Chapter 12 Goodness

As with a lot of the information we read in the class, they are almost common knowledge, only that we as students never truly recognize it until the book places it in our lap. But one of the biggest things that I've noticed this year, and because of the book, is the reliance of a podium, table or object to cover half of our bodies. To be completely honest, I have to say that before this year began, most, if not all, my classes relied on hiding behind the podium, which would somehow decrease the awkwardness that presenting a speech may give. Ever since we had begun presenting in comm20, we were forced to not present behind a podium and rely on our words and slight actions to move our presentations along, not the act of hiding behind a podium. As far as being active during your speech, radiating positivity is probably the most vital thing to a speech. If one were to present a speech and not even be interested in what he or she were speaking about, it definitely shows that if the speaker is not interested in what he or she is speaking about, why should the audience care? I mostly have a problem with this not because I am never interested in my topic, but more because I need more practice to improve the confidence that is required with all speeches. One last idea from the reading that was very interesting was to involve the audience. Referring to other speakers from the room is probably one of the best examples to 1) show that you are an attentive listener, therefore possibly an effective speaker and 2) to show that people should pay attention to your speech as much as you paid to theirs. I never really do this, mainly because I focus on exactly what my speech has been practiced with but I am firmly going to practice in incorporating this into my next speech.