Week 5 Discussion 2

When I enrolled in a community involvement class at SJSU, I worked with a gentleman from Sacred Heart who was an extremely influential speaker. He shared a story with us the first day about why he started in the non-profit industry. His speaking style touched on ethos and pathos. He motivated me to get involved. So many people from our class were immediately drawn to him and what he shared. There was an obvious genuity that radiated from all of his thoughts. I will remember that first day of class for a long time. There were so many factors from his speech that made him an inspirational speaker, and drew to me to admire him. He was open, effective, and slow paced. His story that day inspired me to prioritize what is important in life, and to always do what you can to make a difference.

Week 5 Discussion 1

Reading this discussion question, I have to resort back to my former mention of Barack Obama. He is a very influential and powerful speaker that represents the strongest of each of the mentioned characteristics credibility, attractiveness, and power. The ethos that is present in Obama's speaking ability is the foundation of these characteristics. His credibility has been built from the passion that is present with every reaction he imposes. There is an attractiveness that has developed due to his demeanor and emotion. Attrativeness in speech can also develop the ethos in speech. These three characteristics enhance an audience's emotional draw to a speaker, and therefore naturally further build their ethos.

Week 4 Discussion 3

One of the topics from this chapter that I related to the most was Ethnography. For a former class of mine, I wrote a research paper based upon my ethnography. Our class was able to choose the type of research that we wanted to conduct, and I was immediately drawn to ethnography. This provides an individual the opportunity to immerse themselves in the environment of which they are trying to learn more about. A major aspect of ethnogrpahy is observation. I think that this is one of the key ways we can learn about a specific culture. When you are able to observe communication patterns, interactions, and behaviors, you can learn so much about their background and lives.

Week 4 Discussion 2

It is an interesting concept to see communication as a patterned interaction. Although I think this thought is sufficient, most of the times a social interaction comes so naturally that you hardly notice a pattern in communication at all. Within communication you react and respond to anothers thoughts and actions. This makes communication, in my opinion, most similar to almost a game of tennis. One person serves, and the other makes the necessary motion to meet the spot the ball was hit, and two send it back. In communication one person makes a statement, and we adjust our mindset to understand what they are saying, while getting to that point to be able to respond.

On another note, I do not think that communication is dominantly about winning, as a game is. It is about understanding, interaction, and learning about one another and each others thoughts. It is about expression and influence.

Week 4 Discussion 1

Worlds are created through communication when it is used as a source of influence. Think about all of the diversity in our world. Different cultures over time have evolved through the influence of different mediums of communication of other cultures. In addition, relationships develop through communication. Our world can become one when news and tradition is shared through communication. Each of us have the ability to adapt to a different place than we may be used to. To do so, our main tool is communication. We learn to communicate with those in our worlds when we do not even speak the same language. World are created through communication, because relationships are developed and cultures carried on.

Discussion Question #2

I believe that to be an orator you must be morally good. Your words in this role provide guidance an insight for many, and therefore the foundation of your thoughts and insights should be good. However, in public communication, your words can be effective regardless of the goodness in your thoughts. The core of public communication is providing your audience an opportunity to feel connected to words and identify with your stance. The lack of truth, however, in your words can diminish the value of your communication. In regards to public communication, you must have an obvious degree of truth to be truly effective, and although goodness does not have to be present, it provides a more valuable connection to the audience.

Discussion Question #1 Blog Week 1

I have recently found a speaker who genuinely moves me. His tone, poise, and emotion are admirable. Barack Obama has earned the trust and hope of millions of Americans. His power to persuade others mostly stems from pathos and ethos. When speaking, he knows how to draw on the emotional desires of the people. His presence over the past couple of years has provided him the opportunity to establish a liking based upon his knowledge and moral ground, which plays on ethos. In regards to myself, I think that I draw on these same points. I always want to draw my points of persuasion from what an individual can relate with emotionally. In addition, I work to establish ethos. It is much easier for me to persuade others through speaking when they can clearly see my moral stand. I think that overall Barack Obama’s power to persuade fits perfectly within Aristotle’s classification scheme. He is a distinct combination of both ethos and pathos that make him a strong speaker.