Overview: What is the plot of the story? What is the statement of the poem or essay?
Background: Is there a connection between the piece and the author's life and/or times? Does the author have personal experience with the subject matter? (Please do not give general biographical information. It's already in the text.) Is the author commenting on current events or issues?
Analysis:
Are there enlightening comparisons to be made to other works by the same author or within the same period?
Does the piece illustrate a statement made in the text's introductions? For example, is it an example of the Restoration's "distrust of dogmatism"?
Value: Why is this piece a masterpiece? (Or why is it an overrated piece of hackwork?) How does it speak to you? To our times?
Notes:
Presentations with pictures, songs, YouTube links, etc. are usually more interesting, and more fun to make.
You don't have to answer every single question above.
The questions that I am most interested in are the last ones, concerning the value of the piece.
Please plan your presentation to last about 12 minutes.
There will be a Q&A period after each presentation.
Take notes when others are speaking; what is said in a presentation may show up on the following test.
Reading:
--I would be pleased if the presentation concludes with an expressive reading of a favorite passage.