THE LAST LECTURE By Randy Pausch English 3

THE LAST LECTURE By Randy Pausch English 3 B: The Last Unit!

PLEASE VIEW THE HANDOUT: Guide to classroom discussions: You will be graded on how you interact, participate, and lead our discussion today.

RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING: 1. Don’t complain, just work harder. 2. Look for the best in everybody. 3. Watch what they do, not what they say. 4. Loyalty is a two-way street. 5. A bad apology is worse than no apology.

READ PAGES IX - 18 Respond to the following question: Randy decided to begin his talk in a specific way—showing his CT scans, introducing the “elephant in the room, ” assuring everyone he is not in denial, and doing push-ups. What made this effective? What were you thinking reading this for the first time?

READ PAGES 19 -26 Journal #1: 250 words Randy said he realized many of his dreams because he had terrific parents. What details from his childhood do you think led to the successes he had later in life? Are there lessons in Randy’s story for people who’ve had less-fulfilling childhoods or absentee parents? What advice might you give to those who didn’t win “the parent lottery? ”

READ 27 -30 Think back to when you were little. If your parents allowed you to paint your bedroom any way you wanted, what would you do? Draw a picture of what your bedroom walls would have looked like in your “kid” room.

READ THROUGH PAGE 39 Randy believes our critics are often the ones saying they still care about us. How, in your life, has a critic helped you become a better person? What are the fundamentals of life? Use the class discussion rubric to talk about your main points after outlining your own thoughts.

READ THROUGH PAGE 54 What are the “brick walls” you have faced in your life, and how did you get over or around them? Write a 200 word journal in Google Docs about your struggles.

READ THROUGH PAGE 84 Randy reminds us that even life’s wonderful events – weddings, births– are fraught with unexpected dangers What did you learn from the way Randy and Jai handle the problems before them? Outline your personal thoughts, group with two others and make an outline of your groups’ thoughts, and be prepared for a class discussion following the class discussion rubric.

READ THROUGH PAGE 102 It is clear that Randy and Jai have a deep love for one another. Yet, like other couples, they have had to work hard on their relationship. Randy’s illness created additional challenges. By reading how they have faced the issues between them, what have you learned about: Getting along with others Mutual respect Power of love Using Google Docs, write 3 paragraphs on these topics. Make the paragraphs 3 SOLID paragraphs without worrying about word count.

READ THROUGH PAGE 133 Randy missed the 1969 moonwalk because he was sent to bed by the camp counselors. Have you ever wished adults in your life were less rigid? What advice would you give to adults about helping kids to dream big? Brainstorm a list of tips and be prepared to share in class.

READ THROUGH PAGE 153 Do you agree with Randy that handwritten thank-you notes, even in our computer age, can offer a kind of magic? When was the last time you sent a handwritten thank you? You task is to write a thank you note to someone who has influenced your life. You must turn it in for credit, and then you must deliver it or mail it.

READ THROUGH PAGE 182 OK, so which one are you? Why? If you’d like to be more of a Tigger, how might you go about that? Vice versa?

READ THROUGH THE END Randy realized that he didn’t give the lecture because he wanted to. He gave it because he “had to. ” Are there things inside of you that “need to come out? ” As you read this final chapter of the book, what were the emotions you were feeling? How would you describe the legacy of Randy Pausch? Write a Google Docs journal for me. I am expecting quality without regards to word count or length.

FINAL EXAM 1. Make a list of 15 lessons you have learned throughout your life. 2. Create your own “LAST LECTURE. ” Create a Google Presentation using these 15 lessons as individual slides… 15 content slides total. Give your “LAST LECTURE” on our Final exam day. You have the rest of the class time to create your lecture.