Monday/Wednesday First Week November

It's Monday and I haven't yet written about the two days of informative speeches in my Monday/Wednesday class last week. A number of people in the class didn't sign in the first day to give me permission to use their names. So comments on them are left out.

In defense of my procrastination, I'll say that I spent too much time looking for an old picture of myself bird-hunting that I could display along with my discussion of one student's speech. Unfortunately, the graphics file from 2002 was hopelessly corrupted. Sigh. So you won't get to see a picture of me with a shotgun in one hand and a big, phat pheasant-boy in the other.

Monday, November 3

I was impressed with our speakers who shared their personal lives today, including Brian and Ashley. Brian made great eye contact and looked very calm as he talked about diabetes and Ashley engaged with the audience in a very profession, interactive manner during her explanation of TMJ. Lance shared his personal experience with cancer as he spoke to us about different types of the disease.

Others shared their personal interest in sporting events. Becca also spoke energetically about gymnastics and another student spoke about swimming. Scott showed a concern for the earth with his presentation and Andrea showed a concern for the audience with her overview of the pros and cons of energy drinks.

But the Best-Speech-of-the-Day Award goes to Seth and his presentation on the Spartans. It was a well researched presentation about a historical subject that focused on stuff we'd find interesting, like their child hood and training experiences. Seth had plenty of information and showed his interest by speaking with energy. Good job, Seth.

(Spartan cup image is borrowed from http://mkatz.web.wesleyan.edu/Images2/cciv243.CIHAGPanels.html )

Wednesday November 3

Best-Speeches-of-the-Day Award for Wednesday is shared by Rheanna and Melissa for their speeches on SCFE and cannibalism, respectively. Rheanna researched the personal topic of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis, a hip problem of adolescents. She went beyond telling us of her experience by offering appropriate research about the disease as well as very interesting visual aids. She also spoke with energetic and calm assurance. Melissa shared fascinating information about the pathological, emergency, and social reasons for cannibalism. Because of the great taboos around the activity, it's a fascinating topic. She was clear about her sources of information and her speech was very well organized and easy to follow.

Among the other speakers of the day, Laura's speech on Tourette's Syndrome also stood out because she made an effort to link the topic to what we "knew" from film and television and she sounded well informed. I enjoyed another student's speech on bird hunting because the speaker wore camouflage and made great eye contact. (He hasn't given me permission to use his name.) Sarah's speech on The Beatles had a solid, chronological structure.

I'm definitely looking forward to the persuasive speeches from this class.