Christopher Moreno Reflection

 Christopher Moreno

Honestly, before we were told we had to do group presentations on public speaking, I thought it was just another class project. I figured we’d talk about the same stuff I’ve heard for as long as I can remember: don’t fidget, stand up straight, look like you know what you’re doing, don’t say “um” too much. Basically, I just thought it would be a lot of common sense 101 that we already knew but didn’t know how to actually do. It really wasn’t until after I prepped for my group’s presentation and watched the other groups that I got a new perspective on public speaking. I finally saw how it is about more than just avoiding mistakes; it’s about how communication works, planning with purpose, delivering with confidence, and being flexible for special situations. At the end of all the presentations, I left the class seeing public speaking as something that is actually a skill set you can practice and develop, rather than something you just “have” or “don’t.”

My Contribution to Group 1

As the group that opened the presentation, I was the first one to present. For us, my part was basically the foundation that set up the rest of the presentation. I had to cover the importance of public speaking, where we use it, and the basics of how communication works. Honestly, at first I wasn’t even sure how to make that topic sound interesting. It just seemed so broad and “obvious” to me. But once I actually got my part together, it hit me that it was one of the most important sections because it framed everything else.

I talked about how public speaking is so much more than just the speeches we give in front of classrooms or on stages. It’s all around us; we use it every day and aren’t even aware of it. Job interviews, work meetings, group projects, social events, and everyday conversations where you’re trying to explain an idea or persuade someone — these are all public speaking! I never realized until we worked on this section just how much it really matters. You can’t get away from it in life, so you might as well learn to be good at it.

A big part of my section was also breaking down the communication model: speaker, message, channel, noise, and feedback. At first, I thought that sounded really technical. But then I thought about it in terms of real-life situations, and it made sense. Let’s say you’re explaining something to a friend. You are the speaker, your point is the message, and you might be speaking face-to-face or texting (that’s the channel). But if they’re distracted or not paying attention — the TV is too loud, they’re on their phone, whatever — that’s noise. And the way they respond, asking questions, nodding, or giving you a puzzled look, that’s feedback. Thinking of it that way, that communication is an interactive process, it really changed my mind about speaking in general. It’s not just about me and my words; it’s about the other person receiving them.

Working on this section of the project made me think about my own personal experiences with communication, too. I know I’ve had plenty of times where I thought I explained something clearly, but the other person just didn’t get it. After learning about this model, I can look back on those situations and know that it wasn’t just me “messing up.” Sometimes the channel wasn’t the best, or the noise got in the way, or the feedback told me I needed to explain it differently. That alone was a good shift in perspective for me.

Group 2: Planning

When Group 2 presented, it really felt like they were showing us the “behind the scenes” of what goes into preparing an effective speech. To be honest, I’ve always been the type of person who picks a topic on a whim, throws together a couple slides, and just hopes for the best. But they made me see how much easier it all goes when you actually plan.

The main things I took away from them were about topic selection and narrowing down. They explained that it isn’t just about what you find interesting. You also have to factor in the time limit, whether you have resources to find information, and if the audience even cares about the topic. I had never really thought of that before. For instance, I may pick a topic that I personally like but is too broad for the time limit. That then makes my presentation feel rushed and unfinished. That breakdown they gave us really made me see that narrowing down the focus is actually one of the smartest things you can do.

I also found their points about purpose statements useful. They talked about how important it is to be clear on the speech being to inform, persuade, or entertain. I realized I’ve made the mistake before of trying to do too much at once, and then the audience just gets confused. Keeping the purpose focused makes the whole thing stronger.

Their take on organizational patterns was also helpful. They mentioned stuff like chronological, problem-solution, and narrative structures. Before this project, I usually just sort of winged it and hoped the points flowed together somehow. Now I see how much easier it is to follow a speech when it has an organizational pattern the audience can predict and understand.

Group 3: Delivery and Style

Group 3’s focus was more on the actual delivery and style of a speech. I thought this was the most practical section because it covered things you can actually change right now.

One part that stuck out to me was their section on word choice. They explained that the way you word something can make you sound confident and trustworthy or unsure and unprepared. That made me think about all the times I said “um” or phrased something awkwardly, and how that must distract from the message. It pushed me to start paying more attention to not just what I’m saying but how I’m saying it.

I also appreciated their advice on slides. They talked about how to keep them simple: readable fonts, basic colors, and minimal text. I’m definitely guilty of cramming way too much on one slide and knowing how boring that is for the audience. Their tips reminded me that slides are supposed to be there to support the speaker, not the other way around.

They also introduced the four different delivery methods: impromptu, manuscript, memorized, and extemporaneous. Before this, I didn’t even know there were actual names for those methods. Reflecting on which method I naturally default to and which I should practice more made me think about how I can improve my delivery overall.

Group 4: Persuasion and Special Situations

The last group covered persuasion, distance speaking, and special speeches. Out of all of their section, the part on persuasion was what got my attention the most. They explained that the approach you take for persuasion depends on the audience. If they’re already on your side, then you can strengthen their belief. If they’re undecided, then you give them reasons to lean your way. If they’re against you, you need a whole other strategy. It really stuck with me because I had never realized that persuasion is so flexible.

They also discussed the four appeals: ethos, pathos, logos, and mythos. I’d heard of some of those terms before, but the way they explained it really showed me how good speeches use all of them. Credibility, logic, emotion, shared values — all of those play a role in a message sticking.

Their section on distance speaking was also super relevant. With all the Zoom and online classes we have now, it’s obvious that speaking through a screen is its own skill. It’s harder to hold people’s attention online, but that doesn’t make it less important. They also talked about media appearances and how public speaking can apply outside of school like in interviews or even content creation. That was a good reminder that these skills are not just for the classroom.

Reflections on the Project as a Whole

By the time everyone’s presentation was done, I was honestly amazed at how much I’d learned. I came into this thinking public speaking was just a bunch of mistakes to avoid. But after hearing everyone and the work that went into this, it’s clear to me now that it’s something that can be broken down into steps and practiced.

I took from my own group learning how public speaking is used in everyday life and how communication works as a process, not just a one-way conversation.

From Group 2, I learned how planning and purpose come before a speech even starts.

From Group 3, I picked up actual delivery tips and new the different methods of speaking as well as how to keep presentations engaging.

From Group 4, I realized how flexible the needs for public speaking have to be. From persuasion strategies to distance speaking to special events.

One other thing that I noticed through all of the groups was how the teamwork impacted the outcome. It was clear that the groups who gave each other more feedback and worked more together had stronger presentations. That showed me how communication isn’t just the final speaker; it’s also the process and support that leads up to it.

This ended up being a lot more enjoyable to work on than I anticipated. It gave me a better perspective on public speaking and made me actually feel confident that I can keep improving. Instead of just dreading the next presentation I have to do, I feel like I have real tools to make it go better. To me, that’s the biggest win I took from the whole experience.