Thursday, December 22, 2011
How Coca-Cola Formed the Modern Santa
http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/12/15/how-coca-cola-helped-shape-the-modern-day-santa/?hpt=li_mid
Over most of time, there have been different images of Father Christmas/Saint Nick/Santa/Sinterklaas/whatever he's called elsewhere. Like how traditionally in some countries he'd wear green, and so on. However, due to effective marketing by Coke, the first image that pops into people's heads worldwide is a fat man in a bright (Coke) red suit. Not a Turkish guy who apparently prefered wearing green, which is who the character's based on.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Reflection on the Persuasive speech presentations:
1) Which speech did you find the most persuasive?
All of the speeches were very persuasive and each one had a different issue that it tackled and tried to persuade us to side along with their position from it. I would have to say that I couldn’t chose one and so I narrowed it down to the top four which are the following: “The right of Palestine to statehood”, “Is cosmetic surgery really necessary?”, “The killing of children under the age of 18” and “Whether children should be given technology?”. All of these speeches really convinced me and I felt that they had a strong presentation aspect to them.
2) What about the speech made it persuasive? Inspiring delivery? Relevant topic? Strong rhetoric?
The one I will chose to answer these questions for is “Is cosmetic surgery really necessary?” The main thing that made this speech persuasive is the presentation of it. The delivery was a bit of both very natural and very professional, and I believe that is what made it so successful. The topic was also very interesting as I was immediately drawn into what Jana was saying. I found that she used all three different rhetorical techniques into a nice mesh equally dividing the availability of each one. For instance, for logos, she used the example of the North Korean plastic surgery addict and that just moved us all to her position from the matter. She also mentioned a variety of statistics that were all in favor of her persuasive speech. In addition to this she used the rhetorical method of pathos; she did this by aiming the speech at us and really aiming some of the questions at our emotions. The topic that she chose is also very relevant to our age group as in some countries that is when they begin to think about getting plastic surgery done. Since we are also exposed to a lot of media like tv shows, movies and so on we see the actors in a positive aspect when they have plastic surgery and that is what Jana’s speech trying to do convince us that well not everyone is perfect.
3) What do you think did well in your speech?
I am not really sure. I think that the written part was done with a lot of effort and so therefore when I came to perform it I tried to imagine the way I was writing it and try to make it as natural as possible. I think I also successfully manage to really link to the audience and I had stressed my topic quite clearly to do so. Another point I think I did well was to use certain literary features such as metaphors, repetition and similes. I tried to also give good examples that would really make it easier for the audience to visualize what I am trying to portray. I think my presenting was also not what I imagined it to be. I was very nervous about presenting but as soon as I stood behind the stand and began talking I sort of relaxed after that and carried out the rest of my speech as if I was speaking to a friend. I believe that because I practiced it a lot I knew how to say what words and phrases in what ways and so the overall fluctuation of my voice might have had a direct effect on how the speech presented.
4) What do you think you could have done better?
Well looking back at it now, I think there are some things I could have done better and that might have given my speech a stronger persuasive element. For example improving the flow of the information, there were some points in the speech that if but in another area would have had a better effect on the end product. So in other words I could have organized my points a little bit more and should have played around with the placement of certain points. I could have also added more logos into my speech. Even though I tried doing this before by looking for statistics etc. I think that I should have tweaked my topic just a little bit to gain more information and be able to mention some sort of survey, poll, statistics, percentages, ratios and maybe some important dates. The last thing I could have added more of was the metaphor. These were also something that I did not know where to obtain them from or place them and so I could have also tweaked the subject more or instead of having three I would have six plus a really long one that I can carry out throughout my speech and reference it.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Reflection on Persuasive Speeches
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Reflection on Persuasive Speeches
Response To The Speech Presentations
1) Which speech did you find the most persuasive?
Every one’s speech was great. It was moving, touching, and unique. Everyone had a special effect from the tone they made us feel to the language they used. But my favorite speech that stood out the most was Jana’s.
2) why? inspiring delivery? topic? etc...
I found Jana’s speech cute yet powerful and inspiring. Firstly the topic in which Jana spoke about was an issue that most teenagers go through and an issue that causes a huge amount of insecurity in most girls. The topic of what beauty is and should we grow up and think of plastic surgery. The part that really made me love her delivery to the speech was the beginning and the end. She started off with a statement by Marlin Monroe “imperfection is beauty” and she ended her speech with that same exact quote. The only difference was that in the end I actually understood the concept and felt what it actually meant. While in the beginning it was just a quote with a true meaning. But I didn’t really feel or understand the true meaning behind the quote until the end. Let us not forget the passion Jana delivered her speech with. She was so passionate about it that it gave her delivery a solid ground and strength that grabbed most of the audience.
3) What did you do well?
Based on the feedback given by my classmates and friends, I think that my language and my use of literary features were the strongest aspects in my speech. I think I had quite good metaphors that highlighted the tone and topic of my speech. Mainly the metaphor describing the bleeding wound of Palestine. Also, I think that I had a good amount of facts and information about death tolls and the dates in which certain events happened that marked a change, which gave my speech a sense of credibility. Finally, I thought that I spoke with confidence I wasn’t nervous and I wasn’t stuttering while talking. I may have a strong vocal delivery but my body movement was slightly stiff.
4) what could you have done better?
I could have done a couple of things better. For starters I could have delivered it with more body gestures and effects to lessen that stiffness I felt that I had. I could have opened myself more to the audience by walking around the class instead of talking in one place. I could have used my hands and arms more widely to emit the passion I knew I had. A powerful speech will not reach its full potential with only a strong vocal delivery but it also has to have strong and passionate body gestures.
I think that Tala's speech was one of the most memorable and persuasive ones. I think that's mainly because her issue was very touching and related to many people in the class. Also, throughout her speech she was very serious (her emotions suited the topic) and she changed her tone whenever she tried to stress certain points. Another thing that I think she did really well is that while presenting her speech she rarely looked back at her papers. This showed that she was very confident and prepared, it also made it easier for the audience to connect with her since she was always looking at them. Her body language was also very suitable she did not have any unnecessary or distracting gestures and when she wanted to stress a point she used her hands.
Throughout her speech Tala also used many metaphors as well as rhetorical techniques. She kept asking the audience questions, which made them think even more deeply about her issue.
2. What did you do well in yours?
Judging from people's reactions to my speech I think that it's strongest point was incorporating the story at the beginning and end. Since my topic was not as emotional as everybody else's I had to animate it in order to make it more interesting so I made sure to use different tones and gestures to suit what I was saying. Furthermore, I managed to talk at a consistent speed with a loud and clear voice while having eye contact with the audience; I tried to direct my attention to everyone in the class without making it seemed forced or unnatural.
3. What could you have improved?
I think that if I was to improve anything it would be to manage to be more fluent and to be less nervous. This is obviously hard to control but perhaps with more practice I could get used to it. Also, another thing would be to included more literary features. Since my speech was mostly directed to students it would have been nice to incorporate some rhyme or repetition.
Hi my name is Sheikha.
Response to persuasive speeches
3. I think my favourite part of my speech was my last line- "Determination and drive of the priviledged will destroy the desperation of the destitute and what is deserved will be accomplished so stay dedicated to this dream so that the disarray is disencumbered.
" because of the alliteration. In the movie V for Vendetta, the character 'V' uses this technique, making what he says really interesting. Because of the rhythm and also because the message was very blunt and to the point, I felt it was very powerful.
4. I, however, didn't deliver that line the way I wanted to and was unable to control my tone,pace and pauses, in not only that occasion, but all throughout the speech & I think this will require me getting used to the audience and being able to feel at ease.
Response to Speeches
speech post
I thought Mikheils was the most persuasive
2) why? inspiring delivery? topic?
Firstly because he seemed to know what he was talking about so well without having to read the text or so much as look down. Then there was his humor that really connected with the audience specially because some of the jokes were very related to the audience he was talking to. It showed that he knew who he was talking to. Also he was the only person to walk around and seemed comfortable talking.
3) what did you do well?
I think I did quite well with my tone and speed. It was meant to come across as quite serious. The speed was slow but thats how I had intended to do it since the beginning partially because if I had gone any faster I would have had problems keeping up with myself.
4) what could you have done better?
There was some content I wanted to say that I missed out because I didn't look down at the text often enough to keep note of where I was in the speech. Also I didn't gesture nearly as much as I intended to and I would have preferred if I'd walked around.
Speech Responses
- What speech did you think was most persuasive and why?
- What did you do well in yours?
- What could you have done better?
- Best speech. Overall, I think that everyone's speeches were good, and each person with their own style has their strengths and weaknesses. Also, since people tend to remember what they saw last, the people who presented on the last day have an advantage in this, just because it's fresher in my head. But if I had to pick one, I'd probably say that Sheikha's was the best, for a few reasons. The biggest was the way she was able to come across clearly, and show passion and that she cared about the issue. Also, she used literary techniques well, like rethorical questions.
- Pretty much nothing. I didn't fall asleep while presenting it, and that's about it.
- Everything. I've given better useless speeches about Kool-Aid than this. With my speech, I hadn't memorized much of my speech, and had so spend way too much time looking down at my speech instead of up at the audience. Also, due to my lack of memorization of it, I wasn't really comfortable while speaking, and would go off on tangents freestyling and changing sections of it on the fly. Also, due to my head being stuck in the paper, I wasn't able to pay much attentioni to what I was doing with my hands gesturing, or how I was standing, so I wasn't really able to use my posture the way I'd planned to to puncuate points that I was making. In my verbal delivery of it, there really wasn't much passion or strength in what I was saying, and I wasn't able to hold the floor, or control the room like I should've been. With the speech itself, the biggest of the several weaknesses was the ending. There really wasn't an ending, since I just said a bunch of vauge things about MUN or whatever while I was making it up. Though it was an issue that contains a lot of emotional and moral arguments, I didn't feed off of that in my writing. I should've used more contrasts and examples in my speech. I also needed to have a wider range of persuasive techniques, like tying it to how famous Nigerians have refused awards from the governement because of how bad the issue is, having anecdotes, or such things. I also didn't have any memorable line. There wasn't an abstract hook at the begining to get everyone's attention because they're confused, or a power line that is memorable, sonorus, and can summarize the speech in one sentence. And that's proabaly skipping a few things I can't think of right now.
About The Speeches
Which speed did you find the most persuasive? What about the speech made it persuasive? Inspire delivery? Relevant topic? Strong rhetoric?
I found Mikhail’s speech the most persuasive out of all. I found it the most persuasive because of his use of relevance, humour, tone, body language and contact with the audience.
Mikhail’s topic was something we deal with on a daily basis, it’s relevant and we can all relate to it. When speaking about his issue, he used things we all understood and know. By using things that are relevant, it allows the speaker to connect with the audience, which he did really well.
His use of humour was fantastic. It kept the audience interested and it wasn’t forced. It was well time and well pulled off. I think he was the only person to use humour in their speech. It’s amazing how effective it was. His tone was quite calm but still very persuasive. It didn’t stay monotonous, every strong point he made, his voice and tone changed to match it.
I was amazed by his body language and eye contact. Mikhail was able to walk around the room, yet still command the attention. He didn’t move his arms around a lot, but when he did, it added to what he said. He barely looked at his paper. Maybe once he looked. It was amazing. Also, his body language was quite open and so it was as if he was open to anyone’s opinion and thus making him approachable.
Mikhail also didn’t overuse metaphors. When he used them, they were appropriate and strong. I was defiantly blown away by what Mikhail had to say.
What do you think you did well in your speech?
Honestly, I don’t know what I did well. I don’t really remember doing my speech. I can only really remember the things I thought I didn’t do well in.
What do you think you could have done better?
I could have done a lot of things better. I barely moved as I was afraid that if I started to move, I would lose my train of thought and freeze. I also went really fast during my speech. I get nervous when I speak to people and the thought from my brain pauses before making it to my mouth. It doesn’t matter how much I know something, I’ll always stumble over my words. I could have probably also have used more literary figures to make it sound that much better.
Speech Blog Post
Response to speech presentations
SPEECH RESPONSES BLOG ENTRY
2) Question ONE pretty much answered this question, but I would like to add on more about the literary and rhetorical techniques that Khalil used in his speech. There were quite a few powerful metaphors used in the speech. But, the most powerful and extraordinary metaphor was the one about "Making a deal with the angel of death and end up paying him in misery". This was probably the climax of Khalil's speech and had a very strong effect on me which completely convinced me to support his cause. The topic was also very relevant in today's society. The reasons behind it controversy are no further than basic human ethics and nature of our emotions.
3) I think the best thing that I did in my speech was the use of humour that kept the audience with me throughout the speech and the numerous list of advantages that the uniforms brought to the wearer, which according to Ms Dellapa, was close to brainwashing the audience into supporting my cause.
4) The first thing I could have done to improve my speech is NOT to break into laughter half way through it. Ok, now lets look at some serious improvements. Next time, I would like to increase the number of literary techniques used in my speech. Even though I had a few, I feel a necessity of having more. Second of all, I would like to touch on more rhetorical devices. My speech about uniforms was mostly Logos based, therefore I would like to bring more Ethos and Pathos into my work the next time.