Pros and Cons Speech

Hello, my dear readers!

Today I`d like to present you a self-analysis of my Pros and Cons Speech which I gave last time during our oratory class. This speech is dedicated to a very popular and lovely way of spending our free time - travelling. The topic was: "If you want to have a successful trip abroad, everything should be planned in advance". We were to give 3 arguments for and 3 arguments against this idea. As usual, I attach a video of my speech👇

I should say that I`m not satisfied with my talk at all( I didn`t prepare the speech at home in a proper way, although we had such an opportunity. Shame on me for that( However, I still tried to overcome my stage fright and to deliver the speech as well as possible. So it was a bit off hand.

1. Did you make an effort to gain the mental attention of your audience in the introduction to your speech? Yes, I tried to gain the attention of my audience using a question: "Can you call yourself a good planner? If you can, then you would agree that..." But I think that wasn`t very effective. It could have been more extended and informative, because I had enough time for it (3 min). In the case of that very speech my introduction seemed to be cut short abruptly. 

2. Did you clearly state your topic or question? I think that I stated it rather clearly before I started giving my arguments FOR. I gave the topic: "If you want to have a successful trip abroad, everything should be planned in advance" and then I said: "And of course, we can find reasonable arguments for this". So, I defined the topic and then I suggested that it would be extended further with the help of arguments. 

3. Did you map the direction your speech was taking? Unfortunately, no, I didn`t. I didn`t have a preview of my speech and I didn`t tell the audience what I was going to talk about. I could have said something like this: "I`m going to give 3 arguments for this idea and then 3 arguments against". But I just asked a question like a kind of an introduction and then started the main body of my speech (the arguments). At the end of my speech there was a proper conclusion with an action and an appeal ("Let`s try not to plan these magic moments and just relax and enjoy our journey). So, my speech has a certain direction it was taking, it had a proper structure. But there wasn`t a preview before the main body. 

4. Did you support the major ideas with examples, instances, facts, questions or proof? Yes, I tried to support my arguments, but mostly with facts ("If you go abroad, you will get confused and very stressed", "If you have a good plan, you`ll make the best schedule of visits to different places", "If something goes wrong with the plan, you`ll find yourself in an embarrassing and stressful situation, etc.). I think that my speech lackes examples and proof from my personal experience or my friends` experience. Without such examples my speech sounds dry and vague. There are lots of facts, but not enough proof for them. 

5. Did your speech have a conclusion (summary, action, appeal)?Yes, it did. My personal opinion on the topic was a kind of a summary, because it includes both arguments for and against (We should plan only the most important things, but we should go with the flow, as the best moments of our life are unexpected). There was also the action and the emotional appeal to the audience ("Let`s try not to plan these magic moments and just relax and enoy our journey").

6. List three areas of your last speech that you believe were the most effective.

• Organisation. My speech wasn`t perfect at all, but I think that I managed to observe the rules of Pros and Cons speech, as I had a very specific and clear structure of my speech (Introduction, Main Body with arguments, Conclusion)
• Cohesion. Throughout my speech I used a lot of logical connectors, like "Firstly", "Secondly", "Thirdly", " Finally", "Moreover", "To bring my speech to the conclusion I`d like to say that", etc.
• Tempo. I think that the tempo of my speech was rather appropriate, I didn`t speak too fast, as I sometimes do))

7. List three weaknesses of your speech.

• Support. I think that I should`ve included more personal examples or funny stories and also proof to the given facts.
• Eye contact. I didn`t manage to maintain eye contact with my audience throughout my speech, especially at the end of it. I have problems with eye contact even in my personal life. I am constantly working on it.
• Clear articulation. My articulation wasn`t clear, I made mistakes in pronunciation and corrected them immediately, which was a bit strange. I know that it isn`t about the articulation, but I did many grammar mistakes, too. That`s because I was very nervous and didn`t prepare my speech properly.

8. Pick one area of organization or content that you desire to improve in your next speech. I`d like to improve the support of my speech. I should use some facts or situations from my own experience. It will make my speech fresher, more creative and personal.

9. Pick one area of delivery you desire to improve in the next speech. I`d like to improve my eye contact in the next speech, because it`s very important for me. I will try to do my best!

Did you like my speech? Do you plan everything in advance or prefer going with the flow?
Bye for now!