ORAL PRESENTATION:
A.
1.
You are speaking to your classmates and friends, not a roomful of strangers.
2.
Understand that most people feel a certain amount of apprehension standing and
speaking in front of people. If it helps, bring a prop (an unplugged
microphone, a map, a flip-chart), or dress in an outfit that symbolizes your
discussion (a straw hat, pin-nosed glasses for a librarian, a very-very old
person for an ancestor, etc.).
3.
Keep in mind that speaking before your classmates is not a penalty, it is one
of the college experiences that will prepare you for your future.
4.
There is very little that you can do that is wrong!!! If your mind goes blank,
just explain to the class that your mind went blank, and ask someone to remind
you where you left off. If your voice starts to shake glance at a friend, and
you will receive a reassuring smile.
5.
Dont bring a bunch of notes, it will just make you nervous when you cant find
your place. Bring a display chart, or a handout. It is okay to read an overview
of the handout to point out specific items.
6.
Use note cards or use one piece of paper containing a single list of words.
7.
Keep in mind that your classmates are not your enemies. They will treat you
with respect (because they will expect the same from you in return).
8.
Try to avoid looking any person in the eye. Look directly over the tops of
their heads. This is an old trick, and works quite well.
9.
Know your material COLD Tell it to your family, your friends, people on the
bus...Have them ask you questions. Answer the questions and tell your story so
often that when you tell the class, you know your subject so well you are The
Expert.
10.
ENJOY!!!
Please browse
the information at the Public
Speaking Website (http://www.abacon.com/pubspeak/ )
to help relieve any
anxiety you may have with regard to speaking in front of the class.
B.
Hand
in Your Journal. Keep a journal
recording your research process (the mistakes, the surprises, the dead-ends,
the really bad sites, as well as the really good ones) and hand that in with
your annotated list. Show how you followed a particular trail that led to your
bibliography.
Include
some of the sites you considered, but did not visit. Or, list some sites that
you visited, but did not use and why. How did you locate each site you
eventually used in your bibliography (search engine, directory, referred by a
friend, classmate, link from another site, word of mouth). Comment on each site as to its authority
(primary, secondary); affiliation (who created/maintains it); currency (how
recent is it); purpose (why is this site on the Internet); audience (who was
the site written for, who is attracted).
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