HIS 101-102, 111-112

Presentation Requirements and Possible Topics

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  1. Contact me and volunteer for a topic as soon as possible. If you do not contact me, you will be assigned a topic.

  2. This is a required course assignment.

  3. Your presentation may not exceed 15 minutes.

  4. Each presentation should:
    • provide a brief initial identification of your topic and then proceed to a detailed description of the subject
    • explain the significance of the subject to the history of that period and the history covered in the course
    • include at least one map
    • assess the historical importance of your topic/subject
    • conclude by answering questions from the audience

  5. With regard to format, your presentation can be done using PowerPoint, Prezi, Slides, Spark or as a web page. You should include:
    • a short video, not to exceed 5 minutes (NO CARTOON FORMAT videos!)
    • many (yes, many!) images (each image should have a citation that accompanies image)
    • at least one map
    • additional visual aids count, but they do not have to be fancy.
    • Do not read the material on your slides. The material on the slides should be simply a quick summary of the more-detailed information that you are going to explain to the class. I will stop you if you are reading word-for-word from your slides.
    • You should have a bibliography of sources used to prepare the presentation including at least ten different sources, at least one of which can be Wikipedia, but your sources should be more than just Wikipedia, Britannica and Encyclopdia.com. Your bibliography should also include a short annotated description of each of source.

  6. Before you organize your ideas, first brainstorm for ways to approach your presentation. Be creative!

  7. Proof, critique and revise your presentation. Do not wait until the last minute to work on this. Practice!

  8. Please send me a rough draft of your presentation at least 24 hours before class so that I can provide some feedback to you. Before class, please send me a final copy of your presentation as a PPTX (PowerPoint) file.

  9. At least 10 slides, no more than 20!

  10. Some points to remember:
    • You are the expert on your topic, not the audience. Do not fear the audience! They should fear you.
    • Be prepared to answer difficult questions from the audience.
    • No colloquial language (no expletives)
    • Again, you are the expert on your topic, and this is a college-level presentation.
    • Enjoy yourself!

  11. There are different ways to deliver your presentation.
    • Make a movie of your presentation and post it on YouTube which we can then watch during class. See the information on online, narrated presentations. (You can remove at the end of the semester.)
    • Run the presentation from your own computer via zoom, and we will share your screen to the class, as you talk.
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Possible topics for HIS 111, Spring 2022 (The approximate week of the course is indicated in parenthesis.) Bold indicates that the topic is no longer available.

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Topics for HIS 112, Spring 2022 (The approximate week of the course is indicated in parenthesis.) Bold indicates that the topic is no longer available.