Final Exams...Winter Break...Hang In There!

The semester is ending, snow is in the forecast, and I'd like to take the opportunity to wish you a restful, peaceful, happy winter break!

As we close the semester, I'll be checking section 4 of your portfolios, looking for your graded final papers with teacher comments and your "portfolio" copy, which means it has been combed and corrected.  For additional points, you are supposed to choose one of your final papers for substantive revision.  If you are unclear what this means, check the final exam paper directions!

Second semester students should hang on to the portfolios.  We will be building other sections as well as adding to your writing repertoire.  We'll try additional genres, continue to research, and rearrange our writing groups since the roster will be changing.  If you are staying, good for you!  It will only strengthen and further your skills.  If you are moving on, I am sure you will be missed.  Thank you all for your efforts and your patience as we explored new projects!  Happy Holidays to you all!

Pecha Kucha Rocked It or Pecha Kucha Train Wreck?

First, a congratulations to all of you for trying something new and sharing something new with the class.  It's so nice to see a slide show that compliments what's being said (or voiced over) instead of being read directly from a script posted on slides!  The topics were interesting, the pictures colorful, and the whole thing enlightening and entertaining.  Bravo!

That said, please post your slide show to our blog by creating your own post and reflecting on the experience (classroom appropriate and kind, please).  You might discuss what you learned through your own research - new knowledge about your topic - and also what you learned about the method of presenting.  You should mention presentations that stood out to you and taught you something new.

For those of you suffering from a technology snafu (no audio, no transitions, and so forth), kudos to you for trying.  Maybe as you upload your slide show to your blog, you can correct the audio or provide in your blog post the text of your information we should have heard.  I'm afraid some of the shows got lost in translation because the audio didn't carry the presentation.  I didn't forsee this, but I wish I had.  It's hard to evaluate these shows.  You should have prepared for an event (like no audio) by simply giving your presentation live, but I should have forewarned you as well. I didn't feel like I could ask at the last minute.    For those of you who have your audio fixed, we can redo the presentation.  If it's not fixed, and you have already presented under duress,  provide us on your blog post some of the information that would have been on your audio, or you can still present live!

Some of you are ready to take your show on the road.  Wonder when the next Pecha Kucha is in our area!

Final Workshop Day for Presentation!

Wednesday marks the final day for in-class work on presentations and conferencing.  To avoid bedlam and maximize productivity, keep conferencing at your own table with members of your group, and whisper or talk so softly that others aren't interrupted with noise pollution.  You will be earning participation points today for your QUIET demeanor and ON-TASK behavior.  Please no carpet area or moving to sit with friends!  I have to insist that everyone can concentrate, so beware of ruining part of your presentation grade with bad behavior (heavens forbid)!

When you have finalized your presentation slides and set the transitioning, please email your presentations to me at both addresses:  bjames@spsmail.org    and  katie.ann.james@gmail.com.   Tuesday we are starting presentations, and you will be handing in your presentation packet, made up of two things - your outline and your conferencing notes.  You won't need a folder, but you will want to staple your notes to your outline for full credit.

We will play the lottery for the order of presentations, so come prepared!  Good luck!  Break a leg!  Can't wait!

If you haven't handed in your autobiography packet (first draft with conferencing notes and second, polished draft) or your annotated bibliography, turn them in before next week.  Last chance for full credit is this week, and the last chance for late credit for these and anything else is Tuesday, December 9th!

For Friday:

First, a sad farewell to Ms. Reaves!  You will be writing a letter, and she will give you more input.  Please show your respect by giving her your very, very best on this day!

You are wondering what's in store for Friday, and if all goes well today, we may finish "loose ends" quietly, but there'll be no conferencing so that those of you wanting to work on the portfolio may do so in class.

A "loose ends" day is not a "free" day.  Rather, it is a class period set aside for organizing the portfolio, for polishing the presentation independently, or any other composition work for this class.  On Wednesday you all received print outs of your grades.

Friday is a good day to devote to missing items, polishing your pieces for the portfolio, and reading the blog!  (Your portfolio cover sheets are available on the front table.  Remember, you will make necessary corrections to your three formal pieces - your "This I Believe" narrative, the personal statement, and the autobiography.  You will choose one of those pieces to make substantial revisions! Fun!)  Friday is a day to work in pleasant silence!

Google Slides Advice

For those of you working with Google Presentation, here is a very handy youtube video that describes the process of creating transitions that last 20 seconds per slide. Take a look and see if that answers any of your questions!

To give you an idea, I had no idea how to do it and now I'm pretty sure I could make a very impressive Pecha Kucha if given the chance. ;)

Turkey Break Welcome

Hello 7th block! I hope that you had a nice break, but now we're back to the daily grind--your research presentation!

Today, your task is simple. Firstly, your presentation should already be in the works. Ms. James and I will be returning any outlines that have been turned in (all outlines will be collected on the day of your presentation, so keep track of them) and the day is yours to conference and rehearse for the big presentation day.

The second item on the list requires that you think critically about what makes a presentation work. We will be watching part of a sample Pecha Kucha in class today and then you will be asked to pick a Pecha Kucha from the official website to watch, analyze, and write a blog post about it. Think about the following as you view the presentation:

1. What does the presenter do well? Are there any aspects that were particularly effective?
2. What might the presenter do to improve? Are the visual aspects interesting? Do they talk too quickly?
3. What did you notice about the presentation as a whole. What are your feelings about the Pecha Kucha as a presentation form? Do you think you'll be able to fill in your 10 slides?

If you address items 1, 2, and 3, you should have at least two paragraphs or more!

Lastly, the day will consist of conferences over your Pecha Kucha presentation. Even if you have yet to complete your Powerpoint or Google Slides presentation, you should still present a rough draft to at least two partners (one person at a time). Each presenter and responder have a sheet to fill out to discuss the rehearsal process and any revisions that need to be made.

Good luck on your rehearsal and Ms. James and I cannot wait to see the final products. Break a leg!!

Bonus:  The assignment is worth 10 points. Those posted before class on Wednesday will earn 10 bonus points.  Those posted by the end of class Wednesday will earn 10 points.  Zero points for classwork not completed.