public speaking speech, I found that it helps to identify what you are passionate about because the whole process seems to flow better. I realized that I should have a purpose for this skill that was relatable not only to me, but to my audience. My skill involved a process with steps, so I had to slow down and envision how I would explain it to someone that had never done it before. I also discovered that when I am discussing a skill in a specific environment that I had to pay attention to other factors: weather, time of day for lighting, outside noise (i.e., motorcycle engines blaring down the street). In my dry run, the lighting was off and I found myself squinting at the camera, so I tried to fix that in my final version. Also in my first attempt, I was focused on what I was doing and had the camera reflected that, rather than remaining on my face and ultimately, my speech. I found that my actions in showing the transplanting was actually a distraction from my speech. In my final try, I did my best to look at the camera as much as I could, and I think that made an improved impact on my speech itself. I still recognized that I had projected many umms, and I am hoping to really focus on this issue in my next speech.

JOURNAL# 7: What are the big takeaways from chapter 25? In a full journal entry, help explain the significance of what you found important and what you connected with in the chapter. (150-200 words).

Chapter 25 taught me that there are different types of special occasion speeches, each with their own set of elements. These established elements make it easier for the audience to make a connection from the speaker’s speech to the event itself. I was recently attending an awards ceremony and I never really thought about how the speakers presented the awards and their mini speeches. To me, sometimes these special occasion speeches seem to be delivered as improvisation. However, if one is just delivering speeches on the fly, they might miss important aspects that should be included in the speech. I especially derived valuable information for my eulogy speech from this chapter. I made sure to refer to the family of the deceased by name, tried to be positive but realistic regarding the deceased, and balance my delivery with emotion. I also observed elements from Obama’s eulogy of Mandela and compared them to Chapter 25. The guidelines seemed spot on (although Obama was eulogizing a world leader) and I hope that the information helped to improve my eulogy speech.

JOURNAL # 8: After emailing your final draft of Speech 4, compose an honest self-reflection journal analyzing speech 4.  What went well during the speech?  What can be improved?  Consider delivery, content, organization, and audience reaction in your response.  (150- 200 words).

For Speech 4, I decided to eulogize my father-I thought it would be a good challenge for me to balance my emotions with my delivery.  I took on a somber attitude as if I was at the event.  I took some pointers from Obama’s speech by including pauses, starting slow, then gaining in intensity as I went along.  Talking slower and inserting pauses seemed to almost eliminate my umms.  Although the pauses were great for impact, I found out later that I had exceeded my time limit by almost two minutes! My peers pointed it out as well, so I went back to the speech outline and took out some of the content. When starting my final version, I also tried speaking with notes at first, then found that my eye contact wasn’t great. I was so unhappy with it that I finally ditched the notes after enough practice. It caused me to go off script a little, but I thought the speech benefited from feeling more personal.  One of my peers thought my dry speech was empowering, and I was really proud of that comment, so I strove to make my final version even better, but it is certainly not perfect.  I am sure that if I kept practicing, the speech would become a little more polished and I could eliminate my umms.  I also paused a few times where I didn’t want to pause, so I would try to fix those areas.