Out-Of-Class Speech Observation—Delivery

Your name: Grady Nutt Speaker: Soledad O’brien

Where was the speech presented? The Ford Center – Ole Miss Campus

What was the occasion for the speech? She is on a tour giving her presentation called “Black in America”

VOCAL COMMUNICATION: Record your observations about each of the followingaspects of the speaker’s voice.

Volume: Her volume was good. You could tell she had experience speaking into a microphone Pitch: Great experience as a news anchor, she had perfect pitchRate: The rate at which she spoke was in tune with her speech delivery and on certain topicsPauses: she paused frequently to emphasize certain things, or paused to let the audience thinkVocal variety: did a few minor impersonations where she changed her pitch/tone – well done Pronunciation: extremely easy to understand, well rehearsed, spoke strongly and clearlyArticulation: You could tell she had news desk experience, articulated very well

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION: Record your observations about each of thefollowing aspects of the speaker’s nonverbal communication.

Personal appearance: dressed very professionally, stood with confidence, comfortable on stageBodily action: kept good posture, didn’t sway or lean behind podium, leaned forwardGestures: used hands to point to screen, pointed in audience a few times as wellEye contact: made equal eye contact throughout the room, not too much time looking at notes

OVERALL EVALUATION OF DELIVERY: Explain how the speaker’s delivery added toor detracted from the message.- Her delivery was perfect and it added to the strength of her message. You could hear the confidence in her voice and she knew where to make pauses, maintain eye contact, or even look down at her notes and pause for dramatic effect on sensitive subjects.

OVERALL EVALUATION OF CONTENT: Evaluate the speakers success in crafting a clear, accurate message.- Although her delivery and presentation were exceptional, I don’t believe she demonstrated clearly enough what her purpose was for the speech. I was introduced to statistics and other things I hadn’t known before, but I couldn’t tell what her goal was for her presentation, other than maybe to educate the audience.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME: Explain at least two techniques of delivery used by the speakerthat you might want to try in your next speech.- I want to rehearse my next speech enough so I deliver the same type of confidence she displayed with little use of notes to achieve a more conversational feeling. - Learn to incorporate strategically placed pauses to enhance the message of my speech.