CLASS PRESENTATIONS

OVERVIEW: Each of you will be responsible for introducing the class to one of the major writers on our course syllabus.  On the day that writer is scheduled to be discussed, you will need to give a 10-minute presentation that does the following:

• Gives a brief biography of the author.
• Offers an overview of his or her role in American history and/or literature.
• Provides an annotated bibliography that includes eight academic articles and two web sites that offer significant information about or interpretations of the author and his or her works.
• Reviews several significant interpretations or issues associated with the author.
• Answers questions from the class.

PURPOSE: As honors students, each of you deserves the opportunity to become the class' designated specialist on a specific author.  While your classmates will have read the assigned texts associated with your author, only you will have done any significant reading of secondary sources.  Given that advantage, you will play a significant role in framing the class discussion about that author that will follow your presentation.  Your overview of the critical response to the author, along with your annotated bibliography, may also spark the interests of your classmates as they select topics for their own papers in the course or choose which essays to write on the midterm or final exams.  In short, you will be the teacher for those ten minutes.  Make it worth your classmates' time.

EXPECTATIONS:  You will be graded on the following criteria:

• Professionalism (10 Points)
• Demonstrate a clear familiarity with material beyond reading notes aloud.
• Use some kind of note system to organize talk.
• Reach the target time of 10 minutes (+/- 30 seconds) without excessive use of filler.
• Speak with confidence, engaging the class with eye contact, body language, and tone.
• Wear business-appropriate attire.
• PowerPoint presentations are neither required nor expected.  Should one be used, it should be posted to the "Presentation Materials" thread on the class discussion board.  Use of a USB drive is also encouraged.  Please email Dr. Halbert the night before to make sure he turns on the computer and project at the start of class to avoid delays.

• Biographical Overview (20 points)
• Give standard overview of demographics (place of birth, race/ethnicity, gender, religion, social class, education level, date of birth/death, family information, key jobs held, etc.)
• Identify significant life events relevant to the author's historical significance or literary work
• Situate the author in a historical context by identifying connections to other major figures, significance influences upon the author, figures influence by the author, etc.
• Move beyond the introductory essay in the textbook.

• Annotated Bibliography (20 points)
• Present eight academic articles between 15 and 30 pages in length that were not assigned on the syllabus.  Chapters from books are acceptable.
• Include two significant web sites relevant to the author.
• Give correct MLA citations for each article and web site.
• Provide a 5 to 7-sentence paragraph summary of each article or web site immediately below the MLA citation.  Article summaries must identify the central thesis of the article.  Web summaries should include unique resources provided by the site.
• Supply paper copies to each class member and the instructor.  Digital copies are to be posted in the "Presentations Materials" discussion board forum.

• Critical Responses to Author (40 points)
• Provide an overview of the major interpretations, theories, and controversies about the author found in the academic literature about his or her work.
• Present these issues in a logical order rather than simply listing them.
• Note that not every issue found in your annotated bibliography needs to be part of the presentation.

• Q&A Period (10 points)
• Offer clear and specific answers to questions.
• Avoid fabricating an answer without actual knowledge to support your statement.
• Develop a strategy to deal with questions you cannot answer that is both polite and honest.
• Handle hostile questions or statements with dignity and grace.

SIGNING UP FOR AUTHORS: At 7PM on Monday, January 27, 2014, I will accept emailed requests for students to claim specific writers on a first-come, first served basis.  Please select authors from the syllabus that have an asterisk (*) before his or her name. Prior to the selection date, you should familiarize yourself with the available authors by skimming the introductory essays about each of them.  When you email, be sure to put the phrase "ENG 211 Author Request" in the subject line.  In your message, list three authors you would be interested in presenting.  For each, list two or three sentences that explain what specifically intrigues you about his or her work.  If your first choice is unavailable, I will assign you the first available alternate listed in your email.  If none are available, I will email you for further requests.  Students who do not email me by 7PM on Monday, January 27, 2014, will be assigned a writer of my choosing.

BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Students who present in February will receive a seven-point bonus added to his or her final presentation grade.  Students who present in March will receive a four-point bonus. No other bonuses will be given.