ARTICLE DUE TOMORROW

BA 2196 Individual Article Presentation

80 points (8% of final grade)

Background and Assignment

Your boss is passionate about her team’s continued professional development, so she assigns one article to each office intern (you) and requires you to thoroughly review, summarize, and evaluate it before presenting your findings to the entire office in a well prepared speech.

Presentation Guidelines and Instructions

Presentation outline:

1. Open with an engrossing “hook” to interest your audience (should be the first thing you say)

2. Give the main argument/concept of the article (briefly, clearly, succinctly stated)

3. Provide the most powerful proof/details/data/real-life examples/anecdotes the author uses to support his/her point. If the details/data were not convincing—provide the weak examples. You must SUPPORT your reading/interpretation of the article.

4. Conclude by arguing whether your article is convincing; did you buy into the author’s point? IMPORTANT: YOU MUST TAKE A STANCE ON THE VALIDITIY OF THE MATERIAL—THIS ASSIGNMENT IS NOT MERELY SUMMARY.

· Basis for your concluding argument should include:

· Quality of research or data—did the author(s) prove the main point?

· Background/viewpoint/bias of authors—is this apparent? Tell us who the author is (if applicable) and assess credibility.

· Were the details, data, specifics, and anecdotes convincing, powerful, and effective? Were they real or theoretical? Did they move the reader emotionally as well as intellectually?

5. Offer to answer follow-up questions from your audience (This portion will not count toward time limit).

Key requirements:

· PRESENTATIONS MUST be 5 - 7 minutes long

· Define any obscure or unfamiliar terms and concepts necessary to understanding your points

· Interest your audience! Find ways to capture their attention and add value to their day; this is an opportunity to make a MAJOR impression

· NO NOTES! Since you are required to keep your eyes on the audience, you may NOT use notes

(continued)

You are required to use a brief PowerPoint following these rules:

· No more than 6 slides (not including the title slide)

· No more than 6 bullets on a slide and no more than 6 words in a bullet

· Don’t use only verbal information (bullets); use at least 2 instances of visual information (picture, chart, graph, table, etc.) that enhances your point (not mere clip art). You can use sources besides your assigned article as long as you attribute them.

· Make the PowerPoint slides a supplemental part of your presentation—not simply a cheat sheet to which you surreptitiously glance. Learn to use slides naturally and well.

2 - Revised 7/13/2014