The following are samples of weekly journal entries. Names have been changed.
Week 1 Journal Entry
Dr. Byers,
What makes a great lecture?
A great lecture inspires me. It opens my eyes to a new concept in a way that is entertaining and exciting for me. In my paper this week I talked about lectures being boring when the speaker does not do a very good job presenting. Unfortunately I have been to a lot of those. I remember one in particular…
It was the summer before my senior year in high school and I was nominated to attend Girls State. I enjoyed most aspects of this experience. I passed the bar exam, and was elected to the Senate, where I wrote laws and voted on very important pieces of legislature. We even went to our state capitol building and actually passed bills in the State Senate, of Kansas. This was all very exciting for me because I love to argue, I am very good at it, and I am usually right. I have always been interested in politics, law, and government. Interested in the fact that everyone in Washington needs to be fired and kicked out on the fat padded wallet butts. Interested because I am all for change and making a difference in the good of communities. Overall, this experience remains a positive memory I will never forget.
However, a large part of this conference was attending speaker after speaker after speaker and a huge lecture hall on the University of Kansas campus. I don’t think I feel asleep during all of the speakers, but I remember a couple distinctly who might as well put on classical music, dimmed the lights, and sang me a lullaby, because I was out like a baby.
Some speakers get so wrapped up in the information that they totally disregard the delivery! To me the most important part is the delivery. You can have spectacular information but no one is going to remember it if they can’t hear you, they can barely see you, and the delivery sucks. I would love to pass a law that requires all speakers to pass a course on delivery. Voice lessons, body language, clear speaking, visual aids, are all valuable tools in a speakers tool box.
Needless to say, I would rather go get my wisdom teeth pulled with no Novocain than have to set through a bad speech, lecture, or presentation. If you are passionate about something than those emotions should translate through your speech. If it makes you angry be angry. If it makes you happy, than for God sakes jump for joy. Raise your voice, lower your voice, move around the stage, didn’t they teach you to have a stage presence in drama?
When I set through a speech I expect to be moved. Take me on an emotional journey with you. Enlighten me, inspire me, teach me, entertain me, and I will never forget your lecture. Add some spice to the presentation. Liven things up. Be bold.
If you recall in my previous journal entries I have mentioned the names Dave Ramsey and Randy Pausch. These are two teachers who have not only inspired me, but have left a permanent mark in my mind and soul about what they taught. Dave Ramsey is a financial guru who became a millionaire only to hit rock bottom, and become a multi-millionaire again. I have read his books, listened to his radio show, and attended his Financial Peace University class. He is an excellent presenter. He tells jokes, he is relatable, and he is knowledgeable and factual. I have been following his teaching for about four years now. I wouldn’t keep listening to him if I thought he was boring! He makes sense to me because he teaches in a way that is easy for me to understand. All my learning styles are stimulated while listening/watching him speak.
Randy Pausch was a Carnegie Melon professor that developed pancreatic cancer, and lost his battle after about 9 months or so of suffering. Carnegie Melon does this thing where they ask professors, if they could only give one last “lecture”, what we the lecture on. Ironically this was literally Randy’s last lecture do to his circumstances. He used a power point presentation to assist him with his last lecture which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes in length. You can imagine how many slides that took! His presentation was so powerful and inspiring he became a national sensation when it went viral on the internet. I love the beginning and the end, but in the middle he gets a little lengthy and detailed with animation, which is cool, but makes it very long. I have watched the whole thing through roughly about 5 or 6 times. But more often than not, I will listen to about the first 20 minutes and the last 20 minutes because I think that is where the guts of his message lye.
I have given you two examples of excellent presenters. These teachers are able to deliver their message in a way that changes the audiences’ perspective. I can honestly say that these two speakers, teachers, mentors, have changed my life for the better. Before them I was wondering aimlessly through life like Gomer Pyle, and then I heard their messages and said “schazam”! It’s like a light bulb went off in my head right then and there. At that very moment I grew up. My head got screwed on a little straighter. Their messages are now ingrained into my head. They are a part of me and they are something I will pass down to my kids.
So you see that is what makes a great speaker. That is what separates the “teachers” and the person that just stands up there and moves their lips but you can’t hear any words come out because they lost the audience. I am a fan of an excellent speaker who can sell you on their presentation. I am not a fan of someone that thinks it is acceptable to just get up there and mumble your way through it and put me to sleep. There is a big difference.
Thank you, Jennifer
