Demonstration Speech Self Evaluation

For my demonstration speech, I chose to teach the class how to prepare a fruit smoothie. I think this speech went really well and I was able to fulfill all of the requirements for this assignment. When I first introduced my topic, I felt I did a good job of showing how being able to make a "healthy and simple" breakfast was relevant to my audience consisting of all college students. Throughout the speech, I also thought that it was well organized and easy to follow. I went through and explained each step, and then proceeded to perform whatever task I needed to perform to complete the step and move on to the next.

I was pretty comfortable in front of the class, so I think that I spoke clearly and with good volume so everyone in the audience could hear and understand me. Although it's hard to get excited about making a fruit smoothie, I think that my enthusiasm was relatively decent too. My eye contact was consistent and good, and although I couldn't see myself on tape, I believe that my body language was pretty relaxed and comfortable as well. I was able to effectively demonstrate how to make a smoothie to the class and my visual aid, I think, was easy to see and the process was easy to follow.

I would definitely choose the same topic again. I think that it was definitely a topic that was relevant and was easy and fun to make. I believe my visual aid and my speech were both good and wouldn't have really changed anything about either of them, but if I were to re-do my speech, I think that I would have cut some of the strawberries up in class instead of bringing them all cut up before class. I think that this would have added a little bit more of a visual interest to my speech and enhanced my visual aid. Overall though, I am happy with how my speech came out and I thought I was able to successfully demonstrate how to make a fruit smoothie.

Peer Response to Zac's Post 1: Prepare a Meal

In this blog post, we were required to prepare a meal, describe the stages of the meal (including planning, shopping, preparation, and consumption of the food), and respond to Michael Pollen's opinion of how he feels eating has become something that is more focused on worrying about what we're consuming rather than enjoying the food while we eat it.

Zac went to the store and bought a gourmet meal of boxed mac n' cheese and hot dogs with mustard and ketchup. After going to the store, he prepared the meal in his dorm building's kitchen, and ate the food after he was done preparing it. He explains how he felt that the entire process was very easy, and that he felt extremely satiated and satisfied with his meal after he finished eating. In response to Michael Pollen's opinion on modern eating, Zac explains that he agrees with what Pollen states in the book, but felt that he was not personally affected in this way. He claims that he just enjoys his food and tends not to worry about what he is eating. He also stated that as a kid, he always sat and enjoyed his food with his family at nightly family dinners, and thinks that because of this, he is able to not worry necessarily about what he's eating, but about enjoying the eating experience.

I believe that Zac did a really good job on this post. He covered all parts of the assignment and was able to get all of his points across in a clear and concise manner. I agree with what he has said about Michael Pollen's opinion about eating. I also believe that eating has become something that people have started to worry about more than actually enjoy. Eating should be enjoyed and is an experience that should be shared with friends and family.

Post 3: Analysis of a celebrity endorsement

Over the past few years, CoverGirl has utilized Drew Barrymore as a celebrity endorser of many of their new products. Most recently, Covergirl released a commercial where Ms. Barrymore is endorsing a variety of new make up products called "lash blast length" mascara, "smoky shadow blast" eye shadow sticks, and "shine blast" lip gloss and color (this commercial can be viewed here on Youtube.com). In addition to endorsing new products, she also promotes the website covergirl.com. There is a feature on this website that allows you to "match your department store shades [of makeup] for less".

In my opinion, I believe that Drew Barrymore is a great endorser for CoverGirl. She is able to successfully promote the products. By advertising her face as the face of CoverGirl, she is promoting her own popularity as well. I think that she is definitely an appropriate choice as a celebrity endorser because she is a very well known and easily recognizable figure in the public eye. These commercials have been wildly successful in the past, and I believe they will continue to be successful in the future for both CoverGirl and Drew Barrymore. I think this success can be attributed to both Ms. Barrymore's public popularity and the fact that she is generally very well liked by the viewing population, and CoverGirl's growing popularity. CoverGirl's popularity can be linked to many things including multiple celebrity endorsements and the image that you can "get the look for less" by using CoverGirl products. Especially right now, during economic hardship, advertising that any product can give you the same results as a more expensive option for less is probably going to have some success.

In this article on msnbc.com, Drew Barrymore's selection as the new CoverGirl model is discussed. It goes over the story of how the company came about choosing Drew as one of their new models, and how Drew felt about being asked to become a CoverGirl. She was excited and exclaimed that she "loved the chance to play with makeup and try modeling". I completely agree with this article and loved hearing about Drew's opinion on the whole situation. Overall, I think that Drew Barrymore is a great celebrity endorser of CoverGirl products, and think that these advertisements will continue to be successful in the future.

Peer Response To Jenna's Post 2: Alton Brown for Welch's Grape Juice

In this post, Jenna discusses Alton Brown as a celebrity endorser of Welch's grape juice. She begins the blog by summarizing what the television commercial includes, and why she believes Alton was a good choice by the Welch's company to endorse this product. She then goes on to predict whether or not she thinks the commercial will be successful, and states that she believes that even though it is a relatively new advertisement that it will definitely increase the sales of Welch's grape juice because Alton Brown is a well known, knowledgeable, and credible food scientist and chef. Finally she gives the reader a link to a website further discussing the health benefits of grapes.

Jenna did a great job of getting her point across in not very many words. I felt like all of the information that was included in this post was relevant to the topic and brought something important to the article. Although she only gave a few benefits of grapes and grape juice at the end of the post, the article that she linked her post to provided more information and a more in depth analysis of why grapes and grape juice can be beneficial.

I believe that this post was very clear, concise, and convincing. I agree that Alton Brown was a great choice by Welch's to endorse their product. I enjoy watching his show on Food Network because he gives a lot of background information and scientific explanations as to why things work the way that they do while preparing certain foods. His scientific credibility gives this advertisement the appearance that the information presented during the commercial is valid and true. I enjoyed reading this post and think that overall Jenna did a good job presenting this information in a reader and audience friendly fashion.

Post 2: Comparing Two Online Articles

In recent years, the vitamin supplement business has turned into a multi-billion dollar a year phenomenon that has completely drawn the attention of the public and the media. There have been ongoing debates regarding the benefits of taking different vitamin supplements, and it seems that every day there is a new claim that taking some supplement will lower your risk of developing cancer or heart disease. As a result, many Americans are taking supplements left and right, thinking that they are making themselves healthier and less prone to developing these life threatening diseases. How do we know if there is any truth behind these claims? There have been arguments made both encouraging and discouraging supplement intake.

On the Nutritional Supplements Health Guide online, an article entitled "Nutritional Supplements: Yes, You Really Do Need Them! Here's Why" strongly supports the incorporation of nutritional supplements into ones everyday routine. This article explains that although someone may feel healthy without taking supplements, once a problem arises that person looks for a supplements to cure whatever sickness, aging, or weakness that they're experiencing. It then goes on to tell us that it is nearly impossible to maintain an nutritionally balanced diet in today's society. Along with our fast paced lifestyle comes lots of processed and fast food that isn't necessarily nutrient dense, and for these reasons, this article argues that nutritional supplements are the only way to help get the necessary vitamins and minerals that lots of us are lacking in our daily diets. Arguments are made stating that the intake of a good dietary supplement will help you overcome nutrient deficiencies, boost your immune system, minimize your risk for developing certain health problems such as heart disease and cancer, and get rid of toxins that we take in every day from processed and fast food sources.

Contrasting these ideas, the article entitled "Do You Need a Vitamin Supplement?" explains that we don't necessarily need to take a nutritional supplement. The author states that popping vitamins left and right isn't really beneficial. If water soluble vitamins (B and C) are taken in excess, whatever is not used is just excreted from our systems. Excess fat soluble vitamins (A, K, D, and E) are stored in the liver, and too much of these vitamins built up in our livers could lead to toxic results. Additionally, with some vitamins, a deficiency is rare. Having too much of these vitamins, or any vitamin, is not good for ones body. It is also pointed out that it is important to remember that nutritional supplements are made of synthetic, man-made materials, and may not be as beneficial as naturally occurring vitamins and minerals in food.

After reading both of these articles, it is clear that there are strong arguments made for both sides of this debate. It is hard to say which article is more convincing because both make some very good points supporting their side of the argument. If I had to choose one article to agree with I would probably choose the second article. Although it is clear that nutritional supplements may indeed be necessary for some people, I agree that taking more vitamins means that you're healthier than someone that isn't taking as many vitamins. I have always been skeptical of nutritional supplements and whether or not they are actually beneficial, and my views have always tended to agree with the second articles' arguments. I believe that although it is necessary to get sufficient amounts of all of our vitamins and minerals, and that it is relatively difficult for us to do that these days with all of the processed foods on the market, I don't think that taking an absurd amount of vitamin supplements is the best way to get those vitamins and minerals.