Group Presentation

This assignment is designed as an introduction to active reading and research.  Using the support text for the course—Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer—we will discuss his book, following the reading schedule in the modules.  For each day of discussion, up to five students will be responsible for a brief (no more than 20 minutes) formal presentation on a topic drawn from the reading that analyzes Foer’s rhetorical moves and presents a summary and evaluation of the section of the book that the group has signed up for.

The procedure for presentations follows:

1. Choose a chapter from the list below, and sign up by the end of the second week. There will be no more than one group of students assigned to any class period.

2. Before your assigned class period, read your section carefully using active reading techniques. Do an informal google search of the topics that Foer is covering in your group’s section. As you read, make sure you slow down your reading and really comprehend what Foer is saying. Take detailed notes. Re-read passages multiple times. Remember that active reading means:

-Writing in the text, underlining, circling, putting notes and questions in the margins.

-Rephrasing difficult passages (after reading those passages multiple times) into your own words

-Asking questions

-Spending time with the text

-Looking up unfamiliar words

-Reading in a place without distractions

-Reading at a time when you are awake and fresh and alert

-Seeking to understand and move beyond understanding to have something to say about the text, which can be probing questions, connections to other readings and other knowledge you have, connections between the text and topics/subject/experiences outside of it, etc.

3. As a group, prepare a 20-minute presentation on your reading selection. In a powerpoint, google slide share, Prezi, or other entertaining and engaging manner the group should present the following:

Each group member should contribute a favorite direct quote or two from the text (make sure to include page numbers and know the context; the group should have five different quotes—everyone can’t pick the same exact line). Summarize and explain the significant points. Evaluate the text; in other words, what is Foer’s point? To inform? To Argue? To persuade? And how effective is he in doing so?

The group should summarize and respond to the selection:

The Summary:

A summary is a concise presentation of all the main ideas in a text. It cites the author and the title; it contains the text’s thesis and supporting ideas; it uses direct quotation of forceful or concise statements of the author's ideas; it will NOT usually cite the author's examples or supporting details unless they are central to the main idea. Most summaries present the major points in the order that the author made them and continually refer back to the text being summarized (i.e. "Foer argues that ..." or "Foer also points out that ... ").

The Response:

A response is a critique or evaluation of the author's essay. Unlike the summary, it is composed of YOUR opinions in relation to the article being summarized. It examines ideas that you agree or disagree with and identifies the essay's strengths and weaknesses in reasoning and logic, in quality of supporting examples, and in organization and style. A good response is persuasive; therefore, it should cite facts, examples, and personal experience that either refutes or supports the article you're responding to, depending on your stance.

4. The group should end with thoughtful questions for the class to discuss (at least five and no more than 10). What ideas or concepts did the group find challenging? And challenging here means: did the text challenge any long-held, personal beliefs? What questions linger? What was confusing? What did the group find difficult to understand? The group should help lead a class discussion.

5. The group will write up a short explanation to me describing what each member did to contribute to the group presentation. This summary essay MUST BE SIGNED by each member and turned in after the presentation. No one will receive a grade until I have this summary.