Section: Writing Name:
Heading: The Last Lecture Viewing Questions Date:
Synopsis:
On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch gave a speech at Carnegie Mellon University as part of an annual series known as “The Last Lecture.” Those who give a last lecture are asked, “What would you say if you knew you were going to die and had a chance to sum up everything that was most important to you?” Having been told just one month earlier that his pancreatic cancer was terminal, this question was not hypothetical for Randy. He died on July 25, 2008. Randy’s lecture, titled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” and his book, titled The Last Lecture, are the basis for this activity.
Preview Questions: Respond to all of the following questions. Use complete sentences.
1. Do you think it’s important to achieve your childhood dreams? Why or why not?
2. What have you learned from experiences with failure?
3. How open are you to feedback about yourself from others? Do you think feedback is helpful? Why or why not?
4. What is the most important life lesson you’ve learned so far?
Post-view Questions: After watching The Last Lecture, respond to all of the following questions. Use complete sentences.
1. What are your overall impressions of Randy Pausch and The Last Lecture? Include specific details to support your ideas.
2. Randy Pausch uses the term “head fake” as a metaphor for the idea that most of what we learn, we learn indirectly. For example, while learning to play football, one learns teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance. Describe an instance when you learned something indirectly. Do you think that learning indirectly—through a “head fake”—is more enjoyable and more enduring? Why or why not?
3. In his lecture, Randy Pausch says that brick walls are there to let us prove how badly we want things. He also sees the value in being blocked by a brick wall—in failure—because, as he says, “failure is where most of the learning occurs” and “experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.” Have you ever encountered a brick wall? How did you handle it? What did you learn?
4. In his lecture, Randy Pausch talked about approaching life as a Tigger (versus an Eeyore). Do you tend to be more Tigger-ish (optimistic) or more Eeyoreish (pessimistic)? Explain using an example from your life.
5. Randy Pausch emphasizes the importance of hard work. He says, “Be prepared—luck is where preparation meets opportunity.” What does Randy mean? Give examples of situations from your own life in which preparation did or did not meet opportunity.
6. If you were asked to give a “Last Lecture,” what would you talk about? What important
messages would you want to communicate to others?