English 122: (Aiken): Discussion Leaders

English 121 Fall 2010 10:30 MWF

Discussion Leaders: Description and Assignments

As you know from your syllabus, you are assigned to a partner to present two readings during the course of the semester. Your task is to create an exercise or activity that will help your classmates further understand the essay at hand. You may do this in any number of ways; the only ‘activity’ that is off limits is assigning an in-class writing to take up your time or repeating verbatim the discussion questions from the book!

With your partner, you are responsible for no less than fifteen minutes of class. As the syllabus states, if you are absent on the day of your presentation, your partner will carry on without you and you will receive a ‘0’ for this component of your semester grade. If you need projection equipment for any reason, please let me know at least two days in advance. You may lead a large group activity, divide the class into small groups and assign questions, or find another way to create an engaging, dynamic atmosphere. Partners have been assigned alphabetically; essays have been assigned randomly. Please let me know where you have questions.

Presentations: Grammar Girl and Reading presentations

It’s time to sign up for presentations this semester. With your partner, you are to peruse the reading assignments for the rest of the semester and select two pieces of literature you’d like to present. (You’ll end up presenting on one, but select two to prevent doubling up.)

Next, head to Grammar Girl (grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/). You’re to select two tips, one to present to the class on each day that you present your reading selection.

1.     Let me know which stories and which GG tips you want to present; we’ll sign up in class on Friday, Jan. 17.

2.    

So what do your presentations have to include?

            Reading Presentations: 15 minutes each, divided up in this way: 2-3 minutes summary, 5 minutes background on author/ topic/ context, 1-2 minutes personal reflection (your opinions), 5 minutes class discussion (you provide the questions). Rehearse your presentation so you know how long it will take. Any presentation falling more than a minute short of 15 minutes will not earn full credit. 

            Grammar Girl Presentations: 10 minutes each. You must explain carefully the topic covered in your chosen tip. You will not play your tip for the class; instead, consider yourself the instructor. You will also need to engage your classmates; come up with a worksheet, exercises, questions, examples, quizzes- anything to test the topic you’re going over after you’ve explained it. Without some sort of activity to practice the topic covered you will not earn full credit.