What I Learned From The Group Presentation

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 it’s a pop-up ad, a friend suggesting weekend plans, or a teacher explaining why a lesson matters, persuasive messages shape our decisions constantly. This realization made me more aware of how often I’m both receiving and sending persuasive messages—sometimes without even knowing it.

This slide helped me redefine persuasion as a vital part of human connection, not just public speaking. We use it to make suggestions, offer help, advocate for change, or share our values. That made the topic feel much more personal and practical.

 

Slide Two: Speech Types and Structure

My second slide focused on the types and structures of persuasive speeches, which helped me understand how to organize arguments more effectively. I learned that persuasive speeches fall into two major categories: practical persuasion, which relates to everyday requests or suggestions, and issue-based persuasion, which deals with broader topics like justice, ethics, or public policy.

I explored the three key kinds of issue-based speeches:

• Fact: Is something true?

• Value: Is something good or bad?

• Policy: What action should be taken?

Understanding these categories taught me how to shape my argument depending on what I want the audience to believe or do. For instance, a speech about texting while driving could be a fact speech (proving it's dangerous), a value speech(arguing it’s irresponsible), or a policy speech (calling for stricter laws).

I also studied organizational patterns like Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, which helped me see how to build a speech that moves people logically and emotionally. This five-step method—attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action—gave me a formula to follow that actually matches how most people make decisions. It made persuasive speaking feel more like guiding someone on a journey, rather than pushing them toward a conclusion.

 

Slide Three: Know Your Audience and Speak Ethically

This final slide brought everything together for me. I learned that no matter how strong a message is, it only works if it’s adapted to the audience. In my research, I identified five audience types: positive, negative, divided, uninformed, and apathetic. Each one reacts differently, so the speaker’s job is to meet them where they are.

For example, a negative audience needs evidence, patience, and common ground. A positive audience wants encouragement and a call to action. An apathetic audience may not care until you connect the topic to something personal or emotional.

These distinctions helped me rethink how I communicate, even in everyday conversations. I realized I often jump straight to explaining my point without first asking, “Where is this person coming from?” Now I understand that listening first and then adjusting my tone and message is a smarter—and more respectful—way to communicate.

I also learned that ethical persuasion is essential. There’s a fine line between persuasion and manipulation, and it's easy to cross it—especially in media or politics. Ethical speakers use honest facts, give credit to sources, respect opposing views, and avoid using fear or dishonesty to get results.

During my presentation, I made a conscious effort to be clear, truthful, and balanced. I now see persuasion not just as a skill but as a responsibility. As a speaker, I have the power to influence thoughts—and with that comes the duty to do it honestly.

 

Challenges and Personal Growth

One of the biggest challenges I faced was deciding what not to include. There’s so much to say about persuasive speaking, and limiting myself to three slides meant I had to be strategic. This actually improved my focus and forced me to identify the most important concepts instead of trying to say everything.

Another challenge was practicing my delivery. I didn’t want to just read off the slides. I wanted to sound natural, keep the audience engaged, and use relatable examples. That took practice, especially since I sometimes get nervous speaking in front of others. But the more I practiced, the more confident I felt. By the time I gave the presentation, I had internalized the message and could speak with more ease.

This project also changed how I think about speaking in general. I realized that persuasive speaking isn’t just for formal settings—it’s part of everyday life. Whether I’m trying to resolve a disagreement, write a persuasive essay, or propose a new idea at work or in class, these skills will help me communicate better.

 

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Overall, this presentation helped me grow in three big ways:

1. Confidence – I now feel more capable of organizing and delivering a strong message.

2. Awareness – I pay more attention to how others try to persuade me, and I think critically about their methods.

3. Responsibility – I understand that ethical communication matters, especially when people trust what I say.

Moving forward, I want to continue developing these skills. I’ll keep working on speaking with clarity, listening more carefully to others, and making sure I always present ideas with respect and truth. I’m grateful for this experience, and I’m proud of what I learned through the process.

Thank you for giving me the chance to explore this topic. It has had a real impact on how I see myself as a communicator.

Rene Canino