Directions for Internal Oral Presentations

Shaw
English A1 IB
Oral Presentations

The Individual Oral Presentation makes up 15% of your A1 requirement (your World Literature essays make up 10% each). The Oral Presentation is internally assessed (by yours truly), and the Oral Presentation is a one-time, on-the-spot performance in front of your teacher and peers. Therefore, preparation is absolutely necessary!


Approaches:

You should not merely summarize nor report on the story to the class. You will need to have an original and ambitious argument upon which to base you presentation. Consider comparing and/or contrasting with other texts we’ve read this year. You might want to consider cultural/historical significance. Whether you choose to look at the story in isolation or in the context of a textual or comparison comparison, you should narrow your approach to a specific focus/topic. The IB suggests the following general possibilities:

· Cultural setting of the work(s) and related issues
· Thematic focus
· Characterization (analysis)
· Techniques and style
· Author’s attitude to particular elements of the work(s)
· Interpretation of particular elements from different perspectives

The Actual Presentation:

You will have 10-15 minutes for your presentation. (Again, preparation is very important: if you are under time, you will be tempted to ramble to the 10-minute mark, and if you get to 15 minutes, I will cut you off.) You should not merely lecture to the class nor should you stand in front of us and read from an essay. Your presentation should, however, have a coherent structure. It should follow a logical sequence and should have a clear purpose and intent. Here are some possible ways (taken and/or adapted from the A1 curriculum guide) to structure your presentation:

· Structured discussion (presenter as teacher—asks good discussion questions, etc.)
· Oral exposé:
-Explanation of a particular aspect of work(s)
-Examination of a particular interpretation of work(s)
-Writer’s work set against culture, social, political background
-Commentary on the use of a particular image, idea or symbol
-Comparison of two passages, two characters, or two works
-Commentary on an extract from the story

· Role play (with a clear rationale)
-Monologue from a character
-Reminiscences by a character from a point later in his/her life
-Author responding to criticism; explaining intention

ASSESSMENT:

Whatever structure and approach you choose, keep in mind the CRITERIA on which you will be graded. According to the A1 curriculum guide, candidates (that’s you guys) are expected to show:

· Knowledge and understanding of the work(s)
· Thorough appreciation of the aspect discussed
· Knowledge and use of the linguistic register appropriate for the type of presentation, where register refers to the candidate’s sensitivity to elements such as the vocabulary, tone, sentence structure and idiom appropriate to the task.

***This is your copy of the rubric by which you will be graded. Please PRINT IT and bring it with you to class on Thursday!

5 Simple Steps to Success:

1. Choose your work.
2. Become familiar with it—read it over until to are extremely familiar with its’ context, annotating as you go.
3. Gather and organize ideas, observations, quotes, etc.
4. Choose an approach and organization: what will you examine and how will you present your findings?
5. Organize your presentation—I suggest making an outline on note cards—you MAY NOT read from these cards, word for word—but you may use them in your presentation. Rehearse your presentation so that you feel comfortable with the subject matter and the time constraints (when you practice your presentation, you need to time yourself).

We will begin Oral Presentations on Thursday, Dec. 10th and continue through Wednesday, Dec. 16th. REMEMBER—YOU CANNOT REDO YOUR PRESENTATION—YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE AT IT, SO BE READY ON THE 10TH. I WILL PICK STUDENTS TO GO IN RANDOM ORDER.