LITR 4370 Tragedy Discussion-leader presentation (10-15 minutes total, though discussion may continue.)

PowerPoint presentations are discouraged. If you prefer to use PowerPoint, use only for materials not available on course website (e.g., your own questions or notes for your answers).

Don't copy and paste materials from course website into PowerPoint. Instead go to website for materials (e.g., text passages, discussion questions, objectives, etc.).

If we're using a paper-text (Birth of Tragedy, Three Plays by Eugene O'Neill), take the class to page numbers and help us find the passage on the page.

Student location: Student may work up-front or remain seated; instructor can help with computer-projector.

Rationale: Student leadership of text-discussions meets first-time readers on their own terms, introduces fresh insights, encourages critical thinking, and reduces pressure to conform to instructor's leadership.

Students are not responsible for covering everything or showing mastery of every topic. The purpose is to start students talking about what matters to them in the play and relate to texts and shared learning objectives.

If more than one text is assigned, students may feature one or two and exclude others, but please preview to instructor.

Variable Format: These requirements may go in any order:

Invite questions, comments, or issues from class (to be answered by other students, presenter, or instructor).

Identify discussion question (your own or instructor's) or an idea, theme, problem, or issue you want to discuss related to the reading assignment.

Direct class to 1 or 2 brief passages and read selections. Comment on how passages relate to question, objective, etc. (Choose passages that appealed to you, but make them matter to the class.)

Ask the question to begin discussion. The question should follow from your reading, but it may also appeal more broadly to the challenges the text may present to the class. Question(s) may also refer to other class readings.

Ask at least one of the instructor's "Discussion Questions"

Lead discussion. If you don't know answers, let other students or instructor help.

General advice:

Don't save questions till the end. Preview questions or ask one at a time at different stages of presentation.

Don't do all discussion at once or just at end. Ask a question for discussion halfway through, then when discussion fades, resume presentation leading to another question. Repeat cycle.

thanks to http://cambridgebahais.org.uk/2016/01/16/sunday-night-discussion-groups/