Presentation Guide

Each student must give one presentation and write one in-class essay during the course of the year. If you choose to do a presentation one term you must write the in-class essay the next term and vice versa. Students who choose to write the test during the first term will write on Jane Eyre on 11 October; the same students must choose a presentation date during the second term, the topics determined by the work indicated for each day on the syllabus.  Students who choose to write the test second term will write on The Princess on 5 February; the same students must choose a presentation date during the first term.  Please notify me--in class, in my office, or by email--of your presentation/test choice by Thursday 13 September.  This is first come, first served, so the sooner you let me know your presentation topic, the more likely you are to get your preferred topic.  Have a second choice ready. 

You may present individually, in pairs or in groups of three, but if you decide to join forces with other students, be prepared to double or triple your efforts in terms of how long you take to present and the depth into which you go.  Your presentation will shape our class for that particular day through your response to critical material.  You will need to go to the library and find one book OR one article of literary criticism, and use that particular critic as a way into the work.  You may use Internet sources as supplements to your library sources, not in place of them.  Your presentation of this material should be guided by four points:

1.  Explain what the critic argues.

2. Indicate whether you agree with this argument and explain why or why not.

3. Indicate what you see in the work with which this particular critic does not deal.

4. Explain why you think your perspective is significant in terms of what we gain from reading the text on the course.

These are broad indicators that should lead you to other details.  You may encourage questions at any point, but please be prepared to take the helm for 20 minutes (40 minutes if you are teamed up with someone and the entire class if you are a group).  When I grade an essay, I look for specific features: accuracy in content, clarity of expression, and a university level writing style. When I grade the presentation, I look for similar but not identical elements: quality research, good knowledge of the material, an organized outline or handout, and clear delivery.  You may use any of the following to help you to deliver your presentation: PowerPoint, an overhead projector, plain paper, or chalk. 

Grading Details

1.Outline: This is important. Your presentation should be outlined in enough detail to allow you to present the material in a logical order. If you are using Power Point the outline can appear as part of  your presentation; if you are using paper, please provide your fellow students with an outline. 

2.Scholarly Research: Please do not substitute Internet sources for library sources.  Avoid full text articles on line and come to the presentation with the physical book or paper.  You may supplement your research book/paper with information gleaned from the Internet: images, text, sound, film etc.

3.Comprehension: You want to demonstrate an overall understanding of the criticism and of the work we are scrutinizing together. You may be unable to answer someone’s query, but often the difficult questions indicate a good presentation that has engaged everyone.  However, you do want to convey to us that you have done your homework and that you have thought your way carefully through what you want to say.

4.Delivery: Most of us are a little nervous when we are on the line, but keep in mind that we as a class have a common goal—to work together to discuss some interesting implications of some interesting literature. Avoid reading your way through long documents, and if you are using PowerPoint or an overhead, avoid typing in long quotations or passages to read to the class. PowerPoint should be in point form, and it should act as a check list or outline to emphasize your main points without forming the “text” of your talk.  If you have prepared well for the presentation, nervousness won’t get in the way.