LITR 5831 World / Multicultural Literature  Colonial-Postcolonial

You may begin any discussion by simply opening the floor to comments or questions regarding the assigned reading.   >

 > 1.Begin formal presentation / discussion by Identifying an idea, theme, problem, issue, or course objective in the reading assignment or by asking a question.

Preview initial question or topic may be from instructor's discussion questions. (At some point in presentation, student should deal with at least one of those discussion questions.)

or

Initial question or topic may be original from discussion-leader—but relate to course objectives, terms, recurrent issues, or previous texts.

 > 2. Direct class (page numbers or whatever) to one or two brief passages and read selections & apply to opening theme or idea.

(The first two steps may be reversed.)

 > 3. Ask 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. It may also refer to other class readings.

 > 4. Lead discussion. You may follow up or re-start discussion with follow-up questions as prepared. At some point during your discussion or presentation you should use at least one of the instructor's discussion questions.

 > 5. Conclude discussion by identifying major points raised by discussion and relating them to the course objective you started with.

For discussions featuring dialogues between texts:

This is an exercise in intertextuality— “making the texts talk to each other.”

On days with these presentations, all students should bring both texts.

Presenter: The presenter chooses one or two scenes or passages in both texts that are worth reading together for any relevant reason. The scenes may involve similar situations seen from different perspectives or show contact, conflict, or change (for good or bad) for the cultures involved. Or the scenes may simply involve a similar theme or motif, such as religion, exchange, gender, place, etc.

Format:

1. The presenter announces the basic subject of the dialogue—the reason or pretext for reading the scenes or passages together.

2. The presenter directs the class to the pages on which the scenes occur, sets the context, reads some essential passages aloud while highlighting language or motifs, then repeats the process in the second text, making comparisons and contrasts between the two texts.

3. The presenter summarizes the point or insight that emerges from the dialogue.

4. The presenter opens discussion by asking a question based on the presentation and texts, then leads discussion.