Geography Power point

The goal of your presentation is to demonstrate that you have researched your chosen topic in your chosen country.  At the same time, it should demonstrate you are able to effectively and efficiently communicate this information to an audience using text, photos, charts, graphs, and figures in a presentation format.  However, while visual aids are important, remember that the content and information provided are more critical to a higher grade as this more clearly demonstrates you have done your research.

Your presentation should be approximately 15-20 slides and submitted as a Microsoft PowerPoint document to the Dropbox.  You may discuss your project with your peers but each student must produce and submit his/her own unique project.  The quality of your presentation must reflect college-level work and be geared toward your fellow classmates (adult learners) and myself.  However, keep in mind that I am your ultimate audience and will be scoring you according to the Term Project Rubric.

1 Title (1 slide) – Be sure to title your presentation appropriately so your audience knows which of the four topics you chose and what country you researched.  At the same time, be creative and have fun with your title as it is the first thing your audience will read and will set the stage for the rest of your presentation!  Including a photo (or several photos) on your title slide, or as the background of your title slide, is also a great way to start a presentation!

2 Introduction (2-3 slides)– Your introduction should do just that: introduce!  Include an attention grabbing statement, photo, or BOTH that draws your audience in right from the start.  Be sure to include a few key points you will discuss in your introductory slides and elaborate on what you will be discussing throughout your presentation (an overview) and where (specifically) your presentation focuses on (i.e. is it the entire country or a smaller region within).  In your introductory slides, be sure to include a thesis statement.  Your thesis statement should set the tone for the rest of you presentation and assert something you hope to prove by the end of your presentation.

1 Acceptable Thesis Statement:  While desertification and deforestation have been on-going issues for many years in the Shandon Province of China, the government and many environmental action groups are starting to take a stand through policy and public awareness events.  (Notice how this statement includes the topic, the specific location within the country, and talks about how things are positively beginning to change.  This gives the audience a sense that the presentation will discuss the problems that did/do exist in the Shandong Province and what is being done to correct them)

2 Unacceptable Thesis Statement: Desertification and deforestation in China are major problems that I am going to discuss in this presentation.  (Notice how this statement does not include the specific location within the country and does not include any sub-topics, like the governmental policies and environmental action groups, that may be discussed; the statement does offer any direction of where the presentation is going.)

3 Body (3-4 slides per sub-section / 9-12 slides total) – The body of your presentation should consist of many different sub-sections or sub-topics that all support and relate back to your overarching thesis statement and what you hope to convey through this presentation.  Each sub-point should be separate from other sub-points and should be explained using and supported by the information from your references.  Your body should contain multiple sub-points, NOT one.

4 Conclusion (1-2 slides) – Much like your introduction, your conclusion should do just that: conclude!  Include a few images and/or statements that tie all of the points you have made together in a meaningful way.  Once you have summarized your information and how it all supported/related to your original thesis statement, provide your audience with a take-home message that will help them remember your presentation and keep them thinking about the issue and country your chose once your presentation is over.

5 References (1 slide) – To complete your presentation you are required to use a minimum of 5 different references.  These references should include your textbook, academic journal articles, encyclopedias, books, periodicals, and credible webpages.  (Note: Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable reference as it is openly editable.)  Remember, you have your Course Librarian at your fingertips who is willing and able to help you find any and all resources you may need to complete your presentation.  So, please don’t hesitate to ask the Course Librarian for help if you find that you are coming up empty handed in your search!