Speech Evaluation

In life, we are always experiencing first things. That dreaded first kiss you’d always imagined to be magical or the time you’d finally be in line to take your first ever driving test. Times come at us fast, and we’re always being pressured to do our very best. When the time came to finally meet my public speaking class and my first ever speech, pressure along with a huge adrenaline rush took over my body. I was excited yet scared at the same time. “This is it”, I told myself. No turning back. The show must go on.
Before even showing up to our first speech meeting, I asked myself if I was even mentally prepared for this and if I had done enough work in order to put a speech together. I worked hard in finding research on my speech topic on the boomerang. I searched hard and far for that boomerang but could not purchase one to save my life! In my opinion, I did achieve the purpose of my speech in that the audience has a little more knowledge about the boomerang that may spark even more curiosity inside so that they may search up on the topic even more. I didn’t want my speech to not have this complicated purpose so that my audience would be so confused on what I was trying to let them understand. I kept it brief and straightforward. I specifically told them the history, as a weapon and sport, and how it’s recognized today in society. It couldn’t get any easier.
Going into the speech, I felt very confident actually. I told myself that everyone else was about to give a speech so why should I be scared? This always happens to me though. I get up, start talking, and don’t even consider that my audience may not even be hearing my clearly because I may be talking too fast for them. Watching my video, I notice that I didn’t stand at the center of the room. I was located right by the podium. This really bothers me because I had told myself before to not try and hide to feel more comfortable with myself and I totally forgot. I was comfortable but not too comfortable where I could just wing it without having any problems. If I had the chance to do it over again, I would position myself in the center of the room, keep still, have eye contact as much as possible, and maybe memorize my speech so I can eliminate having to use note cards as a safety belt.
This was my first time ever writing an outline for my speech, and I must say that it was fairly difficult for me to come up with sub points for my main points. Especially my last main point on how it’s recognized in society, I was totally blank on what to write for a while. I almost regretted even picking the topic I had chosen. My one goal on improving the content in my next speech is to compile more research in order to make my sub points more effective. The next time I deliver my speech, I will stand up straight, smile, be confident as possible, have eye contact with every single individual in the room, and clearly speak in order to get everyone’s attention in the room.
I noticed many things with my delivery. I spoke way too fast for my introduction and I know when practicing at home that I didn’t act that way. I obviously was way more confident when practicing because my audience wasn’t as big as our class size. I noticed that I was distracting just by standing too close to the podium and saying the dreaded UM, the looking up at the ceiling thing, and just not standing in the middle of the room bugs me a lot. My eye contact during the speech was probably a six in my opinion. I feel like I was looking more at the wall then actually giving eye contact to people. Watching the video and looking and hearing If I had said my sources verbally, I had only said it twice. I had more sources and I know I should’ve slowed myself down so that I could remember all the sources I had written down in my note card.
First things aren’t always going to be an easy thing. From this first speech, I have learned that I need to let down my guard of even being scared of speaking in front of people. I’m making it into this big deal that isn’t even anything. People are going to judge me when I speak but so is everyone else. If I had to give my speech a grade, I would give it a C+. I wasn’t in front of my fellow classmates; I was more to the side of the podium then anything. I also kept saying umm way too many times. I left out a lot of sources that I should’ve verbally said out loud and that makes me sound like I plagiarized or something. I admire the 9/11 speech a lot. She took her time in presenting and that’s what makes a good speech. I need to pace myself in order to deliver beautifully. I will now learn from my mistakes and try and not let my audience see the same mistakes I made last time. Practice makes perfect, and with a little more practice, I know I can do much better.