Response to public speaking

I agree that public speaking can be a daunting task in any project, but I tend to agree with Joey and Sergiy on this topic. The more you expose yourself to public speaking, the easier it is to do. The trick is doing it more frequently. Whether it is giving actual presentations or speaking up in class, they all contribute to your public speaking ability. Like Sergiy I have to speak to coworkers everyday, but the more I do it, the more it becomes second nature. I don't even realize sometimes that I am giving a presentation anymore. Audience does play into this, if you are familiar with the group you are talking to, it makes it much easier. But even stranger anxiety can be overcome with enough practice. I have found that practicing ahead of time helps immensely, even if I am just presenting to a mirror with myself and stopwatch. Just following the steps of presenting information in a specific order with a time frame in mind will do wonders, and always allow a few extra minutes for questions and interruptions.

Chapter 17 & 18

Off the bat, chapter 17 was very helpful. I've never been that adept in the use of PowerPoint, or creating visual presentations. In the past I have always seemed to dodge the need for making the visual side of a presentation. So the hints and tips for the layout of the of the presentation were very insightful. I will definitely be using this chapter to help put together my presentation for the class. On the oral side of things I have never had much of a problem speaking in front of an audience. I have given presentation before as well as teaching swing dance to large audiences. I am able to cope with interruptions and answer questions fairly well. My main flaw is that I do tend to run on a bit when I speak. This is why I've found it important in the past to rehearse with a stopwatch before the presentation, and make sure I do not exceed given time limits.

Chapter 18 covered web design and layout. It went over making your site readable as well as easy on the eyes. The layout of the website along with where and how graphics are used are important to make the reader's experience navigating the site a pleasant one. Also the site should be easy to move around in, links should be clearly labeled and clear as to their purpose. Also there should be included a site map that a reader can refer to if they become lost or are looking for a specific section of the website and are unsure how to get there from their current page. I do not have much experience in creating a web page layout and I have no experience in writing HTML code for websites. But this chapter provides a valuable guide in starting a web page.