Speech Preparation

Identifying the general purpose was the most helpful aspect of preparing my speeches.  Most of the subjects that I chose I could easily talk about for hours.  However, talking about them with a certain intention, for a certain purpose, or to get a specific result required more fine tuning.  It forced me to consider and think about my topics in ways that I possibly had not ever done before.  By determining if I was going to discuss the topic with the purpose of informing, persuading, or entertaining helped narrow down which aspects of my topic I would address.  It forced me to eliminate some information that I would have spoken on otherwise and add information I would have normally ignored.  Of the different types of general purposes, probably speaking to inform was my favorite.  I like to teach and increase the knowledge of others just as I like to increase my own knowledge.  By speaking to inform, I am able to allow a little bit of my knowledge to rub off on others.

Affect on future

Prior to taking this class, I really never gave any thought into all the precise details about my speech.  Things such as considering the time and audience, making sure to give a preview of the main points as well as a review, the fact that there are different types of speeches, utilizing presentation media with a purpose, ethical responsibilities, different types of reasoning, etc. These fine details are probably what will most influence my speech giving in the future.  I would typically just jot down ideas that I had whenever I previously gave a speech and then just talk about them randomly.  By creating an outline with an introduction, main points, and conclusion, even if it is only a mental version of it, creates a flow of speech that I haven't had before.  Having a purpose and ensuring that all aspects of the speech revolve around that particular purpose and its success is what I will endeavor to do in future public speaking engagements that I have.

Favorite Speech

My favorite speech was the demonstration speech.  For this speech I demonstrated how to shoot a bow.  I think it was an excellent type of speech for the first main speech as it gave those who were a tad on the nervous side something to hide behind.  However, I liked it just because I enjoyed having something visual to reference.  I felt that it helped me connect with the audience much more than having just a power presentation or some other kind of media.  I am very experienced with public speaking and have found that the audience tunes in much better at the point that a visual aid is used.  There is so much media used today that I think traditional forms of digital media are mostly washed out and don't help the audience connect.  However, visual aids are something that most of the audience can typically relate to and therefore it does a better job of getting their attention.

Speech Buddy Videos

Probably the biggest thing that I learned is how much persuasive information you can really fit into five minutes.  I was impressed by how much they were able to say, while still speaking slowly and methodically.  Both speakers connected with the audience by bringing the subject matter close to home, literally.  By talking about homeschooling, the speakers spoke on a subject that most people have had to approach at least once in their life.  The speakers were easily able to draw the audience in by making personal.  The appeal approach that was used by both speakers was an emotional appeal. By speaking on subject matter that involves one's children, there is automatically an emotional connection.  The audience had to consider the well-fare of their children not only scholastically, but socially as well.  In an attempt to come to terms with which situation really is best for their child a parent can feel guilty having to recognize the fact that they really may not be doing what is best for their child.

Tribute Speeches

Depending on the occasion, tribute speeches could be one of the most important type of speech.  Tribute speeches are meant to speak in high regards about a person or group.  The tribute speech that I am most familiar with is the eulogy.  I have probably been to about 30 funerals in my lifetime and have heard quite the variety of eulogies given.  In a time of grief, what someone else says about a loved one that has passed can either dig a bigger hole of depression, or help you celebrate the life they lived.  Careful consideration must be given to the eulogy speech in regards to the families desire for the atmosphere, the type of person the eulogy is about, and time limits.  Although death is always a tragedy, speaking about the fond memories, funny times, and special characteristics about the one who has passed can lighten the mood.  On the other hand, focusing on the sadness, the emptiness, and loneliness puts more emphasis on the tragedy and will only darken the mood.  I prefer to be at funerals and hear eulogies that hardly mention the tragedy of the death, but rather speak about the good that the individual accomplished and the positive impact he/she had on others.

Persuasion

My boyfriend races motocross.  About 6 months ago, on a Saturday morning, he went to a track to practice without me.  I was studiously studying for my upcoming Physiology exam.  About 11:00 I get a phone call from him. He says, "I think I hurt my ankle,  but I'm okay. I am going to load my bike up and go home."  Apparently, he landed a jump and went into a corner. While turning, his boot got caught in the mud and twisted his ankle.  He heard a loud "pop!"   I met him at his house to assess the situation.  Although he managed to load and unload his motorcycle by himself, once he took his boot off the outside of his ankle looked the size of a tennis ball.  His reaction to it was, "It's just a little swollen. I probably just sprained it.  A little ice and it will be fine." 

I had to utilize causal reasoning to convince him to go to the doctor.  If it was just a sprain that was fine, he should just stay off it for a bit.  However, if it was broken, there could be severe ramifications to not getting it set properly.  Putting any weight on it could make the brake worse.  It could heal incorrectly causing more long-term damage. He potentially would not be able to race anymore.  However, if he went to the doctor and it was broken, it could be properly set, he could get a release from work to give it time to heal, and he would be able to continue to race. 

The end result was that he went to the doctor within an hour's time and found out that it was indeed broken and he was in surgery a week later to get 2 screws and a plate put in.  Now 6 months down the road he is training for his next race in May with hardly any limitations due to the brake.

Audience Types

I don't think that I have really ever necessarily thought in detail about the different types of audiences and how they should be addressed differently from each other.  I think I have just automatically altered my approach but not really taken thought as to why.  The way the textbook broke the audience down into different categories was interesting and quite helpful.  Showing how each audience type had similarities and differences in relation to each other was something I would not have taken into consideration on my own.  I like how the text broke down within each category not just what their opinion of the subject was but also what their opinion of it was.  However, when writing a speech, it is not always necessarily known whether or not the audience is educated on the subject matter or not and if they are educated about it, their viewpoint may not be known.  To cover this approach, I think it would often require generalizing the speech toward the assumption that you are speaking to a divided audience.