Journal #5

The most important thing I learned in COMM 100 is several key details to become a better public speaker. Coming into the class I was not as confident in my speech giving abilities, but after this semester I can confidently say that I see much improvement in gestures, tone, and being able to explore content to present the most effective speech possible. Everything that I wished to learn in this COMM 100 class I believe was covered in good detail, and the media content as well as the powerpoint presentation were effective in helping grasp the material.
The only suggestion for change that I would have in this course is that the quizzes are more spread out during the semester rather than clumping them together and only making two due dates. If you spread them out the material and possibly give them after we cover the chapter, it would improve grades because the subject in still fresh in the student's mind. My favorite part of the class was the mini-speeches because it gave me an opportunity to gradually improve myself before we had the major, graded speeches. Practicing different topics without the stress of receiving a good grade allowed me to relax and just focus on improving my public speaking abilities. I would take another class with you professor because I enjoyed your non-intensive style of teaching and your flexibility when it came to presentations and other related assignments. Overall I really enjoyed this class and the way it was taught, I would recommend it to anyone and would look to take more classes of yours in future semesters.

Journal #4

Verizon's Droid 2 is the phone for you! This incredible new phone made by Motorola has an application for just about everything. Have you ever wondered around aimlessly looking for your destination but the directions you got were screwy? With the Droids sleek turn-by-turn navigation system, all your problems will be solved. The Droid 2 also offers voice command for when your using the internet on your phone, as well as text! Voice command texting could cut down on texting while driving and just make life simpler in general. Applications such as online banking help you keep track of your statements, as well as a built-in HD camera for crystal clear photos.
With every phone comes con's of course. Sometimes the touch screen can be slow and texting with a touch screen has been proven to be difficult at times. The pro's of the Droid 2 far outweigh the con's however, and the phone has got great ratings from several credible technology websites. The keyboard is all new and designed to promote faster texting, something that benefits any on the go person such as a professor. Let's face it, smart phones are taking over as the primary cell phone's and at $150 dollars after a mail-in rebate, the Droid 2 is one of the best phones on the market for the price. So if you are thinking about getting a new phone, just remember, it doesn't get much better than the Droid 2!

Journal #3

The one speech that has always meant the most to me is Lou Gehrig's speech when he announced his retirement from baseball. I've watched the speech countless numbers of times because it is so inspiring to me the way Lou Gehrig conducted himself even with his disease, and I respect the fact that he had to give up his livelihood and was very humble in doing so. If I had to choose one person who I believe is good at the craft of public speaking it would have to be my father, the Reverend Brent Thalacker. I say this because I cannot tell you how many times I've listened in on his sermons before he presents them on Sundays, and I always find myself taking something away from each one. He is big on metaphorical examples that really pertain to situations going on in everyones daily lives, and his messages are powerful because he says them with such conviction. I always say that he could sway a whole entire jury with his public speaking abilities, and that's why I believe there is no one better.
Three speeches that I found interesting were "I Have A Dream" by Martin Luther King Jr., "Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation" by Franklin D. Roosevelt, and "Farewell to Baseball Address" by Lou Gehrig. "I Have A Dream" by MLK is undoubtedly one of the most profound speeches of all time. MLK was calling for equality and his words rang across the whole nation, inspiring the whole African American race that change is possible. "Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation" by FDR is very commendable because he had the extremely tough task of responding to attacks on American soil and informing the entire nation, and I believe in his speech FDR dealt with the situation in a proper manner, which is very commendable. "Farewell to Baseball" by Lou Gehrig really hits home with me because I know what it's like to give up something you dedicate your life to because of some unfortunate cause. Gehrig's speech was so inspiring and it showed that even in the saddest times its important to be supportive and acknowledge the man's character and achievements.

Journal #2

The four short speeches that we worked on in class were extremely beneficial in my preparation for our first graded speech last friday. Over the course of the four short speeches we covered a wide range of topics, and it helped me to prepare and understand for the different types of speeches that we will be working with later on in the semester. The example speech was very useful because in our next speech this week we have to talk about something technology related, as well as give examples on how it functions and its benefits to society. By already doing an example speech and having practiced it many times, it has prepared me to be confident in my delivery when I speak about my chosen technology. The definition and quote short speeches helped me in my ability to take people's already said words and put my own spin on it. This will truly help when I prepare for my informative and persuasive speech down the road.
The speech that I chose for friday was the definition speech. I chose to define an "urban farmer," which a facebook reference to the game Farmville. I chose to do this speech because I presented my first definition speech with a more serious tone, choosing the word "perseverance." This time around I wanted to show my skills of relating a definition to my life, but at the same time I wanted to do that on the light-hearted side by choosing a comedic definition. I really feel going forward that the short speeches served as a jumping off point to becoming a more successful public speaker, and hopefully that will show as the semester progresses.

Journal #1

   So the first short speech is over, and I have to say that it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I wasn't very nervous because it was only 60 seconds, but whenever I get up in front of people I tend to feel uncomfortable, but that's normal. As we get into the larger speeches I might be a little more nervous, but as long as I'm speaking about something I'm adamant about it's not too bad. Im taking this class for the reason that I want to go to law school after GMU and I've never met a lawyer who hasn't had to address some aspect of public speaking. I really feel even if I don't pursue a law degree, public speaking is vitally important in any career field I choose.
  I need to improve on my overall confidence when giving a speech in front of people and really take notice and practice all the little things that come with public speaking. So with that said, by December 20th I hope to gain a better understanding of things such as gestures, eye contact, and all the things that go along with being a solid public speaker. The overall goal though of course is to become better and more confident in my speech giving abilities. So in a nutshell thats why I'm taking this public speaking course and as for what my professor can do to help me, well she seems understanding and lighthearted, so that helps relieve any anxiety I'm having about giving speeches in the near future.