Amanda's+Journal

**Friday December 3** While taking speech first semester, there are numerous things I've learned. Of course, there are the expected subjects which are put into our books, but I will also walk away with personal things being learned as well. We were taught the importance of listening and speaking, writing outlines, practicing, and visual aides. Also, I learned that I am capable of putting together a fully equipped speech which can last a whole eight minutes including a visual aide. I'm coming out if this class with more than I expected to and it's something I'm really glad about. Speech will better prepare me for careers and relationships, so I know I'm going into the future ready and willing to conquer what's ahead. I really enjoyed the class and all that came with it. Not only did we have fun in discussions, I can honestly say putting the speeches together wasn't so bad either. I learned a lot from the subjects that were included in my speeches, as well as how I felt about those subjects. Thank you Mrs. James for teaching and showing me what I was capable of. I hope you enjoyed our last as well.
 * As we finish up our final speech. Take this time to reflect on your semester.**
 * For your final Journal Entry (this makes #6), reflect on the semester. What did you learn? Is there something that you think is still missing? Did you enjoy this class?**

I think it is rather visual, the progress being made while speaking. Through out this class I've learned many helpful things for giving speeches. I have lowered my anxiety, helping me to be more comfortable in a crowd full of people. Another way I have improved would be knowing the material needed to give a speech. I am able to give an introduction, state my points, and conclude better than I ever have. Also, I look forward to speaking infront of my class more after practice which allows me to project confidence. I feel like these things have helped me make progress during speaking.
 * //Friday November 5//**
 * Reflect on the progress you are making during speaking. Write a journal entry entailing at least 3 ways that you have improved since your first speech in class**

In the first video, it shows the proper use of visual aides. By pointing at the pictures, it helps the listener to know what is being talked about and put a picture to it in their mind. Better explanation is achieved. Te second video shows up points that should be avoided when using visual aides. The stick she uses to point to things is only a distraction and also a struggle for the speaker.
 * Friday, October 22nd, 2010**
 * Watch the videos in the sidebar of the website for visual aids. Write a journal entry detailing good and bad examples in each of the videos.**

I believe that Mrs. James cares so much about plagiarism, because she highly values the importance of a person doing their own work, instead of taking credit of another's. Mrs. James has stressed the dangers of plagiarism many times and expects us to not ever commit it. The ways we can avoid being used in a future example is to make sure we cite every source, or come up with our own personal idea that has not been taken from anything else. This will help us to not worry about the dangers of plagiarism.
 * //October 8th, 2010//**
 * //Why does Mrs. James care so much about plagiarism? what can I do to make sure I don't end up in one of her examples in the future?//**

//**Friday, September 17th, 2010**// There are many ways to demonstrate good listening. Make sure that you have prepared yourself for the speech you will be listening to and have done any research necessary to understand the topic. It is very important to avoid distractions, so sitting by yourself might be a good idea. Also, note taking is very effective and can help you to understand the speaker better, as well as comprehend the information being given. Intrapersonal communication and public speaking are similar because the listener is still having to recieve the message and understand it. The two differ by one being more personal. Public speaking makes it harder for the speaker to have a connection with every person in the audience, as a one on one speech could. Intrapersonal communication usually takes less effort because the speaker can relalize they have lost the attention of the listener and can fix that. There aren't as many distractions as well. These situations ahve both been present in my life. While taking a class with many students, I can see the teacher having a harder time communicating. The teacher is trying to keep so many students on track at one time. Coming in for tutoring or after school help where the communication between the teacher and I is intrapersonal, makes learning the material and teaching it easier on both of us.
 * Using what the book says about listening, explain specific ways to demonstrate good listening. In what ways are good listening skills different between interpersonal communication (one on one) and public speaking (one to group)? How are they the same? Use examples from your life to support your statements as well as quotes from the book.**

//**September 3rd, 2010**// //**How did your group use the preparation time provided?**// //**Did/would having a good plan make the building process easier?**// //**How could this help you with writing a speech?**// //**Did your group have any misunderstandings?**// //**If so, how did that affect the process?**// I was in a group with six juniors including myself and was highly impressed with how we handled our preparation time. Each member voiced there opinion and contributed to the ideas we had towards the tower. Time was used wisely. We used our own sheets of notebook paper as an example, so that others could see the ideas we had. Once the group had decided on how we would go about constructing the tower, great things happened. Having a good plan definitely made the building process easier. The plans were already set out, so actions were taken and the tower came along great. I think that having a good plan could help us with our speeches by having a guide line to follow. With a speech, you can't just get up there and start talking, expecting great things. (or at least I can't!) Research, trial and error, and practice need to be involved in preparing a speech, just like with the tower. I don't bellieve my group had many misunderstandings. We were all pretty much take charge people, but didn't butt heads.