Vital Statistics:

Due Date:

• Presentation: the day we begin the work you've chosen to present on. 
• Handout: one class period before we begin the work you've chosen to present on.
• Reaction paper:  one class period after you present.

Length:

• Presentation: 20-25 minutes
• Handout: 2 pages minimum
• Reaction paper: 300 word minimum.

Group Requirements: You must work in groups of two or three.

Research Requirements: Considerable.  See below.

Other Requirements: The group, or representatives from the group, must meet with me in my office to discuss your research and what your presentation will include.  You may not present unless you have met with me.

Available Topics:  See grid below.

Questions: Come see me in my office, or e-mail me at whennequin at mytsu dot tnstate dot edu.

Directions

This assignment has three parts: a presentation, a handout, and a reaction paper.

Part I: The Presentation

Create a 20-25 minute presentation with a handout on one of the works we'll be covering in class.  You must work in groups of two or three.  You may choose whichever work you'd like, but only one group may do any given work.  First come, first serve.

You must submit to me in writing and present to the class:

1. An annotated list of the 5 best scholarly sources in which to look for further information (in MLA format).  Specifically, find and review 5 (minimum) sources about your author/text to create a 5-entry annotated bibliography. 
   • Your sources must be scholarly, critical resources.
   • Do not use general encyclopedias, in print or on-line such as Wikipedia, Encarta, or Encyclopedia Britannica, or "cheat" sources like Cliff Notes, Spark Notes, and Master Plots.  Using these sources incurs a 10 point penalty per source!
   • Your bibliographic entries must be in MLA format.
   • For an example of an annotated bibliography, see http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill28.htm.
   • For further information on MLA format, see Frequently Asked Questions about MLA Style and http://wwwold.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/ .
2. History, chronology, and important dates.  What is going in the time and place when the work was produced?  How did the history of the time affect the work?  How does the work fit into world literature and the course?  What works influenced this one? 
3. A glossary of important terms and concepts, such as new or specific vocabulary to the work or the culture which produced it; you can also include cultural or literary concepts. 
4. Important patterns, ideas, images, and / or themes.  What patterns do you see emerging in the work?  What sort of images or ideas are dwelt upon or repeated?  What moral points is the author trying to make?

You may, if you wish, use the media available in our classroom for your presentation.  You have available to you a computer, a VCR, a DVD player, and a CD player.  You may also make a podcast of your presentation if you wish.

Part II: The Handout

Create a handout specifically for our class to accompany your presentation.  The handout must:

• Cover the highlights of your presentation.  What do you want your audience to remember?  What are the most important facts /  ideas / terms?
• Include your sources.  Use proper MLA format.  Failure to include sources or cite properly is plagiarism.
• Be organized, clear, and easy to use.  Your information isn't useful if people can't access or understand it.
• Meet professional standards for writing.  Use proper grammar and syntax; spell words correctly.  Proofread your handout to make sure.

Give this handout to me at least one class period in advance so that I can have it copied for class.  No, you do not have to pay for copies.

Part III: The Reaction Paper

In 300-500 word paper, evaluate your group's performance during the presentation.  Some brainstorming questions:

• How successful did you think your group’s overall performance was?
• What could have been better and why?
• How effective was the presentation in terms of content? Applicability to the class?
• How did the presentation tie into our course material (be as specific as possible)? "Performance"?
• What could have been improved? How and why?

Be focused, organized, clear, and coherent.  I grade this paper on its writing quality as well as its ideas.

Grading

The presentation and handout will be receive one grade.  All members of the group will receive the same grade.  All students viewing the presentation will have the chance to evaluate it; these evaluations will affect the grade, but I will assign the final grade.

The reaction paper will receive a separate grade.  Each member of the group will receive a grade based on the quality of his or her own writing, including ideas, organization, clarity, support, and mechanics. 

Available Topics