Assignment Guidelines:

Watch the TED Talk at the link below:

http://www.ted.com/talks/joe_kowan_how_i_beat_stage_fright

The transcript is available on that link as well. After hearing the narrative of Joe Kowan and his struggle with stage fright, answer the following questions in a quality written essay (not just numbering and answering the questions). Your paper should be thesis-driven, as all essays and structured communication is. The following questions should be answered at some point in your reflection.

1. How does audience connection play into speech delivery? How has it helped or hindered a speech? How does the audience's presence enhance or diminish speaking anxiety and apprehension?

2. Can we ever get rid of anxiety? How does objectification of the biological responses that we are receiving help us control what is happening?

3. How does owning the experience and the performance of public speaking allow us to control the anxiety?

a. What role does storytelling play in this act of owning your experience?

As you can see this TED Talk really tied in our material from the very beginning of the semester as well as each of your experiences in every speech, activity, and assignment we did. Really take a step back and look at the larger picture that has come full circle throughout this semester. Think about your own level of apprehension, what you've observed as an audience member, and how our stories are an extension of experience that we invite our audience to join along in.

This extra credit is worth 15 points and is due on our final class session. ONLY HARD COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. NO ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ALLOWED.