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Oral Presentation/Visual Projects

During the semester, you will need to complete one oral presentation or visual project related to the author or issues/themes from our readings. All projects must be completed within two weeks after we have studied an author and/or particular literature.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Biographies, historical backgrounds, skits, songs, performances (by you) and/or readings/interpretations (for drama and poetry) are just a few of the areas that you can consider for your oral presentations, which should be approximately five to ten minutes long (no longer than ten, please.) In your oral presentation, you can also include books, pictures, photos, maps, diagrams, or whatever else may help you captivate your audience. Tell me in advance if you need any audio/visual equipment.

NOTE: Group oral presentations can also be done, but see me first. Expect that you'll need more time if that's the case.

Your presentation will be evaluated on the following:

·        Usefulness and relevance of information to understanding the work/author (try focusing  on the issues that the author was primarily concerned about or significant events that affected his/her writing). DO NOT SIMPLY READ INFORMATION COPIED FROM A BOOK OR OTHER PUBLICATIONS. ALSO, AVOID PRESENTING A SIMPLE LIST OF DATES OR FACTS UNLESS THE INFO HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE AUTHOR AND HIS/HER WRITING.

·        Accuracy of information

·        Preparation of information (research, selecting and analyzing information before presenting it)

·        Presentation of information (be informative and lively!)

VISUAL PROJECTS

A visual project will enable you to exhibit an artistic response to the literature. You also won't have to speak as long in front of the class if that's a concern of yours. For the most part, a visual project allows for flexibility and more options (since you may create a project related to almost any area related to a particular reading and/or author). This project could be in one of the following forms:

1.       A collage that represents one or several themes, characters, events, etc. in the author's work

2.     Your own sketches, paintings, sculptures, photographs or other visual medium that depicts a relevant theme, event, character, etc. in the author's life or work

3.     A short video presentation in which you (and perhaps some other partners) are dramatizing, singing, or discussing the author or his/her work.

4.     A Web page:  see web projects from previous classes

5.  Any other visual representation that you can think of (see me first about your idea).

All projects will include an annotated bibliography/links page:

An annotated bibliography is a bibliography that includes explanatory and or critical notes about the text.  For this project you should have a separate page with: works cited (i.e. bibliography), works consulted (works you looked at and read but didn't cite from), and/or links (to sources you have gotten info from and links to sources for further information) all annotated by you.

Your visual project will be graded on the following:

·        Relevance to an aspect of the author's life and/or the author's work (i.e. themes, characters, events, etc.)

·        Originality and creativity of the project

·        Preparation and presentation invested in the project (You should be able to answer questions that I may have about your visual project and how it relates to the author's life or work).

Below you will find an incomplete list of possible subjects from which to choose; feel free to draw from ones that are not on the list. Remember that you can choose any topic that will enlighten the class about issues and themes related to our specific readings. Keep your books/titles/authors/in mind when selecting your topic/s, and reserve your topic and presentation time as soon as possible so that no one else will beat you to it!

Due dates for Oral/Visual Project:

Topic card:  You must turn in a topic card by the end of February to reserve/select your topic.  Write the topic that you would like to explore for your oral/visual project and turn it in to me as soon as you decide on your topic.  If I do not get a topic card from you by the end of Feb., I will assign you a topic.  If you are planning on working in groups, make sure you indicated that on your topic card.

Proposal:  Before you begin working on your project turn in a proposal to me stating what you plan to do for your project and what information you will cover.

Project dates:  Once I get all the topic cards, I will schedule the project dates.

Annotated bibliography:  The day of your presentation, turn in an annotated bibliography with at least five sources.