Seminar Presentations

Length: 10-15 mins

The purposes of this exercise are:

1. To draw your audience’s attention to key debates evident in the week’s key reading.2. To explore these debates through your application of them to the week’s viewing as listed in the course handbook (or further viewing, in consultation with your tutor). 3. To initiate a seminar discussion based on the week's set topic.

- In other words, do not simply regurgitate your reading, offering lengthy summaries of others’ arguments. Rather, you will need to be selective, honing in on the key points evident in the readings; to evaluate and critique the reading you have done; to illustrate and apply the critical arguments proposed, through your own use of DVD/video clips; and to initiate further debate (you may use clips here too).

- Your presentation will be performed in groups of 2-3 and should be planned and delivered as a team. Avoid unnecessary overlap or contributions which don’t connect together clearly.

- The preparation of this presentation MUST be collaborative. Your group should meet prior to the presentation to discuss the research, content and delivery of the presentation.

- If one or more members of your group continually fail to turn up to presentation meetings, or fail to complete their fair share of work you should discuss this with your tutor before the day of the presentation.

- The presentation should be planned to last between 10 and 15 minutes. Be sure to time it in advance, so that you don't fall short or over-run.

- You will need to end your presentation with carefully constructed questions designed to instigate discussion among the group. Such questions should be clearly connected to key points within your presentation and should not be simply tagged on as an afterthought.

- Make your presentation audience-friendly by making eye contact and speaking from brief notes or bullet points, rather than reading out a closely written text. The key is to involve your audience and not just talk at them, but encourage them to work with you in the application, evaluation and critique of relevant readings.

- Try to make sure you have DVD/video clips already cued up and ready to go before you begin your presentation, and that any technology (e.g. PowerPoint) is set up and functioning correctly.

- Finally, try to enjoy it. If you find something interesting then hopefully your audience will too.