OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this assignment is to allow you to demonstrate your ability to present your research findings (on some aspect of the seminar's topic) in a professional forum.

GENERAL METHOD: In broad outline, you will give a formal presentation of your major research project for the current semester that conforms to the following criteria:

PRESENTATION TIMES: You will choose (or be assigned) a thirty minute slot during the final seminar meeting (on Tuesday, 23 April 2019) of the semester. Preferences should be emailed to me and will be honored in the order they are received. If no preference is expressed by 12 April 2019 (5:00 pm), you will be assigned a slot.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

• Within your 30-minute slot, you should aim to give a formal presentation of approximately 20-23 minutes in length (subject to the following points).
• You should plan to use no more than 1-2 minutes to set up your presentation, i.e., to load PowerPoint slides and/or other media, to plug in computers, to access distant web sites, etc. In short, you should be able to set up your presentation with a minimum of difficulty. Do NOT plan to test connections or compatibility issues with your devices and the University's in the minutes before you plan to speak. Do this sort of mechanical preparation beforehand. NB. Excessive delays (beyond 3-4 minutes) in starting your presentation will result in penalties.
• The presentation itself must be a minimum of 15 minutes in length. This time includes all speaking, music examples, videos, and other activities. NB. Presentations that reach the minimum time through extended music examples or other padding will be down-graded.
• Regardless of when you start, you must conclude your presentation no more than 27 minutes after the beginning of your time slot, i.e., including all set up and preliminary testing, in order to allow for questions. NB. Presentations that run excessively long (still speaking at 28 minutes) will be down-graded.
• You will answer at least 1-2 brief questions (or more), as time allows after your formal presentation.
• Be able to close down your computer and other presentation items as quickly as possible (perhaps while taking your last question), so that the next presenter may set up.

SPEAKING VOICE: You may either read directly from a prepared typescript or speak from an outline and general notes, remembering to keep your summary of your project within the allotted time. You should speak with a professional tone to the entire room. Remember that speaking ex tempore (with or without notes) will probably expand the time used, so practice your speach in advance.

VISUAL & AURAL AIDS: You may use brief visual or aural aids, as appropriate for your topic, but do use such items simply to fill time. Know exactly how to cue up the items you wish to show, so as not to waste time. You may use any appropriate medium, e.g., Handout, PowerPoint, CD, YouTube, Streaming Audio, Web accounts, etc., but remember that any time lost in cuing up such items or hunting for them will count as "on the clock." Prepare your access to such resources in advance and use such supporting items carefully and even sparingly. NB. Your grade will reflect the appropriateness of the example, i.e., does it contribute to the presentation, and not merely to the sophistication of the application.

Q & A: You should be prepared to answer questions from other seminar members (and me) after you have concluded your presentation.

Your grade for this presentation will be determined by how well you summarize the issues you have researched (50%) and how well you "teach" that information to the group (50%). Clarity of expression, relevance, and accuracy of the information you present, and the ability to answer questions will be most valued. The Formal Presentation counts for 10% of the course grade.

NB. It is a requirement of this assignment that all class members be present for all presentations..