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Comm 1020 - Public Speaking

Instructor: Professor Carolyn Clark 

Signature Assignment: Self-Assessment 

Public speaking isn't for everyone, and I must admit over the years I had become the type of person to shy away from public speaking, or anything that drew attention to myself. If I had said that to anyone who knew me when I was younger, they most likely would have laughed. I was fearless as a child, and as a teenager. I didn't mind taking risks, or embarrassing myself in front of people, and would stand in front of a crowd to sing or give a speech without having my knees knock around the entire time I was up there. I feel the older we get the more conscious we become of our surroundings and the people in them. We then begin to care about how people perceive us, if we hadn't before. So, instead of fear of rejection, when public matters came up, I’d slip in the back unnoticed, if asked to speak, I would politely decline, because I knew someone else would probably do a better job. Taking this class has opened my eyes to the fear and anxiety I was letting rule over my life. All it takes is a few deep breaths, and a bit of practice. In A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking, the authors state that you should try to practice your speech at least 5 times. Doing so, have helped me remember my outline, and words to my speech, to where I am more comfortable in relaying the information to my audience. I believe the information I gained during this semester will not only benefit me in school, and work, but in my social life as well. If you would like to read further into how this course has helped me, I have written a short summary below of what my Self-Assessment paper entails, which you will also find attached at the bottom of the page.In my Self Analysis Memo I will review the organization of my ideas and how I incorporated supporting material, i.e. logos, ethos, and pathos into my speeches. I will then discuss how I delivered the material, the audience assessments, and how I adapted my speeches in response. I will conclude by describing some of the lessons I have learned throughout the duration of this class. If you have a moment, please click on the link below to read my assessment.