Anglia Ruskin University Public Speaking Reflection
ANSWER
The speech on “How to Reduce Plastic Pollution” effectively addresses a critical issue and presents a comprehensive overview of the problem, its sources, and potential solutions. Here is a reflection on what worked well and what could be improved:
What Worked:
- Engaging Introduction: The speech begins with a strong and engaging introduction that immediately grabs the audience’s attention. It highlights the importance of the issue and its relevance to everyone.
- Clear Structure: The speech is well-structured, with clear sections discussing the sources of plastic pollution and proposed solutions. This organization helps the audience follow the speaker’s argument.
- Informative Content: The speech provides valuable information about the sources of plastic pollution, including land-based and sea-based sources. It also highlights the issue of microplastics and the role of plastic production in pollution.
- Actionable Solutions: The speech offers practical solutions to reduce plastic pollution, such as reducing plastic consumption, recycling, and raising awareness. These solutions are tangible and achievable, giving the audience a sense of empowerment.
- Credible References: The use of academic references adds credibility to the speech and demonstrates that the information presented is based on scientific research.
What Didn’t Work:
- Lack of Personal Connection: While the speech effectively presents facts and solutions, it could benefit from a more personal touch. Sharing personal anecdotes or stories related to plastic pollution could make the issue more relatable to the audience.
- Visual Aids: Incorporating visual aids, such as images or diagrams, could enhance the audience’s understanding of the problem. Visuals can help illustrate the impact of plastic pollution and the importance of the proposed solutions.
- Engaging Conclusion: While the conclusion summarizes the main points, it could be more compelling. Ending with a call to action or an inspiring message could motivate the audience to take concrete steps to address plastic pollution.
- Time Management: Depending on the context and audience, the speech’s length might need adjustment. It’s important to ensure that the speech fits within the allotted time frame to maintain audience engagement.
In conclusion, the speech on reducing plastic pollution is informative and well-structured, but it could benefit from a more personal touch, visual aids, and a more engaging conclusion to inspire action. Overall, it effectively raises awareness about the issue and provides practical steps to address it.
Question Description
I’m working on a social science multi-part question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.
write a 250 word reflection on the speech detailing what worked and what didn’t. Attached is the speech
How to Reduce Plastic Pollution
Good morning! I’m here today to talk to you about an issue that affects all of us: plastic pollution. We live in an age where Plastic is everywhere, from shampoo bottles to fast food containers. The problem is that Plastic is not biodegradable and pollutes our planet. Plastic pollution has serious implications for our environment, health, and economy. Today, I’d like to share some ways to reduce plastic pollution.
First, let’s talk about the sources of plastic pollution. Plastic is everywhere, but it’s particularly prominent in our oceans, where it’s ingested by wildlife and can find its way into our food chain. Plastic pollution is also caused by improper disposal of Plastic waste, such as littering.
The primary sources of Plastic pollution are land-based sources, such as improper disposal of plastic waste, and sea-based sources, such as discarded fishing gear and vessels. Poorly managed waste from land-based activities, such as agricultural and urban runoff, can also contribute to Plastic pollution (Thushari et al., 2020). Another primary source is the release of microplastics from the breakdown of larger plastic objects such as bottles and packaging. These microplastics are tiny pieces of Plastic, too small to be seen with the naked eye, that enter the environment and can be ingested by wildlife (Fadare et al., 2020). Finally, the production of Plastic itself is a significant source of Plastic pollution, as the production process releases toxins and emissions into the environment.
So, what can we do to reduce Plastic pollution? One solution is to reduce our Plastic consumption. We can do this by using reusable bags at the grocery store, opting for glass or metal containers instead of Plastic, and saying no to single-use plastics like straws and food containers. Another solution is to recycle Plastic. By recycling Plastic, we can ensure it’s properly disposed of and reduce the amount of Plastic that ends up in landfills and our oceans.
Finally, we need to raise awareness about Plastic pollution. We need to educate people on the dangers of plastic pollution and the importance of reducing plastic consumption and adequately disposing of plastic waste (Marks et al., 2020). We also need to encourage businesses to reduce their plastic use and invest in more sustainable solutions.
In conclusion, plastic pollution is a severe problem that affects us all. We can reduce Plastic pollution by reducing our plastic consumption, recycling Plastic, and raising awareness about the issue. By taking these simple steps, we can help protect our environment, our health, and our economy. Thank you for your time and attention.
References
Thushari, G. G. N., & Senevirathna, J. D. M. (2020). Plastic pollution in the marine environment. Heliyon, 6(8), e04709.
Fadare, O. O., Wan, B., Guo, L. H., & Zhao, L. (2020). Microplastics from consumer plastic food containers: Are we consuming it?. Chemosphere, 253, 126787.
Marks, D., Miller, M. A., & Vassanadumrongdee, S. (2020). The geopolitical economy of Thailand’s marine Plastic pollution crisis. Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 61(2), 266-282.