The artifact I have chosen to represent my oral communication skills is an informative speech titled “Impact of Education on the Economy.” I completed this speech for COM-231: Public Speaking during the 8-week summer term. The purpose of this assignment was to deliver a well-researched, structured, and engaging presentation on an informative topic. I selected this topic because it combined two potential career paths that I saw for myself at the time: teaching and economics. This artifact demonstrates my ability to organize and deliver a speech effectively, integrate credible sources, and present complex information in a way that is accessible to my audience.

 

    To successfully complete this speech, I set two key goals for myself. The first goal was to research and incorporate multiple perspectives into my speech to create a clear, concise, and unbiased presentation. This was important because discussing the relationship between education and the economy required an understanding of both positive impacts and existing challenges. To achieve this, I researched a variety of peer-reviewed sources, economic reports, and educational research articles to support my key points. Throughout the speech, I ensured that my sources were accurately cited both verbally and in my accompanying visual aid. My prior coursework in HIS-111 and HIS-112 helped me develop strong research skills, which were essential in gathering reliable data for this presentation.

   

    The second goal was to create a compelling visual presentation that complemented my speech without overwhelming my audience. A key requirement of the assignment was to include relevant images and text to enhance my audience's understanding. To achieve this, I designed a PowerPoint presentation that featured concise key points and custom-made charts and graphs, which I created using Microsoft Excel. These visuals helped illustrate economic data in a clear and engaging way. Additionally, in order to enhance the flow of the presentation, I recorded each slide of the presentation separately, ensuring that the presentation was structured, smooth, and contained both my face and voice. My experiences with visual presentations in SPA-111 and SPA-112 contributed to my ability to present in front of a camera using recording software

 

    Looking back, this artifact played a significant role in shaping my oral communication abilities. Through this assignment, I gained valuable experience in public speaking, audience engagement, and visual storytelling.I learned how to give compelling presentations, speak professionally, and present my ideas in an organized fashion. This includes understanding how to create effective visual aids, write and memorize scripts, and vary my rate of speech. It also includes the ability to properly document and cite my sources orally, as well as how to format in text citations in the accompanying visual aid. This is significant for both my professional and personal life. Professionally, it improves my ability to convey important information to clients in a compelling way. This will make me a more effective communicator in the workplace. This skill also has personal applications. Strong oral communication skills improve my ability to be understood in social settings and clearly communicate my ideas, thoughts, and feelings. As a result, oral communication skills allow me to express myself, respond to the ideas of others, and execute my job responsibilities.