The big takeaway from this chapter for me would be the overall use of public speaking within any career that you take. Any path in life, you will find yourself needing to speaking publicly, whether it be to massive crowds or just a few people within a work setting. But public speaking, and understanding how to convey your words, is really important to the work force. I think that this chapter really showed how much you use public speaking, and showed things that you wouldn’t initially believe are public speaking until you sit back and reflect. The chapter showed that being able to have the confidence and use of wording to be able to stand up in front of a crowd and speak your truth is very important. It just shows how important this skill is, even if you think you don’t need this in whatever you want to do, there are always aspects of speaking in front of people and being comfortable in front of others within every setting.
Chapter 1 gave an introduction to public speaking. An important takeaway from this chapter was the connections made between public speaking and life skills. Not only is public speaking a useful tool for presentations in school, but it is also important in our future careers and for daily interactions. Personally, I will be working in healthcare and interacting with patients everyday as a dental hygienist. By using these speaking skills, I will be able to effectively converse and build the confidence to speak in front of others. Another important point from chapter 1 was the connection made to civic engagement. By effectively speaking out and voicing your ideas, this allows you to enter conversations and be an active citizen. Speaking in front of others about your concerns can lead to changes in civic issues like gun violence and climate change. Public speaking can also make you feel empowered and confident, which are such important qualities to have. In addition, chapter 1 also explained the importance of connecting with the audience and developing an effective oral style. By being an interactive speaker, and creating references to your audience, your speech will be more effective.
Chapter one talks about how to create and present a speech to the public. It also talks about the importance of being a good public speaker and how it affects your life. It starts by saying a good public speaker is not born, you have to practice confidence and be conceivable to the receivers. Communication is key when giving a speech whether it is verbally or written. There are four categories of communication, dyadic, small group, mass, and public speaking. Dyadic is between two people, while a small group is a number of people that can talk directly to one another. A mass is a speaker and a large number of people while public speaking is a speaker delivering a message with a specific purpose to an audience. You have to be a conversationalist, being able to talk to any kind of audience through an interest fulfilling the needs of them. You need to have a shared meaning, the speaker and audience are understanding the message. You need to have a goal with your speech, what are you trying to teach? Once you can talk about any topic to any demographic you become an engaging citizen. You can then hon your composition and oral style to be a better public speaker. Public speaking is a good skill, many colleges have courses to enhance a students future career, surveys show the importance of public speaking in undergraduate years. Employers are always looking for good communicators that can also speak in public.
The overall takeaway from chapter one of the course reader was all about your approach and confidence you have toward publicly speaking. Building that up overtime can help you become a successful leader on the employee sheet and in your own school. Being an individual weapon by having a purpose in your speeches and thesis statement to follow your ideas and clearly expressing your end goal if what you want listeners to take from your talks is truly unique and a pro when listed up against others for jobs in your career. Personally I connected with the fact of communication being five when listed on what’s important in employment. You truly can get the job over someone else if you have a good personality and work ethic when it comes to giving presentations and engaging the audience. The phrase in the course reader that I found grasping was, “A speech without purpose is a car without fuel.” How important that purpose is, with delivering it with such passion and making it your own so that everyone knows how important it is and how it’s supposed to get across without hesitation and lack of confidence in your tone. The way you present yourself, standing tall and proud is what others look at most.
Sydney Pickering
Public Speaking 100A
Journal 1
1/26/23
Public speaking is a vital part of all jobs in America today. Employers look to find verbal communication skills in potential employees, with confidence a public speaker is open to various opportunities. Public speaking can also reflect feelings and special interests due to the need for research for various speeches. The ability to confidently give a speech does not come easy, rather it needs to be practiced and repeated. One way of doing this is to engage with the audience, and make sure they actually understand what you are trying to say. Make eye contact and know what topics are appropriate for the audience. It is important to find the proper flow of the speech learn when to breathe and how to add emphasis on certain words within the speech. The speech that one gives should have meaning and one should be passionate about it, by writing about something that interests an individual immediately allows them to speak more confidently. Practice makes perfect, the more someone practices in a small environment the more prepared they will be for a larger one. There are several steps involved in the repetition to better ensure success, like practicing alone several times, then practicing with people you trust, then maybe going to a group of people that live around you. By the time an individual goes through all of these steps, their speech will be fine-tuned and will be better than it was initially.
I think chapter one is very significant because it talks all about the different types of public speaking and how it is essentially a vital part of all of our lives. Which is true. Public speaking is something the majority of us do everyday, without even realizing. Whether it just be telling a story to a group of friends or presenting something in class. There are many different types and becoming a good public speaker is a very beneficial character trait. One thing that stuck out was when the chapter said that good public speaking uses regular conversational language in simple sentences to keep audiences engaged and listening. I think this is a very good thing to look at because a lot of people may think of speeches to be very formal and rigid, however a good speech is something interesting to listen to and almost casual sounding, while also getting a solid point across. Another thing that stuck out to me was the concept of shared meaning, which the book said starts when the speaker simply catches the audience’s attention, and then as time goes on the meaning becomes deeper. I think this is very significant because if the audience can’t connect or relate to what you’re saying they may begin to lose interest.
One of the big take-a-ways from chapter one was understanding that public speaking is a vital skill that every human being has the chance at acquiring. When reading the chapter, I thought it was interesting to learn that verbal communication skills were labeled number 5 as skills employers’ rate as most important. With that being said, becoming comfortable with the topic of public speaking is crucial for future professional careers. Another significant topic from the chapter was to develop a sense of inclusivity when public speaking. When addressing a mass of people, everyone is coming from different backgrounds which ties to various opinions. Being able to address audiences with sensitivity will not only demonstrate respect for different cultures and identities, but it will also establish a more genuine connection with the audience. Conveying a message is the number one goal for a public speaker, so it would be nice if everyone would be able to connect to the message in some type of way.
The primary takeaway from chapter 1 is the Communication Process, with respect to the source and the receiver. By utilizing the foundational canons of rhetoric, you are able to translate the speaker’s goals into the audience’s outcome. The speaker can thoroughly research his argument to provide ample evidence and organize the information into a smoothly flowing speech, but without proper rehearsal and execution, the receiver attempting to decode the message will fail to reach the purpose of the speech. In addition, it is equally important to analyze the audience and atmosphere to shape and ensure the message and feedback can be received, without noise affecting the means of communication.
The ability to effectively communicate is a profound skill to possess and work towards perfection. Other skills that are exercised as a member of a team or as a leader are very important; such as character, presence, and intellect, however, communication can be the downfall or enable the growth of an organization.
The main takeaway from this chapter, which also happens to be its central idea, is that speaking in public places in front of other people is a skill that any communicator should acquire. I interpret this as a kind of self-representation that can improve or tarnish your reputation as a person. When you speak, you allow those listening to pick up on a number of different social cues and facts about yourself that they use to build an image of you in their mind. Communicating through presentations and other speeches helps strengthen one’s reputation in a variety of different contexts.
This section of the book aids in my understanding of the technical aspects of communication. The text offers a variety of modes of communication, such as mass media, dyadic communication, and others, and it explains the different components of how information is transmitted person-to-person or person-to-audience. These are mainly talking points for the discussion that we will end up having in class, so depth will be lacking a bit. All in all, this chapter was a great reminder about the basics of communication and how speeches and speaking well in front of crowds and other people can be highly beneficial for your life.
Chapter 1 talks about public speaking and why it is an important skill to have. It is used so much in school, work, big events, and just in everyday life. You need to be confident when speaking so others know you are serious about the topic you are speaking about. Verbal communication skills is rated by employers as one of the top ten most important skills to have in the professional field. Being confident with public speaking is useful as a college student as well. College is where you get practice in public speaking before it becomes more serious in the workforce. It is important to take advantage of public speaking opportunities in college, so you know what to expect in your career or even out in public.
In public speaking, people tend to find their specific style and everyone’s’ style is different. It is important to make sure that your audience follows along and understands what you are speaking about, making your speeches interactive can help with this. Your audience may give you feedback, both verbal and non-verbal, that you can use to help you improve your skill. A key thing in public speaking is to make sure there is shared meaning between you and your audience, the audience may be more engaged. Whenever you are doing a speech there is always a specific goal or purpose that you are focusing on; what do you want the audience to take away from your speech.
I have always considered myself someone who is a convincing speaker and decent orator, however chapter 1 discussed components of a good public speaker that I have never paid much thought to. My words often come across clear but my body language may not be as understanding, I have never really considered what my body is doing during a presentation and I have never given much thought to the body language of my audience either.
The chapter especially stressed how the speech is prepared and presented for the audience, which is something I do not keep in mind too often when I am creating a speech or speaking. I concern myself much more with the topic of my speech rather than who I may be presenting it to. It makes a lot of sense to consider the audience as a much more involved part of the whole plan since they are the people you are initially even speaking for.
Lastly, the chapter’s overall emphasis on how important of a skill public speaking is reminded me that a large portion of the world’s history was captured through skilled orators, their stories and speeches would then be recorded or passed on to the next generation through other skilled orators. The vital role public speaking has played in our history eludes me often and I should remember more how important our voices are.
JOURNAL # 1: What are the big takeaways from chapter 1? In a full journal entry, help explain the significance of what you found important and what you connected within the chapter.
The big takeaways from chapter 1 were how becoming a public speaker can only benefit you, it’s a vital skill that will help you advance your professional goals. It’s sought to be the most valuable ability one can learn during their undergraduate career. It’s reiterated throughout the chapter how public speaking can help enhance your career, and often lead to more opportunities and advance you ahead of others if you can speak publicly and gain skills with oral communication. Another big takeaway is how simple conversation is different than public speaking, and in order to give effective speeches, you should keep your verbiage more straightforward, and more rhythmic, and interactive to keep your audience involved and understand what you’re saying. It’s important to note that every speech needs to clearly have a purpose, like what you want your audience to learn or do as a result of your speech. Keeping the purpose of your speech in your head as you’re giving the speech will allow you to keep the focus on your goal and help you achieve it. These were some of the big takeaways I took from reading chapter 1, and I look forward to taking this advice and using it to help benefit me when I have to give speeches in the future.
I think this chapter discusses many important aspects of communication in general. One of the first to really stick out to me was the fact that in collage level applicants, one of the most valued qualities is our above average written and oral communication skills. They note that that skill is valued by employers even more than our technical aptitude in the advanced concepts of our individual concentrations. It make me think of another professor of mine who explained to our class how our education, as well as showing we have advanced knowledge of a specific subject, it shows you have the dedication and willpower to follow through on an arduous endeavor; basically maintaining and performing a “job” for at least four years, or more. It creates an immediate positive rapport.
They also discuss many other venues where effective communication and public speaking skills could be a huge aid and advantage to everyone. It allows you to actively participate in meaningful conversations in a constructive way, “giving you a voice that can be heard and can be counted”. And this proves true for everyone in every situation, from person conversations, to mass speeches, and across every different profession.
Another important discussion in the chapter is to analyze and take into account all the different contextual variables of the situation while preparing to communicate in any form. Along with the reiteration that this is a skill that need to be cultivated and developed over time.
When reading through chapter 1, there were a couple of things that I found important. One thing was that employers ranked communication skills, specifically verbal communication, as one of the five most important skills to have. This is really important because after school when you are looking for a job, being able to say that you are a good verbal communicator will help you. Another thing I thought was important was how they went into detail on learning to speak in public. I think reading about that helped me understand a little bit more on what I need to focus on to publicly speak and do it well. I definitely connected with that part as well. Especially the part focused on demonstrating respect for difference, meaning the different audience members. I realized after reading that, that I need to be able to connect with everyone in the audience to keep them engaged. Keeping the audience engaged is a key part of public speaking, if no one wants to listen to you speak, then there really is no point in doing it at all. You won’t be able to deliver the message that you are trying to get across and that is really important.
The big takeaways from chapter 1 was that you have to act professionally and confident when speaking in a public setting. What I found important in this chapter was that it matters where you have your speech because if you have it in a well respected area it will make your speech look professional. That is called the Public Forum. The topic I connected with the most was the way you talk to people. When I talk to people I always make sure they have my full attention and look them in the eye.
What i took from chapter 1 is how impactful public speaking can be. No job really that i can think of does not t require public speaking to an extent. Wether it is in a group of three presenting an idea or if its you talking in front of a whole school or university. I think that being able to speak in front of your peers is a amazing skill that you are not born with but only can come from practice and speaking over time. All people struggle from different challenges when it comes to speaking in front of crowds. wether its nervousness, fidgeting, blanking out and losing your train of thought. these can only be eliminated from trying to speak over and over again.
Chapter 1 shows just how important being able to publicly speak is as a skill. Developing a sense of inclusiveness in public speaking was another important theme of this chapter. A theme I particularly like is being able to talk to many people of different backgrounds and ethnicities, from all parts of life. When you talk to a lot of people, everyone comes from different backgrounds, and you get different opinions. Getting the message across is a public speaker’s goal, so being able to connect to a large variety of people is an amazing skill to obtain.
Some big takeaways from chapter 1 that I got while reading is that public speaking is a good and necessary skill to have in handy. Even though not all professions use public speaking, it gives everyone a way to talk to others and get their point across that engages the people they are speaking with. Even in a simple conversation with a friend. If there is a topic of conflict or just anything at all, using these skills that we will learn will help people engage in what you are saying. It also helps people develop good listening skills when it comes to speaking with others. How we speak, such as the words and emotions we use is a big part of public speaking. That is something I sometimes struggle with and getting across the main message without side tracking or adding in details that do not matter and make the listeners not want to engage anymore.
18 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 1”
The big takeaway from this chapter for me would be the overall use of public speaking within any career that you take. Any path in life, you will find yourself needing to speaking publicly, whether it be to massive crowds or just a few people within a work setting. But public speaking, and understanding how to convey your words, is really important to the work force. I think that this chapter really showed how much you use public speaking, and showed things that you wouldn’t initially believe are public speaking until you sit back and reflect. The chapter showed that being able to have the confidence and use of wording to be able to stand up in front of a crowd and speak your truth is very important. It just shows how important this skill is, even if you think you don’t need this in whatever you want to do, there are always aspects of speaking in front of people and being comfortable in front of others within every setting.
Chapter 1 gave an introduction to public speaking. An important takeaway from this chapter was the connections made between public speaking and life skills. Not only is public speaking a useful tool for presentations in school, but it is also important in our future careers and for daily interactions. Personally, I will be working in healthcare and interacting with patients everyday as a dental hygienist. By using these speaking skills, I will be able to effectively converse and build the confidence to speak in front of others. Another important point from chapter 1 was the connection made to civic engagement. By effectively speaking out and voicing your ideas, this allows you to enter conversations and be an active citizen. Speaking in front of others about your concerns can lead to changes in civic issues like gun violence and climate change. Public speaking can also make you feel empowered and confident, which are such important qualities to have. In addition, chapter 1 also explained the importance of connecting with the audience and developing an effective oral style. By being an interactive speaker, and creating references to your audience, your speech will be more effective.
Chapter one talks about how to create and present a speech to the public. It also talks about the importance of being a good public speaker and how it affects your life. It starts by saying a good public speaker is not born, you have to practice confidence and be conceivable to the receivers. Communication is key when giving a speech whether it is verbally or written. There are four categories of communication, dyadic, small group, mass, and public speaking. Dyadic is between two people, while a small group is a number of people that can talk directly to one another. A mass is a speaker and a large number of people while public speaking is a speaker delivering a message with a specific purpose to an audience. You have to be a conversationalist, being able to talk to any kind of audience through an interest fulfilling the needs of them. You need to have a shared meaning, the speaker and audience are understanding the message. You need to have a goal with your speech, what are you trying to teach? Once you can talk about any topic to any demographic you become an engaging citizen. You can then hon your composition and oral style to be a better public speaker. Public speaking is a good skill, many colleges have courses to enhance a students future career, surveys show the importance of public speaking in undergraduate years. Employers are always looking for good communicators that can also speak in public.
The overall takeaway from chapter one of the course reader was all about your approach and confidence you have toward publicly speaking. Building that up overtime can help you become a successful leader on the employee sheet and in your own school. Being an individual weapon by having a purpose in your speeches and thesis statement to follow your ideas and clearly expressing your end goal if what you want listeners to take from your talks is truly unique and a pro when listed up against others for jobs in your career. Personally I connected with the fact of communication being five when listed on what’s important in employment. You truly can get the job over someone else if you have a good personality and work ethic when it comes to giving presentations and engaging the audience. The phrase in the course reader that I found grasping was, “A speech without purpose is a car without fuel.” How important that purpose is, with delivering it with such passion and making it your own so that everyone knows how important it is and how it’s supposed to get across without hesitation and lack of confidence in your tone. The way you present yourself, standing tall and proud is what others look at most.
Sydney Pickering
Public Speaking 100A
Journal 1
1/26/23
Public speaking is a vital part of all jobs in America today. Employers look to find verbal communication skills in potential employees, with confidence a public speaker is open to various opportunities. Public speaking can also reflect feelings and special interests due to the need for research for various speeches. The ability to confidently give a speech does not come easy, rather it needs to be practiced and repeated. One way of doing this is to engage with the audience, and make sure they actually understand what you are trying to say. Make eye contact and know what topics are appropriate for the audience. It is important to find the proper flow of the speech learn when to breathe and how to add emphasis on certain words within the speech. The speech that one gives should have meaning and one should be passionate about it, by writing about something that interests an individual immediately allows them to speak more confidently. Practice makes perfect, the more someone practices in a small environment the more prepared they will be for a larger one. There are several steps involved in the repetition to better ensure success, like practicing alone several times, then practicing with people you trust, then maybe going to a group of people that live around you. By the time an individual goes through all of these steps, their speech will be fine-tuned and will be better than it was initially.
I think chapter one is very significant because it talks all about the different types of public speaking and how it is essentially a vital part of all of our lives. Which is true. Public speaking is something the majority of us do everyday, without even realizing. Whether it just be telling a story to a group of friends or presenting something in class. There are many different types and becoming a good public speaker is a very beneficial character trait. One thing that stuck out was when the chapter said that good public speaking uses regular conversational language in simple sentences to keep audiences engaged and listening. I think this is a very good thing to look at because a lot of people may think of speeches to be very formal and rigid, however a good speech is something interesting to listen to and almost casual sounding, while also getting a solid point across. Another thing that stuck out to me was the concept of shared meaning, which the book said starts when the speaker simply catches the audience’s attention, and then as time goes on the meaning becomes deeper. I think this is very significant because if the audience can’t connect or relate to what you’re saying they may begin to lose interest.
One of the big take-a-ways from chapter one was understanding that public speaking is a vital skill that every human being has the chance at acquiring. When reading the chapter, I thought it was interesting to learn that verbal communication skills were labeled number 5 as skills employers’ rate as most important. With that being said, becoming comfortable with the topic of public speaking is crucial for future professional careers. Another significant topic from the chapter was to develop a sense of inclusivity when public speaking. When addressing a mass of people, everyone is coming from different backgrounds which ties to various opinions. Being able to address audiences with sensitivity will not only demonstrate respect for different cultures and identities, but it will also establish a more genuine connection with the audience. Conveying a message is the number one goal for a public speaker, so it would be nice if everyone would be able to connect to the message in some type of way.
The primary takeaway from chapter 1 is the Communication Process, with respect to the source and the receiver. By utilizing the foundational canons of rhetoric, you are able to translate the speaker’s goals into the audience’s outcome. The speaker can thoroughly research his argument to provide ample evidence and organize the information into a smoothly flowing speech, but without proper rehearsal and execution, the receiver attempting to decode the message will fail to reach the purpose of the speech. In addition, it is equally important to analyze the audience and atmosphere to shape and ensure the message and feedback can be received, without noise affecting the means of communication.
The ability to effectively communicate is a profound skill to possess and work towards perfection. Other skills that are exercised as a member of a team or as a leader are very important; such as character, presence, and intellect, however, communication can be the downfall or enable the growth of an organization.
The main takeaway from this chapter, which also happens to be its central idea, is that speaking in public places in front of other people is a skill that any communicator should acquire. I interpret this as a kind of self-representation that can improve or tarnish your reputation as a person. When you speak, you allow those listening to pick up on a number of different social cues and facts about yourself that they use to build an image of you in their mind. Communicating through presentations and other speeches helps strengthen one’s reputation in a variety of different contexts.
This section of the book aids in my understanding of the technical aspects of communication. The text offers a variety of modes of communication, such as mass media, dyadic communication, and others, and it explains the different components of how information is transmitted person-to-person or person-to-audience. These are mainly talking points for the discussion that we will end up having in class, so depth will be lacking a bit. All in all, this chapter was a great reminder about the basics of communication and how speeches and speaking well in front of crowds and other people can be highly beneficial for your life.
Chapter 1 talks about public speaking and why it is an important skill to have. It is used so much in school, work, big events, and just in everyday life. You need to be confident when speaking so others know you are serious about the topic you are speaking about. Verbal communication skills is rated by employers as one of the top ten most important skills to have in the professional field. Being confident with public speaking is useful as a college student as well. College is where you get practice in public speaking before it becomes more serious in the workforce. It is important to take advantage of public speaking opportunities in college, so you know what to expect in your career or even out in public.
In public speaking, people tend to find their specific style and everyone’s’ style is different. It is important to make sure that your audience follows along and understands what you are speaking about, making your speeches interactive can help with this. Your audience may give you feedback, both verbal and non-verbal, that you can use to help you improve your skill. A key thing in public speaking is to make sure there is shared meaning between you and your audience, the audience may be more engaged. Whenever you are doing a speech there is always a specific goal or purpose that you are focusing on; what do you want the audience to take away from your speech.
I have always considered myself someone who is a convincing speaker and decent orator, however chapter 1 discussed components of a good public speaker that I have never paid much thought to. My words often come across clear but my body language may not be as understanding, I have never really considered what my body is doing during a presentation and I have never given much thought to the body language of my audience either.
The chapter especially stressed how the speech is prepared and presented for the audience, which is something I do not keep in mind too often when I am creating a speech or speaking. I concern myself much more with the topic of my speech rather than who I may be presenting it to. It makes a lot of sense to consider the audience as a much more involved part of the whole plan since they are the people you are initially even speaking for.
Lastly, the chapter’s overall emphasis on how important of a skill public speaking is reminded me that a large portion of the world’s history was captured through skilled orators, their stories and speeches would then be recorded or passed on to the next generation through other skilled orators. The vital role public speaking has played in our history eludes me often and I should remember more how important our voices are.
JOURNAL # 1: What are the big takeaways from chapter 1? In a full journal entry, help explain the significance of what you found important and what you connected within the chapter.
The big takeaways from chapter 1 were how becoming a public speaker can only benefit you, it’s a vital skill that will help you advance your professional goals. It’s sought to be the most valuable ability one can learn during their undergraduate career. It’s reiterated throughout the chapter how public speaking can help enhance your career, and often lead to more opportunities and advance you ahead of others if you can speak publicly and gain skills with oral communication. Another big takeaway is how simple conversation is different than public speaking, and in order to give effective speeches, you should keep your verbiage more straightforward, and more rhythmic, and interactive to keep your audience involved and understand what you’re saying. It’s important to note that every speech needs to clearly have a purpose, like what you want your audience to learn or do as a result of your speech. Keeping the purpose of your speech in your head as you’re giving the speech will allow you to keep the focus on your goal and help you achieve it. These were some of the big takeaways I took from reading chapter 1, and I look forward to taking this advice and using it to help benefit me when I have to give speeches in the future.
I think this chapter discusses many important aspects of communication in general. One of the first to really stick out to me was the fact that in collage level applicants, one of the most valued qualities is our above average written and oral communication skills. They note that that skill is valued by employers even more than our technical aptitude in the advanced concepts of our individual concentrations. It make me think of another professor of mine who explained to our class how our education, as well as showing we have advanced knowledge of a specific subject, it shows you have the dedication and willpower to follow through on an arduous endeavor; basically maintaining and performing a “job” for at least four years, or more. It creates an immediate positive rapport.
They also discuss many other venues where effective communication and public speaking skills could be a huge aid and advantage to everyone. It allows you to actively participate in meaningful conversations in a constructive way, “giving you a voice that can be heard and can be counted”. And this proves true for everyone in every situation, from person conversations, to mass speeches, and across every different profession.
Another important discussion in the chapter is to analyze and take into account all the different contextual variables of the situation while preparing to communicate in any form. Along with the reiteration that this is a skill that need to be cultivated and developed over time.
When reading through chapter 1, there were a couple of things that I found important. One thing was that employers ranked communication skills, specifically verbal communication, as one of the five most important skills to have. This is really important because after school when you are looking for a job, being able to say that you are a good verbal communicator will help you. Another thing I thought was important was how they went into detail on learning to speak in public. I think reading about that helped me understand a little bit more on what I need to focus on to publicly speak and do it well. I definitely connected with that part as well. Especially the part focused on demonstrating respect for difference, meaning the different audience members. I realized after reading that, that I need to be able to connect with everyone in the audience to keep them engaged. Keeping the audience engaged is a key part of public speaking, if no one wants to listen to you speak, then there really is no point in doing it at all. You won’t be able to deliver the message that you are trying to get across and that is really important.
The big takeaways from chapter 1 was that you have to act professionally and confident when speaking in a public setting. What I found important in this chapter was that it matters where you have your speech because if you have it in a well respected area it will make your speech look professional. That is called the Public Forum. The topic I connected with the most was the way you talk to people. When I talk to people I always make sure they have my full attention and look them in the eye.
What i took from chapter 1 is how impactful public speaking can be. No job really that i can think of does not t require public speaking to an extent. Wether it is in a group of three presenting an idea or if its you talking in front of a whole school or university. I think that being able to speak in front of your peers is a amazing skill that you are not born with but only can come from practice and speaking over time. All people struggle from different challenges when it comes to speaking in front of crowds. wether its nervousness, fidgeting, blanking out and losing your train of thought. these can only be eliminated from trying to speak over and over again.
Chapter 1 shows just how important being able to publicly speak is as a skill. Developing a sense of inclusiveness in public speaking was another important theme of this chapter. A theme I particularly like is being able to talk to many people of different backgrounds and ethnicities, from all parts of life. When you talk to a lot of people, everyone comes from different backgrounds, and you get different opinions. Getting the message across is a public speaker’s goal, so being able to connect to a large variety of people is an amazing skill to obtain.
Some big takeaways from chapter 1 that I got while reading is that public speaking is a good and necessary skill to have in handy. Even though not all professions use public speaking, it gives everyone a way to talk to others and get their point across that engages the people they are speaking with. Even in a simple conversation with a friend. If there is a topic of conflict or just anything at all, using these skills that we will learn will help people engage in what you are saying. It also helps people develop good listening skills when it comes to speaking with others. How we speak, such as the words and emotions we use is a big part of public speaking. That is something I sometimes struggle with and getting across the main message without side tracking or adding in details that do not matter and make the listeners not want to engage anymore.