TRADITIONAL VERSE FORMS: Group Presentations

12 pts. possible

For peer evaluation form, CLICK HERE.

For the assignment evaluation rubric, CLICK HERE.

 

Instructions

What are some of the fixed verse forms in English? Where did they come from, what are some prominent examples, and why do these forms and their respective traditions matter? Groups of 4-5 will each put together a 12-15-minute presentation on their assigned form for the class. Each presentation must:

  • Accurately define and describe the assigned form.
  • Clearly and accurately summarize the history of the form: when did it begin and where; how has it developed over time; is it still used, etc.
  • Provide good literary examples of the form and note prominent practitioners (poets who often wrote in that form or who wrote well-known or noteworthy examples of the form).
  • Thoughtfully explain the significance of the form in terms of literary history, the effects and purposes of poetic forms, and/or the contributions of specific poets.
  • Use Power Point or other presentation media in an informative and entertaining way. (Power Point shows will be posted to Bb as well as shown to the class.)
  • Reflect careful planning, research, organization, and division of duties among group members.
  • Include an anonymous evaluation by each group member of the contributions made by the other group members. CLICK HERE for the evaluation form you will use to rate your group mates.

 

Suggestions for Planning

Form groups and do the following:

  • Divide group roles:
    1. Point Person and Scribe
    2. Artist/Power Point Manager/Chief Designer
    3. Equipment and Special Aides Manager
  • Divide research and script segments:
    1. Definition and Description of the Form
    2. History of the Form
    3. Prominent Examples and Practitioners
    4. Significance of the Form to Poetry and Literature
    5. Original Example

    Keep track of your sources; you will need to provide a Work Cited page at the end of your Power Point.

     

Important Deadlines

1. Outlines/Scripts

Each member should write up a "script" for the segment of the presentation they chose. (The segments to be divided among group members are: Definition/Description of the Form, History of the Form, Prominent Examples and/or Practioners of the Form, and Significance of the Form.

Each member should email their script and script revisions to the group's "point person" or "scribe," who will copy-paste all of the scripts into a Word document. (Would be a good idea as well to send a copy to all group members.)

Each group will work on identifying gaps in information, providing transitions between segments, eleminating overlap or redundancy, etc.

Each group will consult with me, add more info, and then eventually begin to design their actual Power Point show by storyboarding.

A compilation of all group members' work, with some editing, due by the second half of the class period, Thurs., Oct. 16th.

2. Power Point Drafts

Your script will be integrated into a creative Power Point (or other) presentation.

Due Tues. Oct. 21st and Thurs. 23rd.

3. Presenations begin.

Tues., Oct. 28th.

 

Evaluation Rubric

Each item below is worth 2 points for a total of 12.  Please note, however, that each group's final score may be modified by consideration of other factors: the relative difficulty of the topic; the order of the presentation in scheduling (first group has less time to prepare; last group has most time to prepare); class minute papers (reflecting how well the class was taught); my observations of group planning; my subjective sense of each group's overall effort; and unforeseen twitches and glitches. Failure to turn in the required script, or turning in an incomplete script, may result in problems as well.

Everyone in each group will earn the same number of points. However, I will take into consideration each group's peer evaluations, and these may favorably or unfavorably alter individual scores.

1. Planning and Execution: research, organization, and presentation tasks have been divided evenly; projection and other oral skills are good (the speakers can be heard, documents are intelligible, etc.); the pacing of the presentation is effective; equipment has been tested in advance and backups provided.

Pts. earned __________

2. Content Quality: the history of the verse form has been adequately researched, and the form accurately defined and described, with good literary examples. Questions are answered knowledgably.

Pts. earned __________

3. Relevance: the presentation thoughtfully explains the significance of the form in terms of literary history, the effects and purposes of poetic forms, and/or the study of poetry generally.
Pts. earned __________

4. Editing, Proofreading, Documenting: all text is edited for clarity and concision as well as mechanical correctness. Sources are thoroughly and accurately paraphrased or quoted, as well as documented using MLA guidelines.

Pts. earned __________

5. Creativity: the presentation is lively, fresh, visually interesting, and engaging.

Pts. earned __________

6. Cooperation and Communication: the group worked well together, communicating with each other assertively, clearly, and helpfully.


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