WRT 205, Sect. 270, Spring 2008, Syracuse University
Fourth graded assignment
Oral presentation
Assignment: Working with the other members of your research team, make an oral presentation of some aspect of your research. Although the topic you choose may come from a single members' research, I am hoping that it will combine the work of several or all members of the group. In any case, everyone in the group is expected to help develop the material. The group can decide whether all of them, some of them, or just one of them do the actual presentation.
Choosing the topic: Your purpose in this presentation is not to entertain but to share something that is both specific and of potential value to your classmates. That means you will have to figure out ways of commanding and holding their attention, and helping them understand what you are saying.
Working with me: Feel free to email or IM me while you're working on this or any assignment. I try to answer IM messages immediately and email eithin 24 hours. I also maintain office hours and will be glad to meet with you.
More resources: There's a handout (Howard, "Oral Presentations") in the Assigned Readings subfolder of the Documents folder on Blackboard. You may also benefit from browsing the riches at the Presentation Zen weblog. I've bookmarked some additional resources on my del.icio.us account.
Length: April 10, 15, 17
Length: 15-20 minutes. At 21 minutes, I'll call a halt to the presentation.
Grading: My chief criteria will be whether the topic is well focused and worthwhile for your audience; whether it is presented in a comprehensible manner; whether the presentation holds the audience's attention; and whether it's within the time limit.
Each presentation will receive a single grade unless the group has decided in advance that shirkers will receive reduced grades or zeroes. When the same presentation is made in both sections of the course, each will be graded separately.
Part of your presentation grade will be based on your audience participation.