Speech Reflection: Analyzing Delivery and Planning Improvements

This assignment presents a reflective statement on a speech delivered by a student, focusing on the topic of global warming. The student analyzes their experience with speech delivery, discussing the writing process, the use of extemporaneous style, and the overcoming of stage fright. The reflection highlights the student's strengths, such as maintaining eye contact and a straight posture, while also identifying areas for improvement, including voice clarity, body language, and attire. The student provides a transcript of the speech and outlines specific plans for future improvements, such as using formal attire, greeting the audience, and incorporating gestures to enhance engagement. The assignment demonstrates the student's ability to critically evaluate their performance and plan for professional development in public speaking.

Reflective Statement
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/LFdnjPetYB4
Reflection is a great tool to look back in retrospective mode and analyse and assess an
event or performance. By reflecting back on the work done, students can learn critical
thinking and to evaluate their performance and determine the improvement needed in their
tasks in the future based upon their experience. ("Reflective learning", 2019) In this paper,
the reflection of the speech done in Part 1 will be assessed, and the skills ad knowledge that I
have gained in this assignment will be described. Additionally, the improvements needed will
be elaborated, related to what is needed to be done and how can things be done better.
The speech delivery helped me to gain great insights about my skills and the
experience that I need to acquire in order to become a professional speaker. The writing of
the speech was an easy process, as I just had to put down my feelings and state some fact
about my topic of speech which ‘Global Warming’. This topic is close to me as I feel very
strong about the environment and believe that we human need to conserve our planet to make
it sustainable living for our future generation. Once the speech was over, I had to deliver the
speech in front of an audience. However, I was not able to gather an audience as I did not
find someone who could listen to my speech and evaluate the same. Hence, I decided to
record the speech in front of a camera.
I used the extemporaneous style of speech delivery. I used the written speech and
made some quick notes which will help in during the speech delivery. This way I did not
have to spend my energy upon the memorizing the contents of the speech and could instead
focus on the speech delivery style. I did rehearse the delivery of speech before recording it, so

that I am not nervous and do not miss words. Further, the rehearsal also helped me to ease out
a bit and gain a relaxed body language.
During my school days, I have always been anxious about speaking on a stage and got
cold feet when I had to go up the stage for speaking or to receive some awards. The
assignment helped me to overcome this fear. To prepare for the speech, I stood in front of the
mirror and delivered the speech. I maintained eye-contact with myself in the mirror and
delivered the speech, which increased my confidence. Further, I also observed my body
language which gave me confidence to face the camera.
I sported a natural look, and was in my casual attires while delivering the speech. In
the start of the speech, I did maintain an eye contact, and did numerous times during the
speech. I had a straight face all throughout mu speech and this helped to focus on my speech
better. Since I was sitting on a chair, I maintained a straight posture and avoided slouching.
However, if I had delivered the speech while standing it would have reflected better and
made the audience more interested in what I was speaking. I did not make any gestures and
did not use my hands while speaking.
There were a number of things which I could have done better and will be cautious
about next time to improve my speech delivery style. To start, I would sport a formal attire
and would be delivering my speech while standing. When I am sitting and saying something,
it might be difficult for people sitting in the far or in the back rows to see me. Delivering
speech while standing will provide the audience a better view of mine, and it will help them
understand my speech better.
While starting the speech I would greet the audience and introduce myself. It is then
that I would introduce my topic of speech. This will help to gain the attention of the audience
in the start of the speech itself. Next, there is scope for me to improve my voice clarity. In the

speech, my voice was low in many places, which might have made it difficult for people to
follow what I am saying. Additionally, I also need to pay attention to my body language.
While delivering the speech I was moving in my chair which is a distraction for the audience.
They would pay less attention to my speech and tend to wander their thoughts. Further, this
also reflect badly on my professionalism, and display a casual approach towards the speech
delivery.

Speech Transcript:
Global Warming
Global warming has been a concern in the world today, with the rise in the human
consumption of fossil fuels and other industrial activities on the rise. In the 20th century, the
escalation in the Earth’s temperature had been noted at 0.75°C and a rise of 22 cm has been
recorded in the sea-level across the globe. The gravity of the global warming issue could be
comprehended from the fact that the rise in temperature during the years 1901 and 2010 was
recorded at 0.8°C, while the rise in temperatures during the years 1979 and 2010 was 0.5°C.
The prime cause of the rapidly rising global temperature is due to human activities. Majority
of the carbon dioxide is released in the air by the various manufacturing process and factory
units. Further, deforestation is also another cause of large amounts of carbon dioxide being
emitted in the atmosphere. The combustion of fossil fuel in vehicles also leads to pollution in
the air, which is increasing the temperature of the earth. If the escalating rate of global
temperature continues, it won’t be too far when the earth becomes a furnace. It would lead to
the melting of snow caps and rising levels of sea-water. Already numerous sea coasts are on
the verge of submerging in the oceans because of the continuously rising sea-water levels.
Humans need to take corrective measures to stop the global warming phenomena from rising
further. The use of fossil fuel should be minimized and emphasis be placed upon the optimum
use of energy. The world needs to shift to renewable energy such as solar powers and hydro
energy, which release less amount of carbon dioxide. Awareness is being created by the UN
to urge all the nations to collectively work towards this endeavour. The goal should be to
restrict the rise of temperature to 1.5 degrees C every year.

Reflective learning. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.kent.ac.uk/learning/PDP-and-
employability/pdp/reflective.html