Length: 8-12 minutes for presentation; Discussion may continue indefinitely

Do:

• Open discussion by inviting seminar to raise questions, problems, or overall observations regarding reading assignment. (Questions may be addressed to instructor as well as discussion leader)
  

• Identify idea, theme, problem, issue, or literary feature  in the reading assignment.
   

• Relate this idea to a course objective (or, if not, indicate why it doesn’t fit).
   

• Direct class (page numbers or via webpage) to one or two brief passages

  • read selections aloud

  • apply to opening theme or idea.

  • (If online text, discussion-leader or instructor may locate passages on projection screen.)

• (All these opening steps may be rearranged.)
   

• Ask a question to start discussion. Question should follow from your interpretation or appeal more broadly to challenges in the text or intertexts with other class readings.

• You may also ask questions along the way, at end of each passage for instance.
   

• Lead discussion. You may follow up or re-start discussion with follow-up questions as prepared.
   

• Conclude discussion by highlighting major points from discussion + relation to course objective

Don't:

• Don't march through entire reading assignment, seeking complete coverage.
   

• Don't focus on the author's biography or force the text to conform to external facts.

Instead of biographical reading try:

• Intertextuality: instead of connecting the text to the author, connect it to other texts

Optional:

• Posting or Summary for Web Page--email ahead of time to instructor for posting, or bring file on thumb drive.