A. Guidelines for Student Presentations

B. Guidelines for Biweekly Response Papers

A. Guidelines for Student Presentations

The primary aim of student presentations for discussion sections is to launch an engaging and fruitful discussion, not to summarize or lead the discussion.

1. Time. 15 minutes.

2. Content. Present 2 or 3 key points from among the selections for that meeting and raise 2-3 critical questions for discussion. You do not have to cover all of the readings for that week. If there are several selections, you may choose freely those that you wish to discuss. You should observe the following points: a) Why are the points/ideas you have chosen for discussion important for understanding the significance of the work(s) in question? b) If these points are related to one another, how are they related? c) What questions do you have? These questions should help to launch the discussion. They might suggest disagreement with the author, lack of clarity (either on the part of the reader or the author), or some internal inconsistency in the author's ideas (apparent or real).

You should ask about points that are unclear to you. The presentation is not a test of your mastery of the material, and there will be many other students who do not understand parts of the reading. For example, you might say, "Daniel Boyarin claims that both gender and sex are culturally constructed, but it's not clear whether he believes there are no biological determinants. Can anyone tell whether he believes that sex is entirely a cultural construct or not?"

3. Style. Be sure to speak clearly and slowly enough so that everyone can understand. Take the time to explain your points fully. References to specific textual passages and page numbers are essential to ground the discussion. Illustrations and analogies can also be helpful in conveying your ideas. Diagrams and handouts can also be effective aids although they are not required.

4. Grading. The presentation is 10 percent of your grade. Your presentation will be graded on three areas: 1) Insight. Have you chosen good passages or ideas to help the class examine and understand the readings? Do you raise questions and issues that lead to fruitful discussion. 2) Preparation. Does your presentation show that you have considered the readings and the points you present carefully? 3) Style. Do you speak clearly, explain fully, and provide textual references? Do you make eye contact to make sure that the class is following what you are saying.

B. Guidelines for Biweekly Response Papers

1. Format. 1.5 to 2 double-spaced pages.

2. Content. You should choose a passage, or one or two key ideas from the readings for the week, discuss a) why they are important for understanding the readings, and b) offer critical perspectives. Raise questions about areas that are unclear or points you disagree with. Then discuss how the unclear points or passages might be interpreted or how the author might respond to your critical questions.

3. Style. Be sure to document your ideas by giving the author and title of any texts that you cite as well as page numbers for any passages you cite directly or indirectly. You should be clear, succinct, and grammatical, and there should not be any spelling errors.

4. Grading. You will hand in two response papers worth five points each. You will receive a grade based on the following criteria: a) Does your paper show careful, insightful reading of the text? b) Do you state your ideas clearly and insightfully? c) Is your writing grammatically and stylistically sound?

5. Late policy. You have a total of three free late days for response papers and the medium-length paper. For each additional late day, you will have two points deducted from your total course grade. (No extensions are given for the final paper.) For example, if you are three days late for one response paper, then the next time you are late, you will have two points deducted from your course grade (a little less than half-a-grade). If you are late one day each for two response papers and your first medium-length paper and have no additional lateness, then you will have no deductions from your final grade.