Bands

During the semester, you will give three presentations on the projects you are working on. The purpose of the presentation is to give you the opportunity to teach the class about your work, how you are approaching the assignment, and how others might do the same. However, because teaching is a collaborative process, you will do so in bands; i.e., groups. This doesn't mean your final project is a group project. What it does mean is that as a group you will collaborate on developing approaches to doing the project (i.e. you're creating a methodology). Hopefully, you will each learn from one another during the planning of your presentations, and hopefully, you will teach the class what you've learned about your own methods.
Keep in mind the following when you prepare for your presentation:

• Be interesting. Don't bore the class by merely stating: I'm doing "x"; I'm doing "y."
• Demonstrate how you are using the class readings and outside sources to approach the problem posed by the assignment. What do the readings teach us about form? About presentation? About content?
• Sustain the class' attention for as long as possible. Involve the class if possible. Group presentations should occupy most of the class time. Each band should take about 15 minutes to talk.
• Prepare. Don't come in and talk off the top of your head. Have a game plan. Being unprepared is inexcusable and will result in a grade of 0 points.
• Experiment. You cannot get a low grade for trying something out even if it doesn't provide the results you expected. You can, however, receive a low grade for displaying little effort.
• Remember: the readings are to teach us something about writing. Each assignment asks: How can we use the readings as models for our own writing? What are you taking from the readings?
• The metaphor we use for the presentation is the band. Since you are in bands, how will you perform together?
• Bands, like rock bands, jazz bands, blues bands, etc., work together. Work out your presentation together so that, in the end, you create music and not noise.
• Sometimes it's necessary for band members to go solo. Other times, you play in harmony. Bands do improvise as well. But they have something to play.
• Give your band a name.