What a Group Presentation Taught Me About Public Speaking

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 feedback, and encouraged each other before we got up to present. If you’ve ever had to speak in front of a crowd, you know how much that kind of support matters. I went in nervous, but I came out confident and a big part of that came from my teammates.

Why Arguments Matter in Public Speaking

Now let’s talk about my part arguments. No, not the heated kind you get into with siblings or friends. I’m talking about the kind of structured arguments you build in a speech: a claim, evidence, and reasoning. Basically, it’s how you get people to agree with you, understand your message, or even change their minds.

Think of a strong argument like building a house. Your claim is the blueprint, your evidence is the bricks, and your reasoning is the cement that holds it all together. Without one of those parts, the whole thing falls apart.

Understanding arguments is essential because it’s the backbone of logos, one of the three rhetorical appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos. These are ancient concepts, but they’re still used in every great speech today.

• Logos is the logic facts, data, structure. It’s what makes your audience think, “This makes sense.”

• Ethos is your credibility. Do you sound like you know what you're talking about? Are you trustworthy?

• Pathos is the emotional pull. It’s how you connect with people’s feelings and values.

In my part of the presentation, I used logos by clearly laying out how arguments work. I used ethos by preparing well and speaking with confidence (or at least trying to!). And I tried to tap into pathos by showing how arguments show up in real life like in political speeches, commercials, or even when you’re convincing your parents to let you stay out late.

What I Learned While Teaching

Here’s the funny thing: I thought I knew what an argument was, but preparing to teach it made me realize how much deeper it goes. It’s not just about proving a point it’s about guiding your audience step by step until they see what you see.

At first, I made the mistake of writing my part like an essay. It sounded robotic when I read it out loud. So I rewrote it in a way that felt more natural, added examples, and practiced saying it like I was having a conversation, not giving a lecture.

One of the most helpful strategies was using relatable examples. I talked about how we use arguments in daily life like when you’re convincing someone to try a new restaurant or explaining why your favorite movie is the best. People connected with that. It made the concept click, and that was my goal. Not just to present something, but to actually help someone understand it.

Practice, Feedback, and Growth

The other thing that helped a ton? Practice and feedback. We rehearsed as a group and gave each other tips. I learned to slow down when I spoke, make eye contact, and pause after key points to let the message sink in.

I also realized how important delivery is. You could have the best argument in the world, but if you mumble, talk too fast, or never look up from your notes, people won’t connect with what you’re saying. I worked on using my hands naturally, modulating my tone, and making my body language match my message.

All of this gave me a deeper appreciation for ethos how your presence, tone, and confidence all build credibility. Even if you're not a professional speaker, people will listen if you act like you believe in what you're saying.

Emotions Matter, Too

Even though my topic leaned more toward logic, I learned that emotion pathos still has a big place in a speech. I mentioned how being able to understand arguments can help you avoid falling for fake news or misleading ads. That hit home for some people. It made the topic feel more personal and relevant. And that emotional connection made my message stronger.

Final Thoughts: Helping Others Speak Better

The best part of this experience? I honestly hope someone in the audience learned something from what I said. Maybe they realized that arguments aren’t just for debates or essays. Maybe they understood how being more logical and structured in their speech can make them more persuasive. That would mean I didn’t just complete an assignment I made an impact.

Public speaking isn’t easy. It takes courage, preparation, and the willingness to grow. But what I learned from this presentation is that when you break it down when you use logos to be clear, ethos to be credible, and pathos to be human you don’t just speak. You connect. And that’s what makes a great speaker.

So if you ever find yourself standing in front of a room, wondering how to win people over, remember: make a strong argument, believe in what you’re saying, and speak from the heart.

You’ve got this.

By Samentha Bigot