Research Presentation Details
OBJECTIVE: This assignment involves a research project culminating in a presentation to the class. This assignment may be done by a single individual or in a group of two. Each student’s presentation will be relatively brief (15 minutes). It need not be very formal, but you would be well-advised to rehearse it – most people underestimate the amount of time they will need to make a public presentation. The use of overheads and/or handouts summarizing some of the key data or conclusions of readings, is strongly encouraged. As preparation, it will require a modest amount of extra reading and research to focus on providing the class with additional information on the specific topic that expands on the assigned reading and lecture on that topic.
TOPIC SELECTION: You have the opportunity to choose a topic from the list of weekly course topics (after week 4). In order to distribute people across desired topics, some may have to settle for their 2nd or 3rd choice.
THE RULES: This assignment is broken down into three parts, to be presented (photocopied) for all students in the class:
1) Prospectus: A summary of your topic in approximately 100 words in paragraph form.
2) Outline: A formulation of topics to be covered in presentation with a list of sources (a minimum of 4 are required – these do not include the readings required for that week) – 4 per student. This MUST include a list of sources!
3) Presentation: a 15-30 minute presentation of the topic and issues that are current and demonstrate concepts critical to the topic - this will be given in the professor's vroom under the university's elluminate internet communications program.
The presentation will be given at the beginning of class on Tuesdays.
PREPARATION: I expect each person or group to meet with me at least once, a week prior to the presentation, to discuss your progress and get any advice and feedback you may need; this meeting will be scheduled via class sign-up. I also encourage you to use email or office hours to get any advice you may need from me prior to this meeting.
CONTENT: Due to time constraints, your presentation will only be able to cover the main points of your sources, so be very clear on what these are and avoid unnecessary detail. You might organize your presentation to cover these points:
1) Name of articles and authors
2) Main theme
3) Identify the problem and hypotheses addressed by the article
4) Report on types of data reported (evaluation – is it good data?)
5) Main conclusions drawn
6) Implications for broader issues (relation to class readings, etc.)
GRADING: This assignment will be graded on clarity and accuracy; analytical insight; and effort. These are interpreted in the following way:
1) Clarity and Accuracy (of material, for listeners who haven't read the sources)
2) Analytical Insight (how well the student understood the material in context of course)
3) Effort (put into preparing presentation)
This assignment is worth 20% of your final grade.
Please let me know if you have any questions – I’ll be glad to answer them.
Nan M. Greer
Office: SCII-105
Email: nangreer@hawaii.edu