Speech on medical errors.
Sam wanted to present a speech on medical errors. He has procrastinated. Two days before the speech, he realized that no matter how hard he worked, his speech would be weak, and he could not do it justice. Instead of choosing a less technical topic or narrowing to one specific kind of medical mistake, he decided to push through it. He could make up for the scant and superficial content by wearing hospital scrubs, borrowed from his brother-in-law, and by sliding his glasses down his nose to make it easier to see his notecards and to match the stereotype of a health care provider.
1. Did Sam treat the audience with respect?
2. Name several things Sam should have done differently.
3. What would you do if you were Sam’s instructor?
Sample Solution
No, Sam did not treat his audience with respect. By procrastinating and then delivering a weak and superficial speech, he showed that he did not value their time or attention. Additionally, by dressing in hospital scrubs and sliding his glasses down his nose, he was playing into stereotypes about healthcare providers and implying that he was an expert on the topic of medical errors, even though he was not.Full Answer Section
Name several things Sam should have done differently.
Here are several things Sam could have done differently:
- He could have started working on his speech sooner.
- He could have chosen a less technical topic or narrowed to one specific kind of medical mistake.
- He could have done more research on the topic and prepared a more in-depth speech.
- He could have practiced his speech beforehand to make sure he was comfortable with it.
- He could have delivered his speech without the hospital scrubs and the glasses-sliding gimmick.
3. What would you do if you were Sam’s instructor?
If I were Sam's instructor, I would first try to understand why he procrastinated. Once I understood the root cause of the problem, I could work with Sam to develop strategies for avoiding procrastination in the future. I would also help Sam to develop a better understanding of the importance of respecting his audience and delivering a high-quality speech.
Specifically, I might do the following:
- Talk to Sam about his procrastination habits and see if we can identify any triggers or patterns.
- Help Sam to develop a realistic timeline for completing future tasks.
- Encourage Sam to break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
- Provide Sam with resources and support to help him stay on track.
- Help Sam to develop good study and research habits.
- Talk to Sam about the importance of respecting his audience and delivering a high-quality speech.
- Encourage Sam to practice his speech beforehand and to get feedback from others.
- Help Sam to develop effective presentation skills.
I would also want to make sure that Sam understands that I am there to support him and help him to succeed. I would let him know that it is okay to ask for help if he needs it.