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Martha Murphy

Dr. Erin Dietel-McLaughlin

Multimedia Writing and Rhetoric

24 April 2015

Ted Talk Reflective Essay

For my research essay, I originally did not know what direction to take because every

topic I considered had too broad of a scope to be researched and discussed. I arrived on the topic

of Rhetoric in Chicago Festivals because I love learning more about the city I grew up in, and I

could narrow my research down to just Lollapalooza and the Chicago Marathon. At first I had

issues making my topic debatable, and the project in its early stages was more of a report than a

debate. However, as I spent more time researching, I was able to develop the argument that these

festivals contribute a year-round presence and influence in the city, not just a 24 hour influence.

I began looking through festival websites, official photographs, apparel, and YouTube

channels to try and capture what the festival promoters were trying to get across to a young,

contemporary audience. I realized that these festivals are all similar in the way that they celebrate

Chicago’s unique identity and culture, and I was able to provide two excellent examples of this

by showcasing promotional materials from Lollapalooza and the Chicago Marathon. After

writing my research paper, it was just a matter of creating my visual presentation (the

PowerPoint slides). After I created my slides, I could easily figure out what I needed to say about

each slide and picture that corresponded with the information I had already presented in my

research paper.

I thought my performance was adequate, considering I’ve often had trouble with public

speaking in the past. However, I wish I would have stood closer to my audience, about two steps

forward, and I also think that walking around would have better engaged my audience. I talked

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very quietly so I wish I would have not been so shy and spoken up. Lastly, I used many verbal

fillers like “um” or “and” when I couldn’t think of what had planned to say. I think that if I

didn’t try and stick to a script I had prepared and just talked freely, I would have come off as

more natural and less nervous.