UWC2101O: Writing & Critical Thinking: Monstrosity

Oral Presentations

This exercise represents 5% of your total course grade. In a 10-15 minute presentation, you are to provide the class with either an analysis/critique of a theoretical text or an interpretation of a literary/filmic text. The goal is not to summarize what the author is saying (although you may have to do some summary and descriptive work to make your point). Rather, I would expect you to present (1) an extension or expansion of an idea you have encountered in a text, (2) a practical application of a theoretical concept, (3) a personal reading (interpretation) of a literary/filmic work, and/or (4) a critique of the arguments and the assumptions of the author within the text. Your presentation should serve to provoke class discussion by engaging relevant issues of controversy as they appear in our readings; in other words, do not be afraid to (proverbially speaking) open a can of (ideological) worms or challenge certain conceptual boundaries. You are required to provide the entire class with an outline (about one page, typed, and in complete sentences) of your presentation on the day you are scheduled to give it. After your brief 10-15 minute speech, you will lead the class in discussion by asking pertinent and catalytic questions. Your grade will not only be based on your ideas and speech, but it will also include your effectiveness at engaging your classmates in discussion. Remember that once you have signed up for the presentation, you are required to be present and ready on the day you are scheduled. Absences without valid documentation (e.g. medical certificate) will result in a penalty deduction of 10% of your final course grade. Hence, please be responsible! I would also discourage any changes to the text you have chosen, but you may come and see me for alternatives if you do encounter problems. However, please do so at least 5 days prior to your presentation. Once more, the key to this presentation is to avoid simply regurgitating the main points of the author's argument or summarizing the plot of a literary or filmic work. (We all can read or view the text for ourselves.) What I would like to suggest instead is a more critical and analytical approach that will involve close readings of the text and a measure of ingenuity in formulating a coherent and well-supported argument in your presentation. One way of approaching this is to think of your preparation work and the actual presentation as you would in writing an essay (right up to the sentence outline stage and without actually writing the essay). The following are some pointers and guidelines you may use as a way of getting started:

The Brainstorming Stage:

The questions and suggestions here are meant to help you come up with ideas you may or may not use in your presentation. Hence, do not slavishly and programmatically follow this guide, believing it to be the perfect model. It is not!!!

1. Establish a basic understanding of the context:

1. Who is the author or filmmaker? What are the historical, cultural, social, and political factors at work that motivate the author to write or direct this work?
2. Who is the target audience? Is the audience hostile, friendly, or neutral? How can you know this from the text? How does an intended audience actually affect the way the text is constructed?
3. What is the text about? If it is a critical text, what is the main thesis? Can you identify the various points of argument used to support the essay? What are some of the evidence the author relies on to substantiate her arguments?
4. What kind of text is it? Can you identify the genre? What is the chief purpose of the text?

2. Read deeper:

1. Do you agree or disagree with the arguments made? Why? Can you identify specifically the point(s) in the author's argument that you have difficulty with?
2. Is the author's use of evidence convincing? Why or why not?
3. What are some of the assumptions behind the arguments made? Are they problematic in any way, and why?
4. What is the ideological position of the author? How do you know this from the text?
5. Identify points of rhetorical conflict and contradictions in the text.
6. What is the overall world-view of the author and the text?

3. Hot Spots!

1. As you read or view the text, identify Hot Spots! - Specific points of interest and significance you think may be of importance to you.
2. For the printed text, underline or highlight the text so that you can easily identify them.
3. Write notes about these points. Ask pointed questions as a way of interrogating these Hot Spots! What issue is raised here, what is at stake for you in engaging this point, why is this point significant to you or to the author or filmmaker, or why is it controversial and interesting enough for you to identify it as a Hot Spot!?
4. Use these Hot Spots! as stepping stones for brainstorming about various topics and issues. Do not restrict yourself in your brainstorming. Ideas that seem irrelevant or absurd may actually come in handy and useful later.

The Presentation Stage:

1. Formulation:

1. Gather all your notes and ideas together, and begin to identify possible topics and approaches you may want to adopt in your presentation.
2. Establish a thesis.
3. Work out an argument outline with points and sub-points.
4. Incorporate examples, inferences, textual references, and explanations into your outline.
5. Since it is only a sentence outline that you need to offer to the class, keep your outline to a single typed page, double-spaced. Retain details for your actual oral presentation.
6. Be sure to print out enough copies of your outline for the class.

2. Presentation:

1. Since your presentation should only be 10-15 minutes, be selective about how many points you want to present. Plan more, but be willing to cut back on the number. Hence, you select only the strongest points for presentation.
2. Practice giving your oral presentation by timing yourself. Try to keep it within the time frame and do not exceed 20 minutes.
3. Write out a couple of questions you want to ask the class to ensure that there will be discussion. If your presentation goes well, there should be sufficient issues of controversy and provocation to generate a lively debate. Should this not be the case, the questions will serve as a back up for infusing some talk. Your questions, therefore, have to be well thought out and provocative-by all means, play the devil's advocate.

Please come and see me at least a day before the presentation. You can also either call me at home or at my office. It is crucial that you talk to me about your presentation before you give it.