Assigned: Monday, March 3
Due: ideally, within a week or so after the event

Presentation Critique

Attend a technical/ business/ scientific/ professional presentation. For example, go to a lecture sponsored by Krannert, a seminar in your department, a reading by a creative writer, etc. Do not use a session of a class for this assignment; the presentation should be a one-time event or part of a lecture series.

Write me a memo in which you summarize and evaluate the presentation. The summary should make it clear to me what the speaker said; the critique should include both strengths/ things you liked and weaknesses/ things that annoyed you.

Evaluation can focus on any or all of the following:

• content (was it interesting? audience-appropriate?)
• organization (did the speaker have a clear intro, conclusion, and transitions? What pattern was used in the body?)
• delivery (how effective? Did you notice any bad habits?)
• handling of questions
• use of technology/ visual aids (If the speaker used Powerpoint, how effectively?)

(The book has an evaluation form on pp. 457-58 you may find helpful in planning your memo)