English Oral Presentation of Final Paper

Oral Presentation of Final Paper

The Details

·      Individual presentations of final papers will take place April 21-28

·      Time limit: Ten minutes long including Q&A

·      This is worth 10%; no need to send me your slides or presentation notes

·      You will receive a presentation grade from me with my notes via email

Assignment Objectives

·      Enhance self-confidence speaking to an audience

·      Improve communications skills

·      Demonstrate depth, mastery and understanding of your topic

·      Transfer and apply your written argument into an oral one (through structure and delivery)

·      Convince or move people to thoughtfully consider your position/topic; call to action

Helpful Tips

·      Use pathos, logos, ethos where it makes sense in your presentation

·      Utilize verbal signals and cues throughout your presentation

o   “My first point...”

o   “Another example...”

o   “Finally, to summarize/or conclude”

·      Simplify your language – save the flowery stuff for the paper.

·      Be strategically repetitive

o   “This is what I’m going to tell you...now here’s me telling you, and, finally, this is what I’ve just told you.”

·      You must include your opposing argument

·      Make a judgment call on how much your readers may generally know about the topic (GMOs vs. drinking age) and make sure your presentation addresses that

·      Practice. For delivery, flow and making sure you’re staying within the allotted time. (Note cards are okay to use during your presentation)

·      Finish strong – include a succinct wrap up, pose one thoughtful question at the end and then ask for any general questions

Use of Visuals

Visuals shouldn’t be your entire presentation; they should augment it.

o   PowerPoint, Prezi, Word Cloud, photographs, etc.

o   Slides – quick bullets, no long paragraphs, don’t write me a novel

o   Include your visual if your essay option includes one

o   If you’re not using a visual, consider finding one that captures your topic

RUBRIC

In a nutshell:

Hook. Inform. Persuade/Engage/Inspire. Acknowledge. Conclude.

What I’ll be looking for:

·      Hook (reel me in)  - Consider highlighting a fact that is staggering, surprising or sobering or kick off with a video/audio clip or image

·      Clear presentation of thesis that is well-crafted and hammered home

·      Main points well organized and put together

o   Your paper and presentation do not have to be necessarily identical. They will be graded independently of each other. So if there is some information that you came across that translates well for a presentation, you don’t have to include it in your final paper (and vice versa).

·      Use of supporting evidence and examples

·      Smart use of time/within time limit

o   At 10 minutes long for a 6 page paper, this should be an abbreviated and refined version of your written paper. Be discerning and pick and choose what to include for what could be rhetorically effective from a visual/oral perspective, but also make sure you’re still presenting a complete, cohesive argument.

·      Thoughtful utilization and integration of visual aids

·      Persuasive, Engaging, Inspiring – show off your ethos/logos/pathos mastery here

·      Acknowledgement and refutation of opposing argument

·      Delivery

o   Eye contact, engaging, confidence in topic