What is Anna’s Army?

I was really amazed at how many people in my class did not know what Anna’s Army was.  When I first meet Anna I had no clue what Anna’s Army was or what they do.  But once I saw how adorable and strong she was I knew I wanted to help and get involved to help spread the word.  I mean look how adorable she is, wouldn’t you want to help also.  So I ask do you know what Anna’s Army is or what they do?  For all of those who don’t I’m going to share with you.

I think this is amazing what the Reno family is doing for Cystic Fibrosis.  Not too many families would be able to keep doing what they do especially after losing a child at such a young age.  I had a chance to meet Anna and her family when I went to bible school with my aunt.  During the bible school they were raising money for Anna and her family to buy Anna her own dresser because she had to share with her sisters and she wanted her own.  This was just a couple of years before she passed away.

Anna’s Army began when Anna Reno, a little girl from Hillsboro was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.  Anna was diagnosed with CF when she was 3 months old, and her family started the Army, to help raise money for research and a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

Today I will share three things with you: 1-Cystic fibrosis 2-Anna’s story and 3^rd Anna’s Army

Cystic Fibrosis or CF affects the lungs and digestive system.  It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults, and may result in early death.  In 1965, Mary Weiss had 3 young boys who all had CF.  She began doing research on CF and done this without her boys knowing.  Until one night one her boys caught her and he told her he knew what she was doing.  And she asked him what he thought she was doing and he told her that she was researching “65 Roses,” which sounds like Cystic Fibrosis.  The term 65 Roses then became the term they used to tell children who can’t say Cystic Fibrosis.

Anna was 3 months old when she was first diagnosed with CF.  Anna grew up with CF she did everything most little girls do.  She was a cheerleader, played soccer, she made the honor roll, and loved the color blue.  Anna was 8 years old when she lost her battle with CF on March 29, 2009.  Even though she has passed her family has kept the Army going and it keeps getting stronger every day.  The Reno’s has done many events to help raise money for CF.  Every year there is now an Anna’s Army day in Hillsboro; it is the 3^rd Friday in April.  Anna knew about this day and was quite excited about it but she passed just weeks before the first big day.  The event still went on and continues to go on every year.  Each year the event keeps getting bigger, they have so much to do for the whole family and its all for a good cause.   Andi and Justin Reno, Anna’s parents says this day to them is their super bowl and they love this day.  Everyone in the community coming out to help them year after year is amazing and they are grateful for everyone involved. This year was the third year and they raised $18,000 just at Anna’s Army day, so far this year they have raised over $30,000, there goal for the year was only $25,000.   They do many events throughout the whole year.  Most of all the events are local and all money raised goes straight to the Cystic Fibrosis foundation.  Anna’s Army has raised over $160,000 since they started this Army.

Anna’s Army will keep continuing to be strong until a cure for Cystic Fibrosis is found.  Just remember someone with Cystic Fibrosis is just like everyone else except they take longer to heal.  If they get a cold it could take them up to 21 days to get rid of it where it would just take us a couple days or so.

In closing I have discussed what CF is, told you Anna’s story and explained what Anna’s Army does.  So, if you want to know more and what you can do to get involved you can go to  www.annas-army.com or join Anna’s Army on facebook.

Annie

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

My Personal Freedom

“Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”

I have this passion for words… for writing and reading them. It is hard to explain- you just read something unbelievably amazing and it wows you. It opens up your mind and it really changes you. It makes time stop- your world slows to a halt for a brief moment. That’s why I love words (even though from time to time I tend to forget this).

When we were told to read something that ‘fit’ us, I thought about my writing, but put the idea aside. I thought about it wondering if it was a good or just terrible idea. I decided the day before to read my poetry. Maybe if I didn’t tell my audience until the end that it was mine I could ‘endure the reading’ and not worry about eyes staring at me.

I was nervous… and it was more than a normal kind of nervous. I was afraid of rejection. Writing is freedom for me, those were my words, and they are personal. I was scared of looking into the crowd and seeing their reaction. I was afraid of the thoughts from my classmates that I might not be ‘normal’- because the truth be told my writing doesn’t have happy endings. Maybe because the writers who have moved me influence my work and for the most part their writing is not about rainbows and sunshine. I’m influenced by what music I listen to and I also have this thought that unhappy endings have a shock value that just sticks with you longer than a ‘fairytale’ ending (I’m talking about ‘Disney- like’ endings). No matter, I get this rejection most of the time- these looks that read ‘sub-human’ when I share any of my writing and I was shaking inside. After my first poem, everyone knew it was my writing because I was asked that question, and I answered it honestly.

At the end of my second poem I looked up, realized people were listening, and I wasn’t getting odd looks from classmates. I realized that my classmates were open-minded and cared about what I had written… what I had read. I was relieved. I thank them so much for being so unprejudiced. It meant the world to me and it will make my future speeches easier knowing I’m not being criticized so harshly.

So all I can say is thank you.

-Sabrina

A journey of a thousand miles…

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

– By Confucius

Whenever I think about Speech class, I keep finding myself returning to this quote.  Then I think about my walking stick.  Okay, maybe that doesn’t quite make sense.  Let me back up a little to explain.

I have a plain, simple wooden walking stick that my sister, Sharon, made for me two years ago to represent the journeys taken in my life and the future ones I will take.  She had cut down a young sapling and used a pocketknife to etch a few references to bible verses on it.  As she presented it to me, she encouraged me to continue etching encouraging words on it.  I have.

To me, it is beautiful and holds great value.  It has many scars from the etchings, but they are scars created as a result of love and a desire to encourage.  When I hold it in my hands and fix my gaze upon it, my fingers always seem to tenderly caress its surface.  Each etching reminds me that my life has purpose and that there is a reason for my existence. I am reminded that often the things in life most worthwhile are accompanied by difficult times.   I am also reminded that if I trust the Master’s plan and trust in the process that “all things work together for good”(Romans 8:28)—not necessarily in the timeframe I want, but in the timeframe that He knows will allow the most growth.

When I registered for Speech Class, a new journey had begun in my life:  A journey that reveals my scars through the nervousness and self-doubt, a journey in which discomfort is felt.  I am gradually learning this, too, is a process and that, if  I thru trust,  place myself in the hands of the Master who has graced my life with a capable instructor, by the name of Candee, that all things can and will work for the good.  I am learning that, as I see the beauty in my walking stick, there is beauty to be discovered in me—scars included; however, any journey must begin with but a single step, then another and another, until one day (no matter how small the steps may seem) you can look back and see just how far you have come.

I have only taken just a few steps on this journey called Speech, but I know, like all other journeys traveled thus far, it will lead somewhere.

Pam

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

What public speaking is to me, and the discovery of myself

I have always known that speech is basically a portal into someone’s soul, unfortunately I have had issues with speaking in front  of people.  When I started this class I did not know what to think because I have always been a follower instead of the one that gets up and takes the bull by the horns.  The first time I took a speech class I understood what it meant to be overwhelmed. Speaking to people comes natural to me, but speaking in front of people is a challenge.  Along the lines of my first attempt at speech class, I hurried the speech never thinking how badly I sounded, even though I had all of the material, to me I thought that I sounded like a fool, and the teacher graded me accordingly. This was on top of me being left to do an English project all by myself, one that included doing the interviews and preparing the paper. The other person got a better grade than I did even though I had done all of the work.

I am looking forward to this class because the last several nights that we have had to stand up in front of the class and explain what we chose to write about. This has helped me realize that there is nothing to worry about.  This class has been one of the more interesting classes I think I’ve had yet. I’m going to go on to a four-year institution in hopes of finally getting my bachelors degree, and with that I am sure that I am going to see more speaking in front of the class.

With my career choice I am certain that I will be utilizing these skills of speaking in public more often than not, because one day I hope to be running a juvenile facility or at least working as a parole/probation officer.  My life’s dream is to help kids, and if I can reach just one, I guess that’s a start.

 

Danielle

Speech is like golf

The following is an excerpt from my reflective paper written after reading chapter 12 the Art of Public Speaking by Stephen Lucas.   I thought maybe it would be good to share. As I read the chapter about good delivery I found myself overwhelmed.  It seems like a lot of things to work on within the short span of a college quarter.

As I read through the chapter’s main points, my mind flashed back to when my father was learning to play the game of golf.  He read books on the subject, sought the advise of seasoned golfers, practiced at home, and was finally ready to play his first game.  I watched as he stepped up to the golf tee, confidently placed his ball, and scoped where the flag was and which club he needed (the driver).  He then proceed to adjust his 5’7” frame and skillfully grip his golf club, being sure to execute all the advice and knowledge he gained.

When he swung his club, it was impressive, I was so proud of him.  I was looking up in the air because, with a swing like that, the ball surelytraveled at least 300 yards.  But I had to confess to him that I didn’t see where the ball landed.  He turned back and gave me a sheepish little grin saying “Look down.”  The ball was still nestled quietly on the tee.  He made the mistake of taking his eye off the ball.  That’s when the phrase “analysis paralysis” entered my vocabulary.  He was so concerned with all the details that he forgot to do what came naturally—keep his eye on the ball and swing.

It is my understanding that the art of speaking is a learning process—one where we will not be able to execute all points to perfection.  We could easily get so wrapped up in the specifics that we overlook the common sense part of delivering a speech.  I liked what the text had to say about gestures, “Gesturing tends to work itself out as you acquire experience and confidence.”

I will choose to be patient with myself when I can’t remember all of the advice read, try to find comfort in the fact that I have prepared and practiced to the best of my ability, and hopefully, with experience and new-found confidence, the rest will “work itself out.”

Pam

My Biggest Fear

For me public speaking has never come easy. I would avoid it at all costs. I wouldn’t even be taking this class if it weren’t required for me to get my degree. I always thought that some people were better at public speaking than others and I was of the type that wasn’t any good at it. The idea of being able to captivate a group of listeners has always appealed to me, but I was too worried about the idea of making a fool of myself.

I have, however, recently had some experience in the art of public speaking. Several months ago I was in a rehabilitation program with the Salvation Army. Part of graduating this program meant I would have to get up in front of everybody (about 80 people)and pretty much tell my life story and how I ended up there. I dreaded that day and prayed to God for strength to get me through it. When the day finally rolled around a was sweating bullets and thought I might get sick. I never did get sick but what I did do was deliver an excellent speech that received all kinds of positive feedback.  After it was over I couldn’t understand why I had been so nervous. Several months later I gave my graduation speech and that time I approached the podium with a new confidence.

It’s been several months since then and I know I’ve not totally conquered my fear but I’m now ready to ready to take the next step and become one of those people who I always thought were meant for public speaking.  The book is very helpful on giving ideas on how to deal with nervousness. I like knowing that most of the anxiety I feel when giving a speech is not even noticeable.  I think the most can be learnt from actual experience though and look forward to giving our speeches in class.

Mark

Most Important for Great Public Speaking

I have seen a lot of different speakers in my life. I’ve seen speeches from big politicians all the way to small speeches from the final night of a high school play. They’ve taught me a lot but I want to focus on thee.

The first one is a chef whose name is Andre. I was only about 5 or 6 when I heard him, but I remember his name because he got the entire audience involved. Every time he lifted his right hand he told us to say oooo. Every time he lifted his left hand he had us say awww. And when he put both his hands up he had us yell out his name, Andre. Even to this day I can still hear the crowed roar.

Next I want to talk about is my best friend Austin’s speech. It was the last night of the play we were doing and everyone was nervous. So he jumped up on a table in the middle of the room and started to speak. He started to talk about how much fun and good times he had doing this play and how he has so many more good friends now. By the and of his speech everyone was hugging, crying, and feeling better. The reason that his speech worked so well is because we could all relate to what he was saying because we all got closer to each other during this time.

The final person I want to talk about is my dad. He had to speak at a Memorial Day Service one year for are whole town. His speech went off without a hitch. Being my dad I got a behind the scenes look at the whole thing. What I remember more than anything is how much he practice and reread his speech.

I learned from Andre, Austin and my dad that these are some of the most important things about speech.

1. Get the crowed involved and excited.

2. Connect with the crowd and let them connect with you.

3. Practice practice practice.

 

Casey Baldridge

What We Can Learn from Polar Bears

I snapped the photo of a polar bear at the Columbus, Ohio zoo last summer. As I was thinking of what I wanted to talk about in my blog the picture came to mind.  In the picture the bear came out of the water and was on his stage in front of many people. He had their complete attention. Although  the bear was not speaking,  the crowd was listening and taking in every move he made which is what we want when we are giving our own speech.  When the bear jumped up on his stage he began to shake the water off of his thick coat.  The water was uncomfortable for the bear, it weighed him down and kept him from moving as freely as he would have liked.

How does this relate to us?   I think that we should try to behave in the same manner. Speaking in public makes us uncomfortable. We may feel weighed down and anxious. Maybe we should try the bears mannerism and shake off what makes us uncomfortable so that we may be able to move and speak more freely and also listen to our class mates as attentively. That being said I only pray that I will be able to pull off these actions.  I know most people are apprehensive about speaking in front of crowds. Therefore, we are not alone.  I hope to gain confidence from this class, confidence that I may take with me through out the rest of my life and into my career.

Randa

The Key to Public Speaking?

I wish I had a key that held all the answers to  a good public speech and beyond that door somewhere I’d find a clue that would tell me how to banish all my fears about speaking in front of a crowd.

Whenever I get in front of a room of people ready to give a speech I start to feel my heart beat a little faster, I get ‘stage fright’ from all those eyes starring at me, I usually end up talking too fast, and in the back of my mind I’m so afraid my speech won’t be good enough- I’ll mess up… have everyone think I’m an idiot. These are the thoughts and feelings that usually run through my mind before and during a speech I have to present.

Speaking is a scary experience to me and (as I’ve learned) for others too.  I’ve also realized that people take different steps to make it seem a little less scary.

So I’ve been thinking lately that maybe if I treat my speech like my writing; focus  more on my topic, less on me actually giving the speech in front of my fellow classmates, I won’t get so nervous.

See I love writing. Somewhere along the line I’ve fallen in love with words, their beauty when you place them just right, the emotion and connection they can hold.

My goal of writing is to move people and make them really think. I want at least one person to feel as if my writing has changed them and if I can apply that to my speech maybe I’ve found the golden key; speeches as less about the presenter and more about the audience.

So when I am standing in front of the room ready to give my own speech I’ll think about more about my message, less about stage fright, and speaking might seem a little less frightening to me.

(A quote I found and really liked) “It’s not how strongly you feel about your topic, it’s how strongly they feel about your topic after you speak.”

Sabrina

The Big Show

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a timid, quiet girl. Never saying much, and keeping to myself most of the time. Public speaking has always been frightening for me, even if it was just speaking in front of my small class in elementary school, junior high or high school. The knotted stomach, sweaty hands and racing heart would always set in! I would always think “I’d rather be somewhere else, doing anything else but this!”

This year, I’m a senior at Eastern Brown High School. December 10, 2010 was the date of our annual Homecoming Ceremony that we hold– and it’s a pretty big deal! Hundreds of people come to see who’s crowned King and Queen, our gym is absolutely packed and decorated to the max! I decided to step outside of my shell this year and audition for one of the MC spots along with a close friend of mine. We both got the parts, which meant on that particular Friday night, we would be hosting the big show! Some of our friends and family didn’t believe that we would do it, because it wasn’t like us to be in front of people and talk (let alone, host the show)! But, we did.

The nerves of course kicked in right before going out to the center of the floor… but they soon disappeared. That night was one of the most exciting nights I’ve ever had and I wish I could put it on repeat. I will say, the lights were completely off and there was a huge spotlight on us, so maybe that had something to do with how easily it came to me. I could still see outlines of people in the crowd but it didn’t seem to matter. My family was so proud of me, and I was proud of myself! The Homecoming Ceremony for 2010 was one of the biggest things I’ve ever been apart of.

The past two classes we’ve been in groups and have spoken/presented to the class, and each time it gets easier and easier. I hope it continues until I feel at complete ease in front of everyone! (The way things are going now, I can see it happening)

 

Shayla

Demonstratin’ My Stuff

So about three or four days before our demonstration speech was due I had a very decisive topic that I was sure I could give a speech on. This topic was about how to put braided fishing line on a fishing reel instead of monofilament. I know that this may seem like a super exciting topic (sarcasm) but I was looking for something that had multiple steps, had a story, and had some relevance to me. So I hadn’t written down exactly what I wanted to for this speech when on the class before my speech was to be given Trish decided to show us that she is an amazingly good/entertaining artist, also murdering my dreams of giving a speech on fishing line. haha However, I believe that she did me a great favor. Had  I given my speech on the line it wouldn’t have had any impact at all on the class, let alone teacher who could make or break this speeches grade. In order to combat this problem I decided to do what you do to make everyone happy when all else fails, make food. This turned out to be a great decision though, everyone liked the food (or lied very well) and I ended up with full credit on my speech. Sometimes these unexpected changes turn out to be blessings in disguise.

 

Clayton

Edible Play-dough!!!!

For my last speech I told how you would make edible play-dough!  I just thought it would be a fun demonstration to share because I know that a lot of teenagers baby-sit and some of the adults in our class have children so I thought what would be better than to give them people a way to involve their kids in a very fun activity!

I enjoyed this demonstration speech because it was a lot of fun and you could eat it which made it 10 times better!  I always remember playing with play-dough at my grandparents house when I was younger, but you only got so much you weren’t allowed to mix your colors and $5.oo for a handful of play-dough is outrageous to me!  So this way I had more freedom to do what I wanted mix what I wanted and just have fun!  I don’t however think I did as well on this speech as I could have I was still a little nervous and trying to talk while doing making something is kind of hard but my next speech can only get better I hope!

The Recipe for the edible play-dough I made is

1 cup of powdered or dried milk

1/2 cup of peanut butter

1/2 cup of honey

Mix all these ingredients together in a bowl either using a spoon or your hands.(The food coloring is optional)

Kate

Panther Shake

After reading the comment cards from the informal speech, many of you found it interesting how I came to shake hands, or paws, with a black panther. So I thought I’d explain more of how it came about.

On weekends, I would volunteer my time to help out on a wild animal rescue zoo outside of San Antonio, Texas. This one particular weekend I was building a cat house, similar to giant dog house. I was building it next to the cage that temporarily held 3 black panthers. As I was working on the construction of the new house for the panthers, I kept noticing that one of the panthers was eyeballing me the whole time I was there. The stare made me feel uncomfortable, like I was a big piece of meat that he really wanted to chew on. This went on stare went on for about two hours as I continued to work. Now, Texas is very hot during July, so I was working without my shirt on, and I had it laid on the ground next to me. When I stopped for a break to get some water, I went over to pick up my shirt and put it back on. I noticed as I was putting my shirt back on, that the cat was starring straight at my feet. As I finished putting on the shirt, within a blink of a second the cat had pounced from its position, stretched its arm through the bars of it’s cage, and managed to grab a hold of my shirt on the left shoulder, trying to pull me nearer to him. I quickly grabbed its paw and shook it until my shirt ripped and released its grab on me. I stumbled a few steps back and found myself with a ripped shirt. Somehow, that cat knew exactly how close I needed to be, after watching me work all morning, to be able to stretch out and grab a hold of me. Luckily, the cat could only grab my shirt and not my shoulder itself. And, also luckily, at the time I had a great six-pack, so I continued the day without a shirt.

Thomas

Days Made of Now

So, I presented my first speech in this class. I read the book “Little Boy” by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds. ”Little Boy” is a very cute children’s story about what is important to little boys, with a deeper meaning about enjoying every day and letting kids be kids while they can. My favorite line from the book comes from the end; “Little boy, you remind me how so much depends on days made of now.” I didn’t really mind giving this speech, and I think overall it went pretty well, actually. I didn’t get really nervous or mess up, so that was good. Another thing I liked about it was that I seemed to keep a slow, steady pace, rather than racing through like I usually do. Which isn’t to say that I don’t have any areas that I need to improve on!

The number one suggestion on the evaluation sheets I got was to speak a little louder. In the future I’ll have to practice and find a good balance where I’m not yelling at the audience in the front, but the people in the back can still hear me. Another thing I need to work on is putting a little enthusiasm and personal flare into my words. I think this might be a problem for me, but maybe when the words I’m saying are my own, and not a book, I’ll be able to do this. I personally believe that I need to work on eye contact with my audience. In the past (not in this class) this has been a challenge for me, so I’ll try to work on that as well.

All in all, the reading was pretty enjoyable, and a good learning experience. Hopefully I can keep it up and present the rest of my speeches with as much positive feedback that I got this time around!

- Natasha

Very Helpful Tips

I gave my first speech on Monday, and surprisingly I was not nervous hardly at all.  All of the reading that we were expected to do before we gave a presentation really helped me when delivering my book to the class.  The last reading assignment seemed to be the most helpful to me.  It really got into how to actually give a speech, and what you should do and not do.  The most important thing throughout these chapters was oral communication.  It taught skills for presenting, such as facial expression and hand gestures.  Most people already have these forms of communication skills, but it is sometimes difficult for people to change the expressions from a conversation to a speech.  However, thinking of the speech as a conversation is the easiest way to prepare yourself for it.

Things in chapter twelve taught me how to make my speech interesting to listen too, not dry and boring.  You want to engage your audience in your reading, not make them fall asleep.  Changing the volume of your voice as well as the pitch really is affective.  If you get into your speech most likely your audience will to.  In the book I read to the class, Junie B., I tried to read it the way that she seemed to say things, getting into the story and adding humor seemed effective in engaging my class.

One of the other things that was pointed out in chapter twelve was how to dress appropriately for their speech.  This shows that you are serious about what you are talking about.  I really feel that this is important. If you want a job you do not go to an interview dressed like you just rolled out of bed, the company will not take you seriously.  Same goes for your speech, if you want to get the point across you need to help it along, not hinder it.  Over all, the tips that I have learned and some what applied to my reading speech, will be essential to the remainder of the speeches I give as well as other presentations I will be called to give throughout life.

Alaina

Morning Perk

My enthusiasm is mounting as I look ahead to this class!  My thought processes are unusually random, and I can’t wait to share some of my nonsense! Nervousness comes in waves, but I’m certain beyond a reasonable doubt that this is going to be a positive experience. In life, I’m convinced that you find what you are seeking, and I am an ambassador for perky thinking!

I may ramble sometimes,..okay…. a LOT of the time, about being a ninja or loving polka music, but under my silly outward behavior is an intricate perspective. Being a single mom, a Head Start substitute, a full-time college student, I take on many roles in life. Hopefully these many ‘hats’ I wear will help me find connection with everyone. It was said in class that “only when you meet someone, are you able to begin to care”. That statement stuck with me, and the realization that it is in the simplest form, truth.

I believe EVERYONE has a unique story, and from those experiences we all have important opinions. Even if someone goes against ALL the grains (although I can not imagine ANYONE being like that) knowledge can be gifted. Sometimes a change of perspective can lend itself to an entirely new outlook. Sometimes, an idea shifting an outlook can make a significant impact on the happiness and “upliftment”of everyone involved.

I hope only to give some quirky fun and out-of-the-box thinking, and if I’m super lucky (dare I say ninja skill?) give someone a smile.

 

Trish

Which would you choose? The Casket or the Eulogy…..?

Some say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I’m not really an old dog but compared to the other students, well, I could be their mom. I guess it should be easier to speak out in front of people as you get older, but I’m not sure it is really that way. As a mother of 4 and a pastor’s wife, there are times when I have to speak before a crowd. This is a huge dread for me and I avoid it whenever possible. Luckily, my husband is great in front of a crowd so that gets me off the hook quite often. However, as much as I dread speaking out, even in this class, I am looking forward to learning how to give an appropriate speech and hopefully have more confidence when I do so. I would love to be able to stand in front of the crowd and not be totally horrified.

After reading several chapters in our book, I feel like I am already learning and looking at speaking differently.  I was one of the people who felt like giving a speech was more of  a performance instead of realizing it is simply communication. It seems to me that when the speaker is confident, it puts the audience at ease. However, when the speaker is unprepared and obviously nervous, the audience is uncomfortable. I hope to learn how not to be so nervous, or at least how to use that nervous energy constructively.   I also want to be a good listener, with good ethics, and not be judgemental of people who are different from me. And if given the choice of reading the eulogy at a funeral or being the one in the casket, I definitely choose reading the eulogy…

Melinda

First Round of Persuasive Speeches

I really enjoyed the first set of persuasive speeches. It was obvious that people choose topics that they were passionate about. I really enjoyed the personal stories involved. I think when you hear how an issue has affected someone you know you immediately become more involved and want to become a part of the solution. Also seeing the prezi, and viewing the facts help to better define the problem and make it easier on more visual learners. Great job everyone!

I have been amazed at the level of comfort that has grown as the speeches have progressed. I would have thought that the readings would have been the easiest to complete but many of us were noticeably uncomfortable at the start of this class. However, with this last speech I think most people have become comfortable with the aspects of public speaking and appear able to do it anywhere anytime.

If you would have told me at the start of this class we would find it easier to give a persuasive speech than a simple reading of our choosing I would have told you that were a nut. But low and behold here we are and now we can blow through a complicated speech without issue. Kudos to all!

 

Jodelle