Lessons Learned

I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s blogs this quarter. I got a slow start on learning how to blog; I never knew there was such a thing. However, after I got the hang of  it, I really enjoyed blogging. It’s interesting to read about how other classmates viewed their own presentations. More often than not, we are our own worst critic. Therefore, it felt good to be able to comfort others through blogging. I hope Mrs. Basford met her goal for this blog.

P. S. I hope I met my goal too!

 

Julie

Reflecting on Informing

This is a reflection on my informative speech, perhaps the most nerve racking assignment I’ve had all quarter

I was nervous. incredibly nervous. it was the speech about the salvation army. I already knew a good deal about the salvation army but not enough to base an entire speech on so i researched. before long had more than enough information to give my speech. I picked out what I thought were the most important facts and drew up note cards like Candee had told us. I didn’t rehearse the speech until the day I had to give it. I took my note cards went out to the track by the school and walked laps while rehearsing the speech to myself both out loud and in my head. I probably did ten laps and went over the speech 25 times before it was time for class and still felt unprepared to do it in front of the class. I felt tremendous pressure going into this speech and I don’t really know why. I think it was because I had done so well on the reading speech and felt that this was entirely different and that I was going to bomb.

Once I got to the podium my head swirled with all the information I had just crammed into it. I had my notecards but I didn’t want to use them. I think that without good eye contact you might as well be talking to yourself.  I remember faltering with some of the statistics right off the bat and I think that by doing so I helped myself because right then I realized that no matter what this is not going to be a perfect speech. I was surprised at how well I remembered most of the numbers, dates, names, and places without using notecards. I think that really provided I lot of strength in my speech. I promise I wasn’t just making up numbers.

Its funny that after the speech I can’t really remember exactly what I had said. I know there were things I forgot to mention but since I was nervous my mind was racing. I think I hit well on the main points and by following the appropriate steps we had learned class my speech flowed very well. The response was great and the grade was good. Being nervous did nothing but make me feel sick. I think I learned a lot from this speech and I’m glad that I was given the opportunity to do it.

Mark Short

Fear that comes with Freedom

According to the first amendment we are given the right of freedom of speech. The thing is, will you take that freedom. Speech is something so simple, it is you talking. How could something that is supposed to be so easy be so difficult for so many people?

I myself absolutely love to talk. Words come so naturally but when it comes to talking in front of a large crowd I flip out. My grandma always told me not to worry what others thought and I thought I didn’t, but what this class has made me realize is I do. I worry of rejection from my classmates. I fear not being accepted. We are given this grand right of speech but it instills so much fear in us, which it was never intended to. With the help of this class I plan to use what I’ve learned to be able to spread my beliefs use my freedom and not worry what other think.

Joanna

Our Voices…

As far as demonstration speeches go, they were all wonderful and very interesting. I believe we all done a terrific job.

This class as taught me so much about myself this quarter. This week has been rough for me. I missed class Tuesday and missed all the visual reflections of what everyone has felt they learned the most. I feel my voice and stepping up is what I have got from this class the most. My sister just delivered her baby 3 months early. Not only is she in an abusive relationship and the beating was part of the cause for the premature delivery but the use of drugs also had to do with it. This class has given me the courage to use what I have learned to step up outside of class and in this situation to speak out for my sister and that precious baby that is in the NICU at UK. She is strong and a fighter. At only 2 lbs 2ozs right now she is going to pull through and make it!

I am very grateful for this and for the opportunity to learn everything I have in this class. It is a shame that many more students will not have the opportunity to have Candee as a teacher to learn this same thing.

-Ashley

One more left!

The demonstration speech was the one I assumed would be the easiest to do but I actually found it very hard to do! Its hard to make a three minute speech over something you do everyday quite quickly, like make a flurry.  Its not hard to do but it was sure hard to talk about.

I’m more excited for the persuasive speech coming up that I get to do with Courtney.  I think it will be a lot of fun.  Also, I can’t believe that this quarter is almost over and that it is our last quarter with Candee.  Speech classes next year beware, because she makes it so easy and natural to do I can’t imagine who could take her place.  I am very proud of myself and everyone else for how great we all have done on our speeches so far and how great we will do on the ones to come.

Haylee

Maiden Voyage of the USS Contemplation

This is a photo of my visual reflection.  It’s name is the USS Contemplation (I forgot to leave enough room to paint it the name on the side of the ship).  It is proudly flying the flag with the label F.E.S (Fundamentals of Effective Speech).  Each mast contains a genre and the sails equate the outline of what I have learned during this quarter.

The theme represents our journey as a class into the unfamiliar and sometimes fearful waters of Speech.  The speaker is giving his/her speech on the bow of the ship.  As the speech is being given,  fellow classmates are being active, supportive listeners while Professor Candee is at the stern (the end with the rudder) to confidently steer us in the right direction.

The mirrors placed throughout the ship represent  ”reflections” of what we have learned.  A couple of the mirrors are placed so that individuals can see themselves.  This is to show that we have not only learned about giving speeches but have also learned things about ourselves.  Candee has encouraged us to be authentic and to choose topics that we care about.  In order to do this, we had to reflect and think about who we really are.

I am so thankful to have taken this journey with each of my classmates.  They have all shown by example that seemingly impossible tasks can be accomplished when people work together to reach a common goal.  I find myself  thinking and contemplating  that if the attitude of support, encouragement and kindness were displayed by the majority of people in our communities, in spite of our differences, just how much could be accomplished.  People finding common ground and working together, building each other up, helping each other, growing together for the good and betterment of everyone’s future.

Pamela B.

Demonstrative speech

I have made it through another speech and live to tell about it. Each time I get up in front of everyone it is easier, and this is mainly due to the respect given by the class. I am glad that I have been able to take this class, it will make speaking so much easier. I’m hoping that before the quarter is over I’ll be able to properly organize my speech, I guess I have a disorganized thought process. I am glad that I was able to be in Candee’s class and her departure from SSCC will be a loss for the students, but a bright new page in a this chapter of her life. I will try to do a better job on my persuasive speech, but I am very grateful for all of the kind and encouraging responses to my previous speeches. Thank you all very much and good luck on the remainder of the quarter.

Mark

Demonstration Speech

This week me and my classmates were assigned to give a demonstrative speech that we were credible for.  This speech is somewhat similar to the informative speech from before, only difference is that we have to perform a demonstration of what were talking about.  For me this speech was a little more difficult than the informative mainly because not only did we have to talk about our subject in a certain format but had to organize a demonstration relating to the topic.  Once I made my speech I felt that I had a better grasp on public speaking.  As the class progresses on I’m finding less difficult with public speaking.  I’m more familiar with being organized and how to format my speeches, and becoming more successful with how to present a public speech.

-Eric

That’s How The Cookie Crumbles

Well the demonstration speech has come to me a lot easier than the last two that I had to do. I was still a little tense and some of the comments I got said to not be so tense. Picking this topic was very easy after I sat down to think about it. I was trying to decide what I should demonstrate because every part of making a cheesecake is very messy and so I picked the least messy part which was the Oreo crust.

While I was up on the podium I still felt scared just a little bit but not as much as I was before. When I first said the topic everyone looked at me with faces of whether they did or didn’t like it which at the end we people came and got the cheesecake I still had much to take home. Even though some of the cheesecake I didn’t bring was because of the incident I had that morning when I decided to drop half the cheesecake on me getting ready for school.

I do feel like I am getting way better with speaking in front of people than when I first did my reading. I would most definitely have to thank my classmates and Candee, who has informed the class that she won’t be teaching at SSCC any more,  for making me feel more comfortable with public speaking. I will alway remember Candee as one of the best teachers that I can say I have had since being at SSCC for only 3 quarters.

Brittany

Almost there….Graduation is Around the Corner

So the informative speeches are over and we are swiftly moving into the demonstrative speeches. It seems like just yesterday we started this class with a lot of fear and anxiety (for most of us, anyway). Here we are now with two speeches down and very little time left in the quarter.

The feedback forms we get are very helpful and a lot of the comments I really reflect on, especially for what I can do better to improve my speeches.

I am happy to say that I received a better grade on my informative speech than I did my reading, which goes to show me that even if I am still apprehensive, that I am improving and that I can “defeat” this class. It’s a battle, one that has been hard fought, but I will keep on fighting until the very end. Graduation is around the corner and I will succeed.

Jennifer

Surprised!

The informative speeches are over and everyone did a terrific job! The whole class is very supportive and makes it easy to talk. I feel comfortable speaking and do not dread it. Speech class was the one class I thought I would hate and could never get through and here it is almost over and it is my favorite class this quarter. That came as a big surprise to me but I think it has a lot to do with our wonderful teacher and caring classmates. They make it easy to not only complete our speeches but to talk about sensitive topics that are personal to each and every one of us! Thanks to all my classmates and to Candee!

-Ashley

Phew!…..Wait, that wasn’t so bad.

OK, so Tuesday’s speech went so much better than I had thought! I was sick to my stomach after waking up that morning. I thought,  “I gotta put this off, I gotta put this off.” I felt so unprepared and was sure I would make a complete fool of myself once I was up there. Yeah my topic was on Star Wars and Star Wars was something I’ve grown up with my whole life. I know it inside and out (basically).

One of my first fears before organizing my speech was that I would go over people’s heads. I was afraid the topic would go over heads and come across as totally geeky. If it hadn’t been for my meeting with Mrs. Basford the Tuesday prior, then I know I would’ve gone over some heads. She pointed out that what I had planned would go over someone’s head if they had never seen a Star Wars movie before.

So I went home that day and considered how to deliver it in a way that would explain the core of star wars and just leave out all the technical talk. I believe that the speech went well and I’m pretty sure it didn’t go over anyone’s head. Once I got up there I was still very nervous, but it turned out that I actually enjoyed talking to my fellow classmates. I enjoyed looking them in the eyes and informing them on a topic that I found fascinating. I can’t speak for them and say they enjoyed it as much as I did. I did get  positive responsive  from the feedback slips and those are the best encouragements!

Looking back now, if I could change anything I did, I would change all the worry and stress I had before giving the speech. I don’t know if I’ve found my voice yet, but I think I’m getting close!

Gideon Meyer

It’s Over and Gone with the Wind….

My informative speech was a disaster and after listening to everyone else speak I knew it was going to be an even larger  failure than what I had  imagined. I couldn’t top any of those speeches.

Everyone’s speeches were amazing and possessed a part of them! (To their reason for the speech or just their personality that shined through in the details). I think that thought alone may have made me  a little nervous.

Talking about Gone With the Wind  was my first idea for a speech but it wasn’t what I had planned to give my speech on. I had planned on a speech about a band. I had imagined the entire speech, planned the visual aid… but the day I started on this my computer had crashed and it was my computer that had all my info and tools I needed to make that speech.

So I had my first idea, my ‘backup’ speech, and that was what I had ‘presented’ to Ms. Basford.

And you know the rest…

Maybe my speech was a failure because I felt like I could have done better, but I can’t worry about that. It’s over and now I can only hope my next idea for a speech won’t be ruined (fingers crossed).

Sabrina

The Act of Listening

Last night I completed my second speech (the informative speech).  The topic of my choice was what my father taught me through the unusual vessel of Alzheimer’s disease.

The main points discussed were creativity, unconditional love and patience.

It was less stressful than the first speech.  Everyone was so kind.  There were still errors in my delivery, I could not find my card with the closing statement (it was right in front of me), and I caught myself leaning on the podium at one point; nonetheless, I was able to complete my speech and things seemed to go fairly well.

I just can’t get the faces of the audience (my classmates) out of my mind.  It felt as though they were opening their hearts and minds to hear what I had to say, and it was a very humbling experience.  As I was delivering my speech, their eyes were so expressive and the body language changed for several of them.

I am still processing and struggling to find the words to describe my experience.   One thing I know for sure is that if my speech was to be considered successful, it was not because of me.  It was because of my supporting classmates, there are none better.

Pamela B

Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture

Well the first reading is out of the way. I feel that now we can get into the really good stuff, speeches. I felt pretty confident in my reading and thought I did ok. I caught myself leaning on the podium half way through and need to watch my posture in the future. The feedback I received was great. It was not all positive, and that is something I enjoy. I want criticism. It is not something I take personally. This is a class about improving and growing as speakers. I embrace the challenge.

I really hope everyone enjoyed my reading of Randy Pausch. Rarely am I inspired by words, but he really moved me. To see a guy with nothing left to prove, nothing left to worry about other than his end, stand and talk with such class and poise was a true honor. He left this world giving till the end. I wanted to make my first reading something that would grab people. I think it can help set the tone for the rest of the course. I found quite a few classmates who really got my attention with their readings. It makes me look forward to their informative speech that much more.

Andy

Brainstorming

I found my first speech to not be so bad. I think that it being a reading helped ease me into the idea of being in front of the class and actually giving a speech. I know I was nervous but with my feedback forms I don’t feel that it was very visible to everyone else. So I guess what the book said about it not showing is true. I really enjoyed having the feedback from my classmates so I know what they liked and what I can improve on for my next speech. I think nervousness will be on the top of my list for improvement! I know I can conquer this and maybe by speech number four I will!

With our informative speeches quickly approaching, I started to get a little anxiety over what my topic was going to be. I was wishing she could just assign something to us and then it would be a little easier. The more I thought about it I realized that wasn’t the case. It would be nearly as interesting if we did it that way. As I read Chapter 14 I was clueless as to any possible topics. I know that it should be something we know about and something that is personal to us but I just wasn’t sure of the right thing. The chapter helped me to come up with some ideas and also some methods to figure out some possible topics that are close to me. I got out a sheet of paper and just started writing whatever came to my head.

After I was finished I realized it really wasn’t all that hard to come up with some ideas that were related to me and my life. I think I was just more concentrated on what I thought the class would want to hear about instead of something that I would want to talk about.  I’m interested in hearing everyone elses speeches! This is turning out to be one of my favorite classes this quarter.

- Ashley H

Less traveled by…old men… and darkness

When I was choosing my reading at first I wasn’t going to read any of my own work. I started off just picking from Robert Frost work but I couldn’t find anything long enough so I then added some Alice Walker to the mix and it still wasn’t long enough. Then I decided to make it personal with my own work from my senior year in high school. Which made a lot of difference to me.

By the time I got all of this chosen, it was Tuesday and time to listen/ watch everyone give their speech which I was feeling alright because mine wasn’t until Thursday. Once Thursday rolled around and I watched the three before me go I knew the list was getting shorter to my name. I wasn’t really nervous till it was my turn to stand up there alone not presenting a poster but my own work along with some pieces from Alice Walker and Robert Frost. Once over and reading all of the reviews I felt better. I found that I can take things that everyone commented on into the next speech we have to give and I will be able to give it with more confidence and louder hopefully.

Dottie

How do YOU feel now?

Coming into the reading I was so nervous that my adrenaline was pumping so much, lifting up a car would have come easy.  After I had my turn at reading my few selections out of my chosen book (Driven from Within) and reading all the positive comments I received after I was done, I feel at ease.  I feel much better and more confident getting ready for presenting my next speech.  As long as I can present on a topic that interests me then I know I will do great.  To tell you the truth, I am excited.

I have a good idea about what I want to present next and it is another encouraging speech that I would like to introduce to the class, and encourage the class to read the whole book.  I will not say what it is about because I want everyone to be surprised and astonished at how encouraging one book can be.  These books like Driven from Within motivate me and actually keep me going day to day striving to reach my personal goals.

Thank you all for your comments on my reading.  They were greatly appreciated!

Ryan

That Wasn’t So Bad

Okay so I got my first speech out of the way. Was I nervous? Of course, but I just didn’t let myself think about it. And when I did all I had to do was just look everyone doing their speeches to realize that I wasn’t the only one that was nervous.

When I first walked up to the podium my heart was going a mile-a-minute. I knew right then that I had to get my breathing under control and calm myself down. While Pam was nice enough to give me an introduction I was practicing a breathing exercise they taught me in anger-management(not that I’m an angry person or anything). Deep breaths through the nose, exhale out the mouth. By the time Pam had finished I had my composure back and was breathing normally.

“The Whiskey Speech” was a great find for me. It had just the right mix of seriousness and humor.  I could put myself in the role of the actual speaker and feel, I believe, the way that he must have felt the day the speech had originally been given. The speech demanded presence and a powerful voice, both of which I tried my hardest to deliver. I reminded myself to pace myself and not get into a hurry, adding pauses where they seemed most effective. I made sure to get as eye-contact as i could while still being able to read from the manuscript.

Seemed in no time my speech was over. I got a good ovation and I think even surprised a few people. I think that doing a reading like this is good preparation for our upcoming speeches. I just hope that I can do as good on the next as I did on the last.

By Mark Short

Breaking News…

Breaking news…Geologists have confirmed rumors that a major fault line runs directly under the speech podium at Southern State Community College.

A reporter was sent to the southern branch of SSCC today to interview people who may have heard about this phenomenon.  One woman by the name of Pamela Burton was reported to have said, “It doesn’t surprise me at all.  When I stood behind the podium today, I felt the tremors.  When I placed my hands on the podium, my entire body began to shake, and I feared for my life, afraid that the ground just might go ahead and swallow me up!”

This wasn’t really what happened and there was no breaking news today about a fault line, but to some extent it felt that way.

Tonight I actually came to class with two manuscripts.  One was an excerpt from the book entitled, Don’t Miss Your Life, by Charlene Baumbich.  The other was my own journal.  You see I had completely prepared and practiced the first one, made delivery cues, and had everything timed.  Something kept bothering me about it.  The book, Don’t Miss Your Life is about learning to accept and embrace the ‘real’ you.  The entire time I was practicing this reading,  Candee’s words kept echoing in my mind about being earnest, honest, and talking about something you are interested in—being authentic.  In fact, the handout for tonight mentioned, being authentic—it doesn’t get much clearer than that for me.

During the period prior to my speech, I was actually quite comfortable.  The other speakers made it easy for me to forget about my issues.  They were interesting and I loved listening to them.  That is my favorite part, listening.

Then came my turn.  Reality hit me hard.  I began to sweat, my mouth was dry, and I could not stop my hands from shaking.  As I approached the front of the class I had not one but two prepared speeches in my hand—be yourself—be earnest—be authentic.  My inner voice was having an argument trying to rationalize why I should not make my self so vulnerable as to let people see who I really am.  Then I looked at Mark, the one introducing me, and somehow felt reassured that it would be okay.  So, I set the first speech down on the front table and continued toward the podium with only my journal in hand.  He probably doesn’t know just how important it was for me to see a supportive face at that moment.  Thank you, Mark, for being you.

As I began to talk I could feel my voice quiver and my hands began to shake again.  Thanks to the text and Candee, I had written two very large delivery cues on the first page:  Breathe and Relax.  I also put red dots throughout my paper to remind me to keep breathing and to make eye contact, because for some odd reason, I cannot think straight or read simple sentences when I am in front of a group.  This helped me tremendously; I would see the cues and stop for a second to take a breath.  When I looked at my classmates, I was so thankful for the friendly faces and supportive atmosphere.  Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

Thanks to my classmates and a supportive teacher who has somehow found a way to make her words echo in my mind long after class, I made it through my first speech.  I was still very nervous during the speech, my hands still shook, and by the time I walked back to my chair my shirt was wet half way down from sweating so much.  But, nonetheless, I made it–with help from my new friends.

Pam