Constructive Critique on Public Speaking

Tavon Hawkins UMUC SPCH100 Constructive Critique Introduction: Dr. Pausch lost his battle with cancer, but his legacy lives on through his achievements and in the countless number of students who were fortunate to learn from such an extraordinary individual. Dr. Randy Pausch was a widely respected professor from the University of Carnegie Mellon. He co-founded the entertainment technology center in 1999 and he spearheaded the creation of the Alice Project, a program that aids in the learning of computer science academics. Dr. Pausch has received numerous accolades from his work and dedication to his students. He has appeared on many television shows like Good Morning America and the Oprah show. To this day people are still recounting the lessons learned from Dr. Pausch. In a recent video interview highlighted on the Oprah’s website, one lady stated what she thought was so meaningful to her about Dr. Pausch and his lectures as his amazing outlook on life and his appreciation for every aspect of his life. These qualities are witness in his 2008 lecture nicknamed the Last Lecture. Throughout the lecture Dr. Pausch showcased his ability to reach out to his audience. He and captured their imagination with his humor and enthusiasm despite begin diagnosed with cancer six months earlier. Because of the importance and popularity of this inspiring lecture I will provide a critique of Dr. Pausch ability to deliver his massage to his audience and analyze his public speaking mechanics. More specifically I will look at the way he keeps the audience engaged and what are the areas he could improve. Strengths noted: From the moment the lecture began I was hooked. Dr. Pausch did not waste any time keeping the audience engaged and keeping them marveling at the foundations of his strength despite his diagnosis. After the standing applause, Dr. Pausch told his listeners to “make me earn”. This mindset shows that he cares about the

Bibliography: http://youtu.be/j7zzQpvoYcQ http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture/story/index.html http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Lessons-Learned-from-Randy-Pausch-Video http://www.etc.cmu.edu/site/ _____________________________________________________