Facing My First College Presentation- Brayleen Ruiz

 My First Public Speaking Presentation

Angeline Melendi 

My Experience 

My role during our first presentation was to present Chapter 3: Ethical Speaking and Listening. I was a bit worried at first since there was a lot to read, but I understood the topic and it become easier. As I prepared to present I tried keeping my part short and engaging as ethics is an important part of communication. By presenting this chapter I learned that public speaking is not only about what I say, but about how and why I say it. 

Before presenting I felt quite nervous, I had never presented during an online class and kept thinking about the things that could go wrong. We were also the first group presenting so that added on to the anxious feeling I already had. I enjoyed listening to the other groups present and retaining the information they provided. Their slides included valuable information that could be applied to my everyday life and I'm glad I got the chance to listen!

Preparing My Section

While reading Chapter 3, I noticed that it focused on two main points, the responsibility of the listener and speaker. This caught my attention as I tend to think of speaking as one way communication, when in reality, the listening plays just as a big role. My slides needed to present the importance of both speaking and listening when it comes to communication.

I took inspiration from my peers and integrated their ideas into my own. For the speaker side I made sure to highlight the importance of being truthful, fair, and responsible. These qualities were a main topic in the reading and captured what it means to speak ethically. Where being truthful means avoiding lies/misleading claims. Fair means respecting other point of views and not twisting information. Responsibility, where thinking about how your words may affect others is a key principle in communication.

I tried making my slides as simple as I could while maintaining a clear flow. By using visuals and images I hoped to engage the others instead of cramming in text. The use of YouTube videos was fun and I appreciate how it taught me to use other sources. Using my notes I created simple slides and provided he information verbally, hoping to peak everyone's interest.

Presenting My Slides 

When it came down to presenting my part, I felt both confident and nervous. I was worried about any issues that might occur and if I would mess anything up. My group didn't have any issues while presenting and I was so glad. I did have a minor interruption half way into my part where someone had booked the study room I had been in at the time. This led to some panic and worry that I messed up and would be penalized, but Professor Sink-off is understanding and I appreciate that. Other than that issue I believe it went smoothly and everyone put in the work to make sure it was well done. 

Lessons Learned  From the Other Groups

     Chapter 1 (Our Group): Before me, my group covered The Evolving Art of Public Speaking. I loved how it traced communication from Aristotle’s ethos, pathos, and logos all the way to the Digital Age. It reminded me that even though tools have changed, the need to connect through speaking has always been there.

Chapter 5 (My Group): Albert and Courtney tied everything together with Adapting to Your Audience. Their part showed why knowing who you’re speaking to matters so much. The examples of using stories, asking questions, and keeping energy high made me realize that audience connection is just as important as content.

Group 2: Their focus on research and evaluating information was really useful. I appreciated their reminders about credibility and not just grabbing the first thing off Google. The section on outlines working, complete sentences, and speaking outlines was a new concept for me. It made me realize how much organization shapes the effectiveness of a speech. Their part about language also made me reflect on how word choice can include or exclude people.

Group 3: They gave strong tips on grabbing attention, stating a thesis, and ending with impact. I realized I sometimes jump into points too fast, so their examples helped me see how a strong intro and conclusion shape a whole speech. Their sections on language, visuals, and body language reminded me that even small details can make a big difference in how a speaker comes across.

Group 4: Their chapters on informative and persuasive speeches showed me that speaking isn’t just about delivering facts it’s about connecting with people in a meaningful way. I liked the reminder that persuasion should be honest and respectful. Chapter 17, about teamwork and handling questions, also felt really practical. It made me think about how often we present  in everyday life, even in small group discussions.

How I feel After it All!

Looking back, sure things could have been better, but I'm still proud that it got done and I had a hard working group. Chapter 3 really focused on ethics and communication and I'm glad to say that I did learn somethings from it. Ethics is the foundation of trust and respect in communication, and that in order to be a good speaker you have to be a good listener. I saw how public speaking plays a role in our everyday life and how I can take what I learned and apply it in a job or a personal conversation. 

Overall, I am grateful that I had the chance to present and do it well. I'm proud that I handled the nerves of presenting on zoom for the first time and proud of my group for doing amazing! Our sections connected smoothly and we worked great as a team. As for the rest of the groups I enjoyed learning about the other important aspects of public speaking and gaining new insights. Although public speaking will always make me anxious, I now know that being prepared is key and that my nerves should be turned into energy. Most importantly, I am now informed that honesty, fairness, and respect are what truly make communication influential.