This seminar assignment is part presentation

Presentation Dates: Weeks 4 – 11 (no more than 3 or 4 presentations per week)

Worth: 15%
of final mark (10% for presentation – 5% for written essay)

Starting the first week of classes you will
have the opportunity to sign up for these presentation dates. This is a first
come, first serve deal so decide on what date best suits you. I will only allow
3 presentations (or 4 regarding class time) per week and only
6 people per story (I don’t want to hear 15 different presentations on
Charlotte’s Web). You may do this assignment in pairs but each individual must
hand in their own work to the instructor. I will post the sign-up list on
BlackBoard to let you know what dates are available.

Assignment:

Essay: This
seminar assignment is part presentation/part essay. First, choose ONE story
from the class syllabus that you wish to present on. You must then write a
short paper of no more than 500 words on the story. Make sure you use proper
MLA citation and other essay guidelines (12 pt. font, double-spaced, and New
Times Roman). In your paper you are to cover the following:

• A brief description on the story’s plot (no more than 3-4
  sentences)
• Your own personal statement on what the theme of the story is
  and why you think so
• Your own thoughts and ideas on how this particular story is
  aimed at child readers and what children should observe, or perhaps learn,
  from the story

Please make sure you are using examples
from the story to back up your argument. Remember than if you do this
assignment in pairs, both individuals must write their own essay for the
instructor. Essays will not be marked as a group, but individually.

Presentation: The second half of this assignment requires you to give a 5 – 10 minute
presentation to the class. After your presentation you will hand in your essay
to the instructor. During your presentation you may refer to your written work
but do not read from your paper. Make sure you are speaking to your
class about your paper and what you have found in the story you have selected.
The more organized and prepared you are the better your presentation will be.

Be as creative as you want. Visuals for
your presentation are required to make it more interesting. Use resources such
as PowerPoint, handouts, or Bristol board layouts to help your presentation and
to keep your classmates interested. Remember that you just wrote a paper on the
topic and that you know the material. Trust yourself.

Note: Keep
in mind that I am looking for your own analytical perspective on this story. Do
not spend your time re-telling the story’s plot or what the instructor has
already pointed out during class lectures. You will lose the interest of the
class and your presentation will be redundant and boring. Make sure you reflect
on your own ideas and thoughts when analyzing the story you have chosen.

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Preparation	Student does not show any signs of being prepared for this presentation	Student is somewhat prepared during presentation	Student appears to be well prepared for the presentation	Student demonstrates a excellent preparation needed for the presentation
Subject Knowledge	Student does not show any interest or understanding of story	Student shows some interest and understanding of story	Student shows a good interest and understanding of story	Student shows an excellent interest and understanding of story
Content	Student does not follow the proper guidelines of the assignment	Student follows some of the guidelines of the assignment	Student does follow the guidelines with only some errors	Student follows the guidelines efficiently and clearly in presentation
Visuals	Student does not supply the class with any handout, Bristol board, or powerpoint	Student supplies the class with an unsatisfactory handout, Bristol board, or powerpoint	Student supplies the class with a good handout, Bristol board, or powerpoint	Student supplies the class with a creative and catching handout, Bristol board, or powerpoint