Goals:
Class: Expos 20: Paradox in Public Health
Introduction/Background: This course introduces freshman to writing at the college level. Students read and write about paradoxes in public health, such as between personal choice and population health. Near the end of the course, students work on a final research paper. To help them draft a workable argument for their paper, students are instructed to give an “elevator pitch” of their paper idea to their peers.
An “elevator pitch” is a short summary of an idea that is explained to someone verbally. The name comes from the premise that the speaker has the duration of an elevator ride with a colleague (or perhaps a boss they want to impress!) to communicate their idea clearly and succinctly. Generally, an elevator pitch takes from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
Procedure:
Students are working toward a final research paper.
1) Pitcher: In 2 minutes, they present their paper idea, research context, and try to persuade the audience of their idea.
2) Skeptic: After the “Pitcher” ends, the Skeptic takes 2 minutes the Pitcher about points that did not make sense.
3) Mirror: This person takes notes on the presentation and the pitcher’s response to questions. By recording and giving a summary of this conversation, they will be able to provide a clearer sense of what needs to be articulated differently and how that could be done more effectively.
Materials
Handout
Timer or clock for the instructor to give time signals
Comments:
Submitted by Jerusha Achterberg, Preceptor, Harvard Writing Program, with credit to Adrienne Tierney and David Hahn, Harvard Writing Program
elevator pitch.pdf | 99 KB |