Mini-reports+on+Reading+Assignments

= Note: =

a) **You cannot expect to give comprehensive coverage of any assigned reading.** You only have a few minutes (7 perhaps) to share your perspectives and you need to leave a bit of time (3 or 4 minutes) for questions/discussion. b) **You must narrow your scope and you have a choice to make as to your approa**ch. You can 4. Enumerate the implications of the conclusions or ideas that the piece articulates.
 * 1) Summarize the assignment or some portion thereof
 * 2) Explain an important and perhaps difficult concept or process
 * 3) Give context to the reading by presenting
 * Information on the author
 * Information on the historical period - how the writing emerged and/or what reaction it provoked in the society of the time.
 * Information on the background of the piece
 * To the author
 * To the society in which he/she lives or lived
 * To the state of science or view of animals in the present.

c) **To create a successful presentation you should think of your fellow classmate**s.
 * 1) What can your presentation do that will help them to understand the reading?
 * 2) Or what can your presentation do that will help them to enjoy the reading.
 * 3) Or what can your presentation do that will help them to understand the importance of the reading to the enhanced understanding to the dimensions of the human/animal relationship that is the goal of the class?
 * 4) What are the "takeaways," the observations, concepts, or conclusions that are most important.

D) **Be sure to create a couple of open ended questions to articulate to the class.** Open-ended questions are questions that one cannot simply answer yes or no.


 * For example: **
 * Temple Grandin notes that several counties in Colorado have banned Pit Bulls. Is this the right approach? Do you believe there should be forced sterilization of Pit Bulls?
 * // These are yes/no questions - this sort of question kills discussion and narrows conversational focus. //**


 * Temple Grandin notes that several counties in Colorado have banned Pit Bulls. What are the positive and negative aspects of these policies? What alternatives come to mind?
 * // These are open-ended questions that ask for opinions, observations, and conclusions - this sort of question expands conversational focus and stimulates discussion //**

E) **A tip: Do not worry, make your decisions quickly and don't second guess yourself.** There are lots of ways to create successful presentations from all assigned readings.

F) **What I need from you (beyond the presentation in class)**
 * Any notes you use
 * Any handout you produce
 * A citation for any material beyond the assignment itself that you include in your presentation.