Professor Ann Mazzocca Bellecci

DANC 340 WI: Dance History and Contemporary Perspectives

Christopher Newport University

Oral Presentation Guidelines

Students will be required to present to the class the main points of the readings for their chosen
week. We will organize the order of presentations during our first or second class. Presentations
as a rule will be on Tuesdays. Sometimes we might need to change to a Thursday and that will
happen based on the needs of the class.

Time: Presentations should last 10-12 minutes (10 is better, it’s ok if it goes over – but no
more than 12/13 mins.). It is an opportunity to discuss the main points of the reading for that
week – not summarize everything covered.

Synthesis: The short time period for presentations is so that each presenter is speaking directly to
the main point or points of the reading(s). Students will need to read thoroughly, take notes and
then establish the main theme or themes of the reading and how it might relate more specifically
to our studies.

Pose a Question: A successful presentation will pose at least one question to the class for
discussion. You will have the practice of posing questions from the précis. Students in the class
are responsible for having completed the readings so that they can engage in a healthy
discussion and respond to the posed question(s).

Media: If you choose to include any pictures, videos, or PowerPoint of some kind in your
presentation (which I highly recommend), you will email this to me ahead of time and I will
project these images/video for you. Be sure the media illuminates the text/presentation
appropriately. You may check its relevance with me ahead of time (by the morning before).

Possible format:

 State the major theme(s) or concept(s) included in the reading. Cite author and title of
article, chapter, etc.
 Quote a specific idea or reference a particular passage that seems particularly illustrative
of the main point(s) (cite this with appropriate acknowledgment to author and page
number if it’s a direct quote).
 You may include visual references that also might help to illustrate these points.
 If there is a topic covered in the reading that you/the class might not know about, you
may do some background research on this dance form/historical moment that can help
illuminate everyone’s understanding of the text.
 Make a connection from these points to what we have discussed or experienced in class
so far. i.e. Interpret the idea/concept/passage/subject matter.
 Pose your question(s) from this foundational synthesis.

I am here to help. If you work ahead of time, I can help with clarifications of the text or
confirming references you have included.