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Helpful Hints for Leading Seminars:
Tips for Presenting Seminar Readings and Leading Class Discussion

Class presentations have three goals:

1) To ensure that the class understands the material
2) To develop your presentation skills
3) To facilitate discussion of new ideas

If you work in a group, divide the work evenly and work together to establish cohesion in your presentation

You should begin with a brief presentation (5 minutes or less). You should present the content of the book or article(s) in such a way as to foster class discussion on your topic at the end of your presentation. You should have a well-coordinated set of questions.

The most effective way to accomplish the above is to come to class with a one page outline of topics to cover, composed in a sensible order. DO NOT RELY ON YOUR READING NOTES !!!

Chapter topics are sometimes, but not always, a good pattern to follow. You may want to include questions in your outline, but again, it is usually more effective to present your ideas in a manner that will provoke discussion.

Begin with an overview of the material. Hit all the highlights including thesis, the debate, source materials, method, structure etc...

Be certain to critique, do not merely restate

Be sure to relate the work to works that we have read before.

REMEMBER!!! You cannot cover the entire topic in a short presentation. Decide on the most interesting, important, controversial issues raised by the work.

In order to elicit responses, pose questions that have multiple responses. Concentrate on ideas, not facts

The class can and should interject at will, but as the class digresses it is your responsibility to return the class to your outline.

Your presentation will be evaluated based on content, coordination, completeness, understanding of the material, and ability to promote class discussion.

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