Week 4--Question #3

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it. (Choose a topic that has not already been covered in this weeks discussion).


One concept from the assigned reading I found useful/interesting was the idea of beliefs. It amazed me to see that beliefs was listed as a sub-category under The Audience-Speaker Relationship section because I was always taught that when public speaking, giving your own view on certain items was not right unless the argument or discussion called for it—I guess I was taught wrong. Reading this in the chapter made public discussion a lot easier for me because being able to incorporate beliefs in your discussion or speech makes the communication from one person to another more easily to understand. However, I can see why others believe beliefs shouldn’t be included in public discussion and because of persuading others into your own viewpoint. We all have different beliefs which is one way that differentiates all of us…and it is difficult to make someone believe the same thing you do…

Week 4--Question #2

2). Consider a well-known speaker, for example, the current President of the United States. What is the speaker's strongest characteristics as a speaker? Is it credibility, attractiveness, power or all three? In what ways could the speaker build ethos in these areas?

I spoke about President Barack Obama during our week 2 discussion…he definitely is a speaker I admire because of his credibility when speaking. In my opinion, his strongest characteristic as a speaker is his integrity along with confidence. To me, confidence brings everything together and can turn any boring speech or speaker into an interesting person because not only do they are confidence in what they’re speaking about, it allows the audience to know that they at least are interested in what they are talking about. Going back on topic, the credibility, attractiveness, and power are Obama’s strongest characteristics because he brings all three easily into play when speaking on the podium. Ethos is showing moral character-- Obama can build ethos into all three characteristics by being a little bit more subtle about his decisions or plans for our world…in my opinion, it would benefit us if he was a little bit more quiet about what he was planning on doing before bringing up hopes for our citizens and just having it back fire in the end if none of his plans are approved.

Week 4--Question #1

1). Have you ever been influenced by a speaker? Think of the best speaker you've ever heard. What was it about that speaker that made his or her communication memorable? Think of the worst speaker you've ever heard. What do you remember about his or her message?

In all honesty, the last time I have been influenced by a speaker besides President Obama was just last week. I’m taking Comm 157—a class that requires us to volunteer at a specific location during the semester. Five places were presenting to a class of more than 80 people and I was sure that I was going to be bored by what was going on. Each presenter took their time and just rambled on and on why we should volunteer at that particular location. I was not sure as to which one I wanted to devote my time too because none of them sounded too appealing. However, the last speaker, Joy, woke me up and presented something out of the blue. Yes, all of the presenters were either speaking about a community center or an elementary school but Joy was able to speak and open my eyes allowing me to choose her particular location. She spoke with enthusiasm, and had a passion for what she was talking about—which is why I chose the location. Having enthusiasm and passion to me is the key to a successful speech because it allows the audience to know that you too are impressed with what you are talking about. Helping kids get the best education despite the budget cut was her main goal and that was what interested me into volunteering with her.

The worst speaker I had was also one that I experienced last week as well. It was another presenter, Melanie who just spoke in a mono-tone voice without any enthusiasm or charisma at all. A little smile would have made her a bit interesting but we didn’t even get that. In all honestly, I do not remember her message, the only reason I remember her was because I started to doze off into my own zone and a classmate of mine woke me back up!

Week 3--Question #3

2). Consider the pragmatic perspective. Does it make sense to think of communication as patterned interaction? How is communication like a game? How is different from a game?

Trenholm states that, “according to the pragmatic viewpoint, the smallest significant unit of communication is the interact, which consists of two sequential acts” (Trenholm, 2008, 33). I think that it does make sense to think of communication as a patterned interaction because when I hear the word pragmatic, the game Checkers and Chess come to mind. I do not know why but I see it as going back and forth in silent communication in order to beat the master mind of another. During these games, we are silently communicating to each other about which one is better and how we can beat them. We go back and forth until the end of the game which also can mean the end of the communication.

There are times when I do not see communication as a game because of the different elements that are involved. When attending seminars and such, we are being talked to and are on a one way road—the reason for this is because communication should be a two way street and when playing a game, there is only one winner.

Week 3--Question #2

1). Consider the social constructionist perspective. How do we “build worlds” through communication? Think of some ideas we talk about in our culture that may not exist in other cultures. How do these concepts contribute to our happiness or success (of the lack of these) in our culture?

I think the social construtionist perspective is amazing because we are able to build worlds through knowledge and cultures. We build worlds through communication by combining our own cultures with the current culture and traditions we are living and we build off of them. In my opinion, these concepts contribue to our happiness by allowing us to combine both the present and past with our future. We are able to contribue to our own future by giving ourselves presents from the past. For example, when my parents moved from the Philippines, they were able to bring over family traditions such as special Christmas traditions that we do not have here in America...my parents combine both a Filipino Christmas with an American Christmas because they believe that it the way to bring up their children--a world full of happiness and a world full of traditions from the past, present, and future...That is where I believe both happiness and success come from--our cultural views and the way we uphold them to our current families.

Week 3--Question #1

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

A concept in the chapter 2 reading that I found interesting was the social constructionist model of communication. As stated in the book, people exist within, and perceive themselves and others through the communicative practices of their cultures in a social constructionist model. It is interesting to know that our own lives revolve around a model and we follow each step everyday without even knowing it. Symbolic codes and cultural traditions are thw two elements that stick out to me from the social constructionist model of communication. The reason for that is because we rely so heavily on who we are by our cultures and being able to communicate with one another through our cultures amazes me. There are times when it is difficult for me to difficult with another person who does not understand some of my own customs. Communications is a very interesting subject and all the elements in this book are increasing my love for communications!

Week 2--Question #3

*2). The Greeks believed that to be an orator, an individual had to be morally good. Comment on whether you agree or disagree. What, if any, is the connection between goodness, truth, and public communication?

In my opinion, I do not believe that an individual has to be morally good in order to be an orator. The reason for this is because being morally good has no correlation with being a public speaker. In order to give a good speech does not mean that you need to live life a life with good practices and such. We all make our own decisions and another thing that I have learned is that we all have different morals. One person may think that what I’m doing is morally incorrect, but another person may think the complete opposite. So all in all, my opinion is that we do not need to be morally good in order to be an orator because of the different beliefs that we have lead us into speaking in a way that expresses our own views and outlooks in life.

I do not think that there is any connection between goodness, truth, and public communication because we form our own opinions and talent when speaking to the public. Just as what I had commented on a fellow classmate’s blog, goodness is not always truth and when communicating to the public, we are individuals who speak from our own minds and hearts. We listen to the media when formulating ideas because the media has more experience than we do in certain areas and they have also acquired skills needed in order to formulate a good speech in order to become an orator.

Week 2: Question #2

*3). Pick one concept from the reading assignment this week (Ch.1) that you found interesting or useful and discuss it.

A concept that I found interesting and useful in the reading of chapter 1 this week was the term invention. The reason I found it interesting was because we also are talking about invention in my philosophy class and it was nice to be able to read a different side of invention. It amazes me how many inventions have changed our world and life today. Another thing that I find incredible is that the study of communications is used throughout our day and I do not know for a fact if there was an inventor for communication, but I believe it to be the greatest thing in the world. Without it, we wouldn’t have the great inventions we have today nor would we able to live in our world today…not only is verbal communication interesting and helpful, I see all types of communication to be the key of a successful life today. Communication is the key to inventing new and interesting things.

Week 2--Question #1

*1). Think of a speaker you admire. Does his or her power to persuade come from ethos, pathos, or logos? Think about your own ability to persuade others. What personal qualities do you have that make you persuasive? Does Aristotle's classification scheme work for them, or do they fit into another category?


A speaker I admire is the new president of our country, Barack Obama. When first watching the elections, I did not pay much attention to any of it and let it all rest in the hands of the God I believe in. The reason for this is because in my opinion, our country is already as messed up and each candidate trying to win the seat of the President is going to say they are going to their best in turning our world around. However, upon reading and being forced to watch the presidential elections, I was awed by the way President Barack Obama lured his way into our country. He used an ethos approach by attaching emotional concerns to most of his speeches which allowed viewers to easily relate to what he was saying.

I believe that a personal quality I have when trying to persuade others just like Barack Obama is speaking from an ethos point of view. I have learned throughout my college career that ethos and logos are the two most prominent and well-worth ways to speak because of the characteristics they both uphold.

Aristotle’s classification scheme works for them because of the way preachers bring about their persuasion to the an audience. When preaching a certain view or way of life in order to persuade others, I believe that we all have our own talent and our own way of convincing others that our way is the right way…and the better person will win.