Aurora Gonzalez-kendall- Blog #1

when I first met the group to plan the presentation, I realized how much teamwork can make something like public speaking feel less intimidating. Each of us had our own role and part to explain, it really felt like we were telling one big story. Ashley starting us off with the foundation—why public speaking matters and how rhetoric plays a role in society. From there, Aquilah was ease into stage fright, which felt so relatable, because I know we’ve all been nervous before. I liked that she’s focusing on using anxiety positively, since that’s something I’ve struggled with myself. As to Me, I helped building the bridge between chapters 1 and 2, which I think helped the audience follow along more smoothly, and Adrian’s part on listening stood out to me because it’s easy to forget how important listeners are in shaping a speech. Calixto is handling audience analysis, reminding everyone that cultural differences and connection really do make all the difference in how a message lands. Then Carlos helped us pull chapters 3 and 5 together, rounding out the big ideas. What I like most is that our conclusion tied back to the real-life challenges we all face: nervousness, learning to listen, and wanting to connect with people in a meaningful way. Thinking about it this way, I can see how public speaking isn’t just about giving a speech—it’s about practicing, growing, and finding ways to relate to others.  

watching Group 2 and their their presentation on how to get ready for a successful speech, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much their planning connected to my own struggles with public speaking. When Isebelle began with the idea of finding a general purpose and brainstorming possible topics, it made me realize how often I overthink the “perfect topic” instead of just writing ideas down and letting them take shape. Her approach reminded me that every great speech starts small, and sometimes the best ideas come from just allowing yourself to explore freely. Then, when Daniel explained how to take that general idea and form a specific purpose and thesis, I really saw how that step could make me more confident. I noticed that when I skip building a proper outline, I tend to feel lost halfway through a speech, and Daniel’s focus reminded me that preparation really sets the tone for delivery.  What also stood out was Samantha’s part on research—she emphasized personal experiences, credible sources, and avoiding plagiarism. I caught myself thinking about times I’ve relied too much on Google summaries or vague information, and I could see how that weakens both my confidence and credibility. If I were to research more carefully and use interviews or reliable sources, I’d not only be more prepared, but I’d also feel proud knowing my material was strong and honest. Then Erika and Valeria showed two powerful sides of supporting ideas: Erika leaned into personal stories, examples, and definitions, while Valeria added weight through facts, testimonies, and statistics. As a viewer, I realized a speech feels much richer when you balance both—you connect emotionally and gain trust logically.  Finally, Gabriela wrapped everything together by focusing on structure and organization. Her part made me realize how powerful transitions and clear outlines are for keeping the audience engaged. I’ve seen before how easy it is to lose people midway through a speech, so hearing about ways to connect ideas smoothly felt encouraging. By the time the group finished, I was thinking not just about their plan, but about myself. I understood that great speeches don’t come just from speaking confidently in the moment—they’re carefully built from brainstorming to research, through supporting materials, all the way to a clear and organized structure.  Nervousness might still happen, but if I take the time to outline, research, and organize like they explained, I can stand in front of an audience and know I’ve done the work. After that presentation I felt inspired. For me, the biggest takeaway was realizing that public speaking isn’t just about learning to talk—it's about learning to think, prepare, and connect in a way that leaves people with something meaningful.  

while watching Group 3 share presentation on how to get closer to delivering a great presentation, I found myself reflecting on all the little details I often overlook when I’m prepared to speak. Venshell reminded me right away that how you begin and end a speech really sets the tone. His focus on grabbing attention at the start and leaving the audience with something memorable at the end made me realize that sometimes I rush those parts, even though they’re what people remember most. When Matthew and Kevin talked about language, it clicked for me how powerful my word choices really are. I’ve sometimes used words that were too casual or vague, but they showed how clear, vivid, and respectful language helps build trust and keeps people engaged.  Melany and Lillian’s part about presentation aids made me reflect on how easy it is to lean too heavily on slides. I realized that when I’ve used too much text on slides, sometimes distracting me and the audience, instead of helping. Their reminder that visuals should be simple, clear, and supportive—not the main event—really stuck with me. Then, Julien and Lizabeth closed by discussing delivery, and this part hit me the most. They emphasized how much things like eye contact, tone, body language, and even pauses can influence the audience. I thought about times I’ve spoken with my head down or rushed because I was nervous, and I realized how much practicing delivery could change my confidence. Group 3 made me realize that while research and outlines give a speech structure, it’s the opening hook, the vivid words, the smart use of visuals, and the confident delivery that makes it great. I started thinking about how I want to take more time not just to prepare my content, but also to practice how I say it. Their plan reminded me that public speaking isn’t only about transferring information—it’s about creating an experience for your audience that they’ll remember.  

while listening to Group 4’s presentation on “speaking situations,” I realized how many different forms of public speaking exist and how each one requires a slightly different approach. When Victoria K. and Victoria R. went over informative speeches, I thought about how often I’ve been in situations where I’m explaining something but didn’t structure it clearly. Their focus on purpose, thesis, and organization made me see how much smoother my explanations could be if I followed those guidelines. Adriel’s part on persuasion stood out too—especially the reminder that persuasion isn’t about forcing people to agree, but about presenting arguments in a way that respects the audience. That really made me reflect on how easily persuasion can cross into manipulation if you’re not careful.  Meli’s focus on claims, evidence, and reasoning made me think about my own speeches and how sometimes I used opinions instead of strong evidence. It reminded me to be more mindful about backing up my points so I sound credible and confident. I found Yamil and Grace’s section on distance speaking and media appearances especially relevant because so many of people rely on technology now. I realized how different it feels to speak virtually—eye contact, tone, and body language all change when you’re behind a screen. Grace’s point about becoming a media spokesperson made me think about how important it is to control how you present yourself in these situations, and how being clear and confident can influence how others perceive you.  When Natalia wrapped up with special occasion and group presentations, it made me reflect on how adaptable public speaking really is. Giving a toast at a wedding, speaking in a group project, or even honoring someone all require different tones and approaches. What I walked away with is that public speaking isn’t one-size-fits-all; it shifts depending on the situation. Seeing all of these different “speaking contexts” laid out made me inspired to grow as a more versatile speaker. It reminded me that the more I practice adapting to different situations—informing, persuading, debating, presenting online, or even giving a celebratory speech—the stronger and more well-rounded I’ll become as a communicator.  

In conclusion I can say that every presentation was great and taught Me something valuable, all topics explained well and thanks to Sofia and Rebeca presenting agendas and conclusions for each group it definitely made it easier to understand, overall I think everyone did a great presentation and I’m happy I getting to learn all this useful skills for the future.