Oral Communication

Artifact #1: Oral Communication

            The artifact I have chosen to represent my oral communication skills is a persuasive speech entitled "Sustainable Fashion," which I gave during my Public Speaking (COM-231) class in the spring of 2021. My speech was a persuasive argument on why people should sustainably source their clothes. I have chosen this artifact because I am confident it conveys my passion for my topic, my in-depth research, and my comfort with oral communication.

            The instructions for this speech were to choose a debated issue and present a speech on why people should agree or side with my opinion on the topic. For the assignment, I decided to talk about the effects of fast fashion and argue that people should source their clothes sustainably because it is environmentally safer. I chose this topic because it was relevant as fast fashion brands were becoming increasingly popular, and there was abundant research about it. However, my passion for environmental improvement and protecting the earth made me truly enjoy this topic. This speech allowed me to convince other people to live more sustainably and work towards further improving environmental conditions.  

    To effectively give this speech, I set two goals for myself. My first goal was to learn how to give a speech without relying on reading cue cards. While preparing for this speech, I realized that the key to delivering a speech without reading cue cards is to develop an in-depth understanding of my topic. With this knowledge, I could communicate information based on acquired knowledge rather than from reading. For example, In preparation for my speech, I would practice with my cue cards, and once I became comfortable with the information, I would try it without the cue cards to see if I had retained it. In doing this, I became more confident with the material and was able to relay it straight from memory.
   My second goal was to learn how to differentiate between important information and minor details to decrease the length of my speech. I have always had issues with going over the allotted time while giving speeches, so I wanted to improve my time management with this artifact. My first step towards achieving this goal was to be concise and selective with the information I selected for my speech. For example, I would ask myself questions about the importance, significance, and relevance of each fact I wanted to address. If factoids were not critical to the effectiveness of my speech, then I would cut them out or only mention them shortly. By implementing this technique into my outlining process, I fit my speech into the allotted time frame.

            Lastly, this artifact relates to my goals in that it set a good base for developing my presentation skills and improving my oral communication skills. In the future, I have plans to become a doctor and work with my patients to keep them the healthiest they can be. I also want to participate in research-based programs where I can present my findings to my professors, mentors, or advisors. As a result, the skills I gained in this course, like time management and information memorization, will be beneficial in the future, as they will allow me to better communicate important information within my profession and in the classroom.