Self Evaluation #2

Speaking in front of an audience has become a lot less stressful for me. For my second speech I felt more at ease in front of the audience. The book gave a lot of suggestions for how to be less nervous and I used the exercises for the last speech and this past one.

For this past speech, I spoke about water pollution in China. Although I was less prepared, I felt comfortable in front of everyone. I had a powerpoint presentation with clear points and images. With the visual aid and my speech, I felt I achieved my purpose to inform students about water pollution. I spoke about the causes, effects, and improvements of the water issue in China. During the speech I felt comfortable because I my goal up in front was to get my message across to the class and that was all I focused on. I also practiced projecting my voice a couple times in my room and in my car before the day of the speech. As far as confidence, I was not as confident this time. I did not know my information as well as the last speech. I read a lot from my cards and looked at my powerpoint. I think that was also another reason, I was comfortable.

Some of the things I found that were distracting in my speech was not looking at the audience because I did not feel connected at all with them. I wanted to look at the audience but if I did, I did not know what to say. I relied on my cards way too much this time and this were I feel I faltered. I was very confident in my information and the organization of it but the presentation lacked a bit much. The part I felt I improved on since the last speech was definitely the sources and information I had. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give myself a 3 because did look up a couple times, my conclusion was the only time I spoke to the audience and it felt really good because I meant what I said at the end about how lucky America is lucky to have the technology to keep our water clean. After all the research and stories I learned about the suffering people have through because of polluted, it made really appreciate the life we have here in the United States. Based on my performance in the class, I would give myself a B grade because I spoke clearly, it was well organized and filled with interesting information with sources. The reason I can not give my performance an A because I did not make eye contact, read a lot off of my cards.

In my speech I mentioned eight source citations. This speech, if I had memorized my information and could have just spoke to the class about it, I think it would have been better than the last speech. But altogether, I do not think it was better especially because of the eye contact. I think in a speech, as a speaker we have to make a connection with the audience and in my case I did not do that, expect for the ending because I related it to the class. If I were to do the speech again I would definitely, prepare my outline earlier, finish my research as soon as possible, practice by myself until I had the timing correct an then practice in front of a couple of friends, and possibly two different times to different groups.

One goal for the content, I think I will continue what I have been doing and keep referencing and keep the flow of the information. One goal for improving delivery is to speak to the class and not the cards or the visual aid. The bad thing about this speech was eye contact and the good was the content and organization. The bad of the last speech was too many distracting hand movements and the good was delivery, visual aid, and organization.

Overall, I think the presentation went well with the fact that I did not get the chance to practice as much as I had hoped to. I really enjoyed researching and learning about my topic and in some way I hope the class took something from the issue of water pollution in China.