Presentations will describe the progress you have made in researching and writing your intellectual biographies. Those essays will not be complete when you make the presentation, but your presentation should still be well organized rather than “made up” on the spot. Think of your presentation as a status report on work in progress. What have you learned so far? What are you thinking as you move toward completing the essay?
Keep in mind that your presentations will be evaluated in writing by all of your peers, as well as the instructor, and these evaluations will be considered in your grade.
Aim for a presentation of 15 minutes or so to be followed by 10-15 minutes of questions and comments. I’ll be keeping time. Excellent presentations will include the components listed below while still being creative and tailored to your particular subject. There is no need to follow the presentation outline rigidly. Please feel free to share materials during your presentation (e.g. PowerPoint slides, brief videos, photographs) that will make your subject come alive for the rest of us.
Presentation Outline
Your Project and Its Significance
- Introduce your subject. Why did you chose this particular individual?
- What questions are you asking and trying to answer about your subject? Why do these matter? What makes your subject historically important?
Your Sources
- Describe the primary and secondary sources you are using.
- How will these particular sources help you answer the questions you have formulated?
- Has the research process so far caused you to change or refine any of your initial questions? If so, how and why?
- Are there particular challenges, limitations, or advantages associated with the sources you are using? Explain.
Your Findings and the Organization of Your Essay
- How would you answer your questions at this point? What are your major findings and arguments?
- Do they confirm what you thought before doing the research? What, if anything, has surprised you about your subject?
- Do you still have questions about your subject that have been hard to answer?
- What organizational scheme are you considering for your paper? How do you think your paper will be structured? Why that way and not some other way?
- If there are particular things you want feedback about, ask!