Instructions for
Oral Presentations  409b
Spring 2004   Generation 20
Dr. Leon James, Instructor
Seminar on Rational vs. Mystical Spirituality

The Schedule of your Oral Presentations is accessible through the Class Home Page:
            www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy20/g20classhome.html

1) Read through the assigned material for your presentation, take notes, and think about it for a few days. Then discuss the content informally with someone. Explain what the main concepts are. See if you can define them without your notes. Note the reaction, and the comprehension or misunderstanding.

2) Now select 5 topics from the assigned material, topics that
        (a) you find worthwhile to consider, or that
        (b) you don't agree with

For each topic you present:

(i) explain what it is and why you selected it. Be specific. Do not quote the original. Use your own words. Select it only if you think you understand it, whether you agree with it or not.

(ii) explain whether you think it is biased or valid and why you think so. Be sure to think about this ahead of time and be well prepared. You can bring in ideas from your other courses or readings.

(iii) explain how it might be relevant to the course's model of gender unity. Explain how the topic you selected either supports or detracts from this model, as presented in class discussions.

Note 1: You need to think about this ahead of time (talk about it with friends), and pick only those topics for which you can assess some relevance to the course's objective, which is to examine a particular approach to gender unity.

Note 2: to get your full credit for this presentation, you must be sure to cover, for every topic, each of the three points specified above:  (i), (ii), and (iii).

3) Prepare an outline for your 20-min presentation. Your presentation must take at least 19 minutes, but no more than 22 minutes. So be sure you follow the clock as you present. Assign 4 minutes to each topic. Practicing and rehearsing is the key to feeling confident during the presentation. The audience will also appreciate it if you're well prepared.

4) Prepare a handout for class distribution. It should present your name, email, date, topic, original reference, an outline of the 5 topics and the page number where they are each discussed, and some quotes to look at (optional).

5) Practice is key to giving a good presentation.  Do not read your notes--learn them so you can talk while looking at the audience. This is very important in terms of your grade. Look around the class as you talk. Do not talk to the instructor--look at the students and make sure you maintain rapport with the audience. Looking directly at people's faces is very important for rapport. Do not wear a cap with a visor that hides your eyes. Make sure your voice is very loud, louder than normal. This is very important.

6) Make outline notes for yourself, not full sentences, so you will be making up the sentences spontaneously as you talk. This helps you to stay in rapport with the audience. The skills you practice here are the same that will make you successful on your job.

How to be a good audience member
in a generational learning community
(5 points for your grade)