MonCAS

Monkayo College of Arts, Sciences and

MIDTERM
Answer Sheet 5
THE TOOLS NEEDED IN CRITICAL/CREATIVE
REPORTS
Learning Objectives:

1. create a credible, logical report that is thoroughly researched and fact-checked;

Abstraction

Introduction
In today’s day and age, everyone is expected to be able to give critical and creative reports. This
includes lawyers, engineers, and government employees, not just those who are working in the fields of
multimedia and the arts. Modern technology has made it easier for people to complement their reports
with arresting visual aids and helpful videos, and it has helped tremendously in the spread of all kinds of
information. To succeed in one’s academic and professional life, one should be able to master the
report.

Best Practices of Public Speaking

 What makes a speech electric? What makes a speech so effective it can make the audience have
goosebumps or make them flush in rage or joy? Some speeches can be so effective they trigger
adrenaline, while other speeches, just as effective, trigger a sense of peace and calm in the
midst of chaos.
 Great speakers have been called hypnotic, magnetic, and charismatic, and this is not just
because they have compelling message, but because of the captivating manner they deliver
these speeches, as well.
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2. PERFORMANCE
 Speeches are performances, and they are delivered best when they have the feel of authenticity
and earnestness.
 People respond when they think that the one speaking is being honest and sincere, and they
respond more strongly when they feel that they can relate to the speaker in question
3. PLAN THE SPEECH
 It is important to express oneself in an expressive and articulate manner. It is best to
choose one’s words carefully, and to ensure that one’s speech builds on the foundation
of logos, pathos and ethos.
 To come across as articulate, one must also nurture a speaking style that is effective,
and one must also nurture a speaking style that is effective, and this style varies from
one person to another.
4. EYE CONTACT
 One way of coming across as authentic is the ability to make good eye contact with the
audience, and to speak in a manner that touches them.
 If one is truly hesitant to look at people’s eyes, one may look at their forehead instead; this
creates the illusion of making eye contact with people without actually doing it.
5. SPEAKING STYLE
 Different people have different speaking styles, and one can only find one’s personal speaking
style through constant practice.
 Some people seem to be more effective when they come across as calm while others can get
away with bursts of passion and bombast, infecting the audience with their fervor and
enthusiasm.
6. HAND GESTURES
 Whatever kind of speaker one may be, it is always best to be more purposeful when it comes to
choosing hand gestures.
 Hand gestures can create as much impact as the content of the speech itself.
 Hand gestures can be useful signposts in making a point
 Enumeration
 Inclusiveness
 Difference
 Some gestures are considered rude, and it is important to be able to match the appropriate
hand gestures to one’s audience.
7. RECORDING THE SWhat APPPEECH FOR FEEDBACK
 One of the best practices in public speaking is to videotape speakers, and then have these
speakers watch themselves.
 This process is usually done inside speech laboratories, where students can access videos of
themselves, and allow them to study their speeches.
 They can watch for the flaws of their performances, instead of being too dependent on the
teacher or their peers when it comes to constructive criticism.
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8. PEER EVALUATION
 Feedback from people is important, and this will be a great tool in improving one’s speech and
one’s speaking style in general.
 Observation can range from the speaker’s posture, one’s facial expressions, and one’s general
appearance.
9. APPEARANCE
 When it comes to appearance, it is important to look credible and worthy of respect.
 In the real world, this depends a lot on one’s audience, as the way one’s dresses should match
the kind of audience one wants to impress.
 Whether one’s audience are corporate clients or creative directors, this should have an
influence on the appearance one presents.
10. CLOTHING
 Traditional audiences often call for more formal clothing.
 For men, this would mean donning a suit and a tie at the most formal level, or at the very least,
the use of long-sleeved button-down shirts, slacks and leather shoes.
 In the Philippines, the use of a barong and slacks is acceptable. For the women, a pantsuit or a
formal coat and skirt ensemble should suffice. In the less formal instances, a dress or blouse and
skirt (or slacks) outfit should do as well.
11. GOOD GROOMING
 In addition, good grooming is a must, and that extends to one’s hair to nails.
 As long as one looks neat and clean, that should be enough to satisfy most audience’s
requirements.
 Some audiences, however, may require women to wear more (or less) make-up, don a hijab, or
wear high heels – in these instances, it is always best to know the cultural expectations of the
audience and the venue.
12. VISUAL AIDS
 Since we live in a word that is more dependent on information technology, it has become de
rigueur for audiences to expect speeches to be accompanied with visual aids, such as
PowerPoint presentations, video or audio clips, and infographics.
 Any of these are acceptable, and most cases, commendable, as long as they are relevant to the
topic.
13. POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
 Acceptable size is 24 or larger
 Text should be in dark colors for easier reading.
 The best PPT are not text-heavy, instead they are visually oriented, which is why the use of
photographs, illustrations, charts and the like would be better serve one’s medium.
 Video clips may or may not be embedded in the presentation, as well as audio clips animation
 The University of Leicester PowerPoint Guidelines:
 Consistent color and background schemes for each slide.
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 “Six by six rule” whereby “slides should have no more than six bullet
points and each bullet point should be no more than six words long.”
 Although it is good to use animation, it would be best not to overuse
this feature.
 Once the PPT is finished, one can view it several ways; one can view it in
the “Notes” tab to see the comments and notes for speaker.
 A good rule of the thumb is one slide for every two minutes.
 Rehearse the speech using the PPT.
14. HANDOUTS
• It would be best to have handouts ready for one’s audience, so that members of the audience
will not have to scramble when taking notes during the presentation.

• These should be written succinctly and should have appropriate citations.

15. FEEDBACK
 Although the speech is a performance, it is also one where its audience can participate, often by
the speaker asking rhetorical or directing actual questions to the audience.

 It is always good to read the verbal and non-verbal cues from the audience, such as whether
they agree with what is saying or whether they are resisting to certain ideas mirrored by their
use of body language.

 Modify speeches to match the audience’s visual cues.

16. CONCLUSION
 In the end, public speaking is a dynamic performance that is meant to disseminate information,
create greater awareness, and evoke emotions in the audience.
 It is utilized by teachers, lawyers, politicians and the like.
 Although, it is a performance, the most important speeches in the world have had material
effects, such as the speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King, Jr.
and these still affect the world today, long after their speakers have already been long gone.

Reference: Uychoco, Marikit Tara A & Santos, Maria Lorena (2018). Purposive Communication. Manila.
Rex Bookstore Inc. (2018)

(Read Lesson 5: The Tools Needed in Critical/Creative Reports, pages 52 to 62 to the get the full lesson)
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Application

INDIVIDUAL TASK

TASK 1: Create a 3-5 minute video talking about the current issues of the Philippines. State your facts,
opinions, impressions, positive and negative sides, and other areas concerning the matter.