Presentation Assignment Example (introduction

to students ) sessions 1&2 

The following is an example of an individual presentation assignment and a
group presentation. The individual presentation assignment explains that
students will give two presentations over the semester on a topic of the
student's choice. The student should submit a 1 to page paper explaining the
presentation also. The group presentation provides four areas of focus:
interpretive approach, important issues raised by the text, a comparison to
another work, and using a scholarly source to further understand the work. A
handout follows the assignment that clearly explains the criteria.
1. You will each be responsible for giving two presentations this
semester.  The presentations should be between five and ten minutes
long, and the topics will be of your own choosing.  Along with each
presentation, please submit a 1-2 page paper that summarizes your
topic.  I will return these to you with comments and a grade for your
efforts.  Please take these presentations seriously as we will often use
them as starting point for our class discussions.

2. The collaborative group presentation will require you to:

1)share your interpretive approach; i.e., explain how you accessed the text to
make it “mean.”  For example, was your interpretation influenced by one of the
formal features of the novel (plot, point of view, etc.), by the presence of
certain ideas or beliefs you related to, or a critical approach that helped you dis-
entangle the complexities of the narrative?

2) identify, for discussion, the important issues and questions raised by the text;

3) contextualize the reading by relating it to another work by the same author,

another contemporary text that invites comparison in terms of shared ideas,
themes and "horizons" that respond in some way to the major concerns of the
core text, or by locating it in some literary or paraliterary movement;

4) summarize a scholarly response to the work and try to identify the author’s
critical approach.

Guidelines for Presentations

Equal Participation
Each team member should contribute equally. Teams will compile a list of
major topics to be covered in their presentation, and assign one to each member
to research and present. Each member should speak for approximately three to
five minutes. The presentation can reflect the diversity of viewpoints of the
presenters. Designate one team member as the team leader. This person will be
responsible for introducing the presentation as a whole, and each presenter. The
team leader will also summarize the presentation at its conclusion, and lead a
class discussion.
Grading
Since grading is based on the presentation as a whole, team members should
notify the professor before the date of the presentation if any member does not
do their share. Shyness or stumbling do not negatively affect the grade.
Prepare Handouts
Team members may decide among themselves how to distribute the work of
preparing the following information sheets.
1. Things to Know -- One to two sheets listing major facts relevant
to your topic, significant concepts, key points, terminology with
definitions, and other interesting points of information_
2. Quotes -- One sheet containing salient quotes from your readings,
with explanations of their significance.
3. References -- A compilation of references used for the
presentations, including two or more for each presenter, written in MLA
style, with one sentence summarizing the content of the text.
Format
Many students elect to use PowerPoint. This is not absolutely required, but
provision of some visual aids is helpful.
Class Presentation
Talk to us, don't read. You may use notes when you make your presentation,
but you may not read from a fully written out text.
Here is one way to make a successful presentation:
1. Do plenty of reading and research. Explore the topic as fully as
possible. Make notes.
2. Read over your notes, and think over the results of your reading.
3. Discuss your results with your team members. Tentatively plan
the presentation in its general outlines.
4. On your own again, and setting notes aside, brainstorm and write
down all the interesting ideas that you have come up with.
5. Organize these ideas into a coherent sequence. Return to your
notes and add any information relevant to your major ideas which will
illustrate or explain them..
6. Add an introduction, which tells what you will talk about, and a
conclusion which sums up what you have discussed and learned. Cut out
any irrelevant or uninteresting material.
7. Meet with your team members to organize and streamline the
presentation.
8. Visualize yourself giving a talk to the class, going through all
these ideas, in a comfortable and relaxed fashion. If you wish, practice
talking about your subject to a mirror.
9. Using only brief notes, give your presentation to the class and
have fun!
 10. The team leader will also prepare a short general introduction to
the presentation, lead-ins for each individual presenter, and a very brief
possible conclusion, which may change according to how the
presentations unfold.
Discussion Topic
Prepare three possible questions with which to lead a class discussion_
Designate one team member as the discussion leader. Other team members
may contribute to the discussion, but the discussion leader will be responsible
for organizing and controlling the discussion. Lead a discussion utilizing your
prepared questions, along with any others which have occurred to you during
the presentation. Conclude your presentation by opening the floor for questions
and comments from the class audience.