SPC2608 - 4015 - 8:20 AM - Group 4

Last week in my SPC class, we wrapped up one of the most dynamic and collaborative assignments of the semester: our textbook chapter presentations. Each group was assigned a set of chapters from Public Speaking: The Evolving Art and was responsible for teaching the class the key concepts from their section. I was part of Group 4, which presented the final five chapters. This project helped me learn much more than what’s written in the textbook—it pushed me to become more confident, collaborative, and intentional as a speaker. It also taught me how to listen more actively, to observe delivery styles, and to reflect on what resonates with an audience. Group 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 5 – The Important Tricks for a Great Presentation Group 1 kicked things off with a powerful overview of public speaking fundamentals. Chapter 1 explained why public speaking matters in both academic and everyday contexts. Chapter 2 covered communication anxiety, which was extremely relatable. It was reassu...

Recently, my classmates and I did a group presentation on public speaking, and honestly, it taught me more than I expected. I thought I’d just go up, do my part, and move on but the experience helped me understand not only how to speak better in front of people but also how to connect with them. Plus, I learned something cool: Understanding arguments  the topic I personally covered might be one of the most powerful tools a speaker can have.  The Power of a Group We each took on a different part of public speaking. Some talked about how to overcome nerves, some explained the importance of body language, and others dove into vocal tone and audience engagement. My part focused on understanding arguments how to build them, how to recognize them, and why they matter when you're trying to persuade or explain something. Before I get into what I shared, I want to say this: working as a group actually made the whole experience better. We helped each other practice, gave honest feedba...

Let’s just say it: teaching a public speaking class on Zoom is either an act of profound courage or quiet madness. Maybe both. Either way, Mrs. Sinkoff—our fearless, click-happy guide through the chaos—deserves a standing ovation, or at least a Starbucks gift card and a neck massage. Because corralling twenty-plus students into four teams, timing them, muting them, unmuting them, and giving meaningful feedback while the internet gods play dice with connection quality? That’s some Cirque du Soleil-level balancing. So here we are. We survived our first full round of team presentations, and I’d be lying if I said it was easy. Sitting through four back-to-back presentations in a single 3-hour-and-20-minute Zoom session is not for the faint of heart. It’s a test of stamina, focus, and the strength of one’s desk chair. Somewhere around hour two, your back starts whispering threats. Your eyeballs glaze. Your coffee gives up. And still—somehow—you press on, because that’s what public speakers ...

  Learning to Speak in Public        I recently gave my first presentation in my public speaking class, which I’m taking this summer semester. It was a group project, and I’m still positively surprised by how quickly and effectively my group members and I worked together. In less than two days, we pulled everything together into a complete presentation. I’m grateful we were assigned to group four because we had a bit more time to prepare than some of the other groups, which definitely helped us stay calm and organized.      One of the most amazing things about our group was how easily we collaborated. From the beginning, everyone was open to giving and receiving feedback, which helped us build a solid presentation. Even when we had a new member, Georgette, join us after the chapters were already divided, we worked quickly to assign her a part and integrate her into the group. She adapted smoothly and became part of the team right away. By ...

I wanted to take a moment to reflect in detail on my recent persuasive speaking presentation and share with you the insights, challenges, and growth I experienced throughout the process. Preparing and delivering this three-slide presentation gave me much more than just an opportunity to speak—it gave me a deeper appreciation for the power of language, the importance of ethics in communication, and the value of understanding an audience. I hope this reflection communicates just how meaningful this experience has been for me.   Understanding Persuasion at Its Core The first slide of my presentation, “What Is Persuasion?”, laid the groundwork for everything else I discussed. Before I began researching, I thought persuasion was just about convincing someone to agree with you. But I learned that persuasion is actually about influencing beliefs, attitudes, or actions through effective communication—without forcing or manipulating the audience. Persuasion surrounds us every day. Whether i...