Speech Evaluation

Bethany Brauer

Instructor Akins

COM 105-122

14 April 2015

Informative Speech Self-Assessment

Ironically I chose my topic thinking that I would inform people the dangers and the effects of stress on the body. Instead, I put myself in a never ending hole of stress and I'm honestly surprised I did not go into cardiac arrest while giving my speech. I am ashamed of this about myself but I am the queen of procrastination. I literally waited till the night before the day I gave my speech to not only do the research but also write my outline. Procrastination bit me in the butt because my speech outline wouldn't save properly and I had to end up taking pictures of my outline and printing it off because I didn't have time to redo it for the fourth time. The day of my speech I had every intention to get all dressed and at least look presentable. Well, I woke up late and had to rush to my 8:30 class basically the way I woke up. After my government class I had to run to target to get notecards so I could write my speech on the notecards. As I was driving to speech class i dabbed concealer and put a few strokes of mascara on. So, needless to say I was incredibly stressed and unprepared for my speech. I am not one to make excuses and I completely take full responsibility for the ways things worked out but I can honestly say I am also surprised that it wasn’t terrible.

Let’s start with the negatives. First of all I obviously was not prepared. I had a poorly written speech and did not make time. I added new information into the conclusion (I did it in my cultural speech as well) when I should have made it a main point. I should have included ways to relieve stress in my main points and written a proper conclusion. If I had done so I believe I would have made time. Next time, I WILL finish my outline early and have someone review it or even go to the writing center for help because I have made the error before and it pretty important to have a properly written essay.

Another negative would definitely be my lack of eye contact. At the podium I feel like I made good eye contact but in the video I came to the realization that I barely looked up. This is once again due to the lack of preparation. I just need to KNOW my speech. I need to practice it over and over again instead of literally glancing at it once before I spoke. Next time, I will be prepared (at least I plan on it) I just need to get my act together and become a better more efficient student instead of just “getting by.” I also used my visual aids poorly which also reflects my lack of preparation once again. Preparation is key to success. Since I wasn't prepared I only used one of my visual aids and I basically forgot about my other slides. I just need to stop being an irresponsible student and start preparing and practicing for my speeches.

Now that I have covered my negatives, I would like to pay attention to a certain number of positives I did while presenting my speech. Well actually i can only shine the light on one thing. I had good voice. When I was in High School I was in the FFA and competed on many leadership teams. One was radio team. I know how to present my voice properly and clear and add impact to the message through annunciation and voice changes. Being on radio team, I was always behind a door and never in front of anyone so i got use to reading off of my cards. Although I believe having a good voice is good it doesn't really matter if the presentation has poor eye contact.

I clearly have room for improvement but at least I can't get worse on my remaining speeches, well hopefully. I need to get my life together and become more organized and honestly that will improve my speaking skills because I will be able to complete the assignment properly, have more eye contact, use my visual aids better and impact my audience through my voice and my presentation. I know where I need to improve, I just have to make the effort.

I was honestly not listening to a word she was saying. I was so tired so I was just browsing pinterest instead. I could hear what she was saying but I wasn't listening. I still believe that stress is harmful, the way you look at it doesn't change physically what is doing to you. This can relate to anything medically. If you have strep throat you don't just let it get worse because you have changed your attitude and way of thinking that it is actually good for you. No matter what your immune system suffers. When I stress i start to puke and am nauseous. I like to stress controllably because I think it helps work harder and it gives me a “high”. Everything she said about stress increasing compassion...that is a way to relieve stress. I just did a speech over stress and everything she said terminates all my research. Stress is natural (flight-or-fight) and I think that was the only aspect of stress she was looking at. Flight or fight is good because it prepares your body to either stand and fight or run away from things.

I have a conflict with my future. When people say you go to college to find yourself I believe it is a place to lose yourself. I do not mean this on a morally based or religion based idea that you part from what you have believed in all your life but rather you lose yourself in the fear of what the future holds. I am so confused right now on what I want to do with my life. I left Texas to come to MSU but that didn't work out so i transferred to OTC and it turns out the degree I transferred for is no longer in my interest. I feel like I am just lost. I want to return to MSU for nursing and then head back to become a Nurse Practitioner because I will have more independence and broaden my work experiences. All I can think about is what if it doesnt work out again? instead of thinking, what if this does work out and i absolutely love being a nurse. I feel like I am letting my parents down if I don't decide soon and I dont want to waste their money on pointless classes if I dont want to end up doing it. I just can't decide what to so. I think they should bump the adult age to 21 or higher because when you're 18 you have more things to worry about than the future. When you're eighteen you want to have fun and be carefree but life slaps you in the face and says decide now or you will never accomplish anything. My biggest problem is I just want to run away from my responsibilities and life decisions and board a plane to Greece and just lay out on those beautiful beaches. I guess I just need to look deep inside myself and find out what God really wants for me. With all the worrying I have diluted his plan for me because I begin to make plans of my own. I honestly think I left MSU because my roommate and I did not get along and that really put a dent in my “fun college experience” and that was a wrong reason to leave. So i think I've made my choice, I am going to be a bear.

There is nothing to worry about. Life will work out. You’ll do great things no matter what you decide to do. Just keep your head high and quit putting more pressure on yourself because you have your standards raised to the clouds. You won't be a failure.Choose what you love and what you are particularly good at/called to do. You worry about yourself and the earthly things far too much instead remember to turn your worries and eyes to God and you will find security. Be a bear. Have fun in college and never regret what you chose to do, because those regrets are what hold people back. You will find yourself again.

Don’t worry about the money you make, don't worry about the earthly things just keep your eyes on me and me in your heart. Never forget that you aren't alone. Never forget that I have a plan for you. Renew your mind daily and take yourself out of everything and simply look for what I have to say. Bring glory to me not to yourself. In everything remember that I am God. Don't worship other things that dilute your understanding of the meaning of your life and the meaning of your faith. Simply just go with what you are called to do. You dont need to impress others they are not the final judge;.

Agent Beckette

Bethany Brauer

To an agent everyone or anything is the enemy. Agent Beckette walks very peculialyr in the way down the street and across the sidewalk. Once he reached his classified destination of the street bench he needed to remain calm and unnoticeable but a pigeon would not let him be. This persistent pigeon got the attention of Agent Becekette because it was demanding. Beckette knew this pigeon was an enemy spy because its tactful ways to get the bagel in the air as a distraction so it could get inside the briefcase . Once in the briefcase, Beckette realized he was under attack as the lasers beamed in his direction and chaos erupted all around him. The smell of smoke, the sounds of sirens, crashing, and screaming were in the surround area. He nw he needed to stop the bird. So he used the oldest trick in the book to distract this nuisance, lure him with the mind of his stomach. Beckette thought it would be easy and nothing would go would but he realized the bird was one step ahead of him once again. The bagel precisely landed on the nuclear launch button. The pigeon must be a German spy though Beckette.He had to act quickly and as he acted he decided to follow the rocket and destroy it himself even if it meant he wouldnt live. With no fear just action he readily came up n the rocket until that dumb pigeon struck again. The pigeon was in the way of a clear shot. Beckette a compassionate man, knew this pigeons actions were under the control of someone else. A sweet pigeon could never do this on its own. So Beckette thought quickly, pressed his thumb on the scanner and opened the briefcase letting the bagel go. As he had expected the pigeon took a nose dive following the bagel allowing a perfect shot to prevent Moscow, Russia from becoming rubble. As he let his missle go at the touch of a button a loud boom and dark cloud of smoke filled the Washington D.C. area. As a hero he drifted down to the ground. But when he saw the mess around him he realized he was manipulated and deceived by a pigeon he cover his tear filled eyes with his dark glasses and walked away in shame rather than a hero.

Discription

Bethany Brauer

Her dark skin complexion compliments her natural brown hair. Her brown hair doesn't say much about her, some say she acts like a blonde others make fun of her as if she had red hair. Her complexion seems as if she goes natural without makeup despite the fact that she does wear makeup. Her beauty is gentle on the eyes and her mysterious deep brown eyes compliment her dark skin and dark hair. Her mysterious and somewhat crazy brown eyes hide behind her glasses. Her muscular defined physique hides behind comfy gym clothes. Her confidence radiates throughout the room and walks taller than her actual height. Although her confidence radiates moments of doubt enter her mind causing nervous nail biting. Socially, she shows every emotion on her face as she talks but on a stranger level, she may be considered quiet and anti-social.

The sky is blue. Blue is a chasm we face daily, when the sun goes up in the morning until the sun goes down in the evening. Then we face darkness. The thing about blue s that it always comes back. After the scariest storms, longest winter months, and night it is still blue.

Her skin resembles a leaf in the peak winter and compliments her hair. Her hair is filled with different hues such as the bark on a tree. Despite her actual color of hair, she is characterized as a dummy and teased like a ginger. She adds color and covers imperfections but does not over cover her face. One can easily get lost in her colorless, dark eyes. She hides her eyes behind frames. Her physique is slim yet built and hides behind a t-shirt and gym shorts. Her assurance in herself radiates as she walks through a room. She walks as if her height resembles the length of a giraffe despite her actual height resembles the length of a horse. Although, her self-assurance is great she has moments of doubt and begins to frantically place her fingers in her and gnaw on her nails. On a stranger level, she may seem distance. But when you begin to talk to her its not as if you are talking to a brick wall. She shows her interest and cares about what others say and shows her feelings on her face as she talks.

Smile

i feel- emotional/gut

I think- logic/evidence

I believe-evidence/confidence

I know-evidence

I believe…….

that anyone is capable to accomplish their dreams (reasonable/scientific proven)

that kindness changes a person’s day

a single smile can brighten up at least one person

your attitude affects your performance

that everyone can do better

it is my responsibility to make others feel welcome

that a person is not truly compassionate without humanitarian work

faith alone can save you

Walking up and down the hallways you see two types of people: the one with a glommy look and the other with a smile. When yu passss the person with a frown yu kinda feel down. But whe you pass someone with a smile it encourages you and wants you to smile. Smiles are a good way to make yourself approachable. I believe those eho smile more are the ones who always have a group a people around them or are easier to spark a conversation with. In Community College it is really hard to meet peole becasue you daily have a routine of coming to school and leaving. Instead of investing yourself into those around you in classes and n the hallway. Why do people alwasy have music in? to avoid conversation at least thats why I do it becaseu I am sick and tired of small talk i want soemthing more. A smile tells people you are interseted in them. Even while taliking, you need to show emotion through smiling so the person doesnt feel like they are talking to a brick wall. Yu need to let them know that what they are sayinf is interesting and you want to hear more. I believe this beaeu i have experienced it. Lasts semester i wasted my life as MSU i didnt interact with others. I has to get use to college life away from my family and i ended up isolating myself. The one thing that made me want to reach out to others was when i was greetted with a smile instaead of seeing the top of someones head as they walked passsed. So, i would smile at otehres as i walked to class and it made my day when they would return the smile with a smile and a hello. As i sat doen for calss, i would smile and spark conversations with the students around me. Even though the people i sat with were different from me in tastes of music, movies, and lifestyle we always hasd something to talk about. I am a very awkard person and it gives me pain to sit in awkward silence but i dread being the first to speak up becasue i dont want to make a fool of myself so instead i smile and then compliment someone.

What if..

What if……

I didn’t go to college?

I moved downtown?

moved to a different country?

I moved to the west coast?

i moved to the east coast?

I could change the world

i could run fast

i had motivation to exercise?

I had the motivation to never procrastinate

I am dreading coming to class

I want to skip class

I want to sleep al day long

i had no set backs

i turned my dreams into reality

i flunk speech class

i just dont care about this writig class

everyday was filled with happiness

everyday was like today

everyday consted of sunshine with a light breeze

What if I had no set backs.Setbacks make me depict my liffe for what the basics of it could be. Instead of living to the potential i led set backs hold me down. With the setback of money I would travel the world not caring but in reality i dont to go inot debt before my ninteenth birthday. With the set back of i shouldnt do that becaue its not who i am i would so eh who cares be crazy and energetic and make friends easily. With the set back of not nowing what to say when i meet strangers i would just ramble on and on. With the set back of being quiet and shy i would just supriese people with what i really wantto say. I guess it all come down to the setback of worrying about being judged or making a fool out of myself. Jim Carrey makes a fool out of himsefl and he is hilarious. Adam Sandler makes a fool out of himself in most of his movies and thats why i love t watch every movie he stars in becasue i secreatly wish i had the courage to ast crazy and not care what people think. I really dnt care with my apperacence obviously but i care about how people will treat me if i taked nnsense becasue i can make myself look more presentable but with my peronslity that never changes. Unless i am shot up with caffeine at four n hee morining i am pretty weird. I am also a big nerd but i play dumb in many situtions besauces most he nerds in my life were rude and degrades people and i never wantto do that to someone else so i just play it cool. SPLEEP ALEEP SLEEP. I need sleep. blah blah blah. blah blah blah. Setbacks anchor me to meteorcher levels when i want to truly excel. I dont want to be ole plain jane i want to be standing out and not just a nother face you pass in the hallway. But to become that person i would have to het out of my comfort zone and that terrifies me and is another big set back for me. I am same in m litle shell but in the real world i a m vulnerable and i hate that. I feel as if i will get hir again.

What if i turn my dreams into reality? I woulsnt be sitting in this cloassroom at this moment. I would be traveling instead of writning dumb lists or looping. With my dreams i would be n a healthy realtionship and ready to mov onto a serious committment. I would be taking daring adventures and not caring what would happen. I would be crohns free and living my life to the fullest. I wuldnt care what was to come the next day becauw it would another adventure awaitng  to happen. In reality as of today my biggeaert adventure will probaly be at work. Either i will have an awful child or allsaints for the y primetime afterschool care. Or an accident like yesterday where a girls lip buted apen and might have to have stiches. but al leatst i wasnt on my watch it was on scotts watch. I dream scott and i wouldnt be so awkwars at work just being on our phine due to ony meeting for the firat time three says ago. I dream i could make a difference. In primetime i can make a difference. My dream wulf be to move to a big city and get the tast of what is it like in other parts of the country. i only kno the  country but moving to springfield was a big step, whas next? …………………………………………………………………………………….

dreasm make us who we are. ou can either have a big imagination or a samll imagination on where your life can go. is your going to mean something or ae oou just goignt to live day by dayu? I dont want to live day by day i wantt o live every moment by moment and hold on to the little things that evenually turn int big things. lasfljldjsdkfksjflsjdfljslfjsjlsjflsjfljaljfdlasjfjsjfsjflsjfsjfjfkfjskdfjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjf.

I guess it all comes down to trust. Having trust and hope tha teverything will be okay is one of the hardest things I have been struggling with. I jump to conclusion and just believe the worst whle I am suppose t o be filld wiht joy and hope that the will be done. I Dont understand alot of things that are heppening such as the major I was persuing didnt work out and the major I have recently chosen I am now unsue about. I fear that everything wont work out so  try to take control but thats not working out very well. Everyon e has talents and I thought that the medical field was just for eme but now I just dont now. I am limited on talents but it is just hard for me to chose what i want to do the rest of my life. I really want to work in a city but in the “bad part of town” beause I believe I can make a difference. I have not been putting my trust into making a difference for others instead I want to maeke my life better for me. I have come into a elfish groove and I want to get out of it. I worry about medical things but I have great people around me to suppor me through all of that. I want to be there fot the peope that have nothigng and dont have the support og a family like mine. I just need to trust that everything will work out for th ebetter and that I van influence people in a way that makes them want to rememerb me and know that I will always be there for them. I was worried about a job but I recently judt got hired at the y and work at an elementary school for the gifted children. It i s wonderful anf the kids are so sweet. I see this as a moment to be a mentor and let those childen knoe that I will be there for them whether it be for homewotk, just to talk, or unwind and have fun with games. I didnt have trust in the ability for me to get hired but it worked ut. I dont ahve trust to where I will become the person I want to be nadn choose the professon I will be satisfied with for the rest of my life. I just dont noe.