Listening to and Critiquing Public Speeches

Question 1 • *CR Speech (ELECTIVE, 1 semester, E6001OX)

Which of the following is not an example of an effective critique of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech?

Answer

I could tell he was passionate about his topic, but I found Dr. King’s speech to be too long and, at times, rather boring.

One can feel Dr. King’s passion for his topic, however the introduction to his talk could have been shortened in order to better keep the audience engaged.

Though, at times, wordy, Dr. King’s passion for his topic and the historical and religious imagery he uses evoke strong emotion and keep his audience engaged.

All of the above are effective critiques.

Explanation

An effective critique should give specific, constructive feedback and explain how a feature affects the speech or audience. Choice A calls the speech “too long” and “boring” without identifying what could be improved or supporting that judgment. Choice B suggests a specific change to the introduction, while choice C recognizes strengths and notes a possible weakness, so A is not an effective critique.

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